Commission Minutes – July 13-17, 2026
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2026
PRESENT: Kevin Braun, Chairman; Roy Rost and Mandi Varner, Members; Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Pledge of Allegiance was held in the Commissioner’s Office to start off the week.
9:00 AM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared for Public Comment.
9:15 AM PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATES/ Kim Bryan, Public Health Director
Interviews for the Public Health Specialist are tomorrow. Will being doing walk-in clinics for children’s vaccinations instead of a kids carnival this year. Reported on family planning reimbursement program discontinuing; will use remaining funds when women watch the family planning video. Updated on Community Health Worker stats and meetings; temporary Community Health Worker will be done July 28th.
9:21 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:30 AM PERMISSION TO HIRE SEASONAL LEAD CREW HAND/ Jennefer Wheeler, Fairgrounds Manager; Julie Straub, HRM
Commissioner Rost, noting that she is a relation of his but being as she is the only applicant, motioned to hire Shanya Stoddard as a Seasonal Lead Crew Hand. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
PERMISSION TO RECRUIT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER/ Brenda Hoeger, Emergency Communications Dispatch Supervisor & 911 Coordinator
Presented Kodie Olsen’s notice of resignation.
Commissioner Rost motioned to recruit for two Emergency Communications Dispatcher positions. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
9:31 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:31 AM DISPATCH UPDATES/ Brenda Hoeger, Emergency Communications Dispatch Supervisor & 911 Coordinator
Reported on 911 equipment installation being completed. RIMs reports are improving to the point that they are no longer sent to the Sheriff’s Office for second review. Air conditioning repairs are completed. Submitted the dispatch center name change to the state for approval; will have banner made. Discussed coverage for dispatchers; will have dispatchers take turns doing overtime and Brenda will be on-call for emergencies until someone is hired.
9:34 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:00 AM ATTEND BRIDGER PIPELINE EXPANSION COOPERATORS MEETING – ZOOM MEETING/ BLM Representatives & Cooperators
The Commission attended the cooperators meeting.
10:50 AM SANATARIAN UPDATES/ Janalee Ferrell, Sanitarian
Presented educational pamphlets on harmful algal blooms; discussed posting advisories around the lake to enter at your own risk when any type of algae is present. Presented a draft master contract with the State for sanitarian duties; discussed excluding planned reviews for body art and including joint planned reviews with the state for hotels. Will have the County Attorney review the master contract.
10:56 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Recess until 1:15 PM
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Kevin Braun, Chairman; Roy Rost and Mandi Varner, Members; Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
1:15 PM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared for Public Comment.
1:30 PM Janalee Ferrell, Sanitarian joined the meeting.
1:30 PM COUNTY ATTORNEY WORK SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann
1. Review Resolution granting statutory authority to the County Sanitarian
Discussed whether it is possible to delegate Local Health Officer duties to the Sanitarian; currently getting an opinion from the State. Will discuss further with Brian Sullivan, the current Local Health Officer, on whether it would be plausible to have him set up a state account to grant/validate the licenses online himself. Discussed temporary food vendor licenses usually have short notice for review. Discussed statutory authority for the Local Health Officer.
2. Closed Session – Thielen Litigation Update (IF NEEDED)
No discussion at this time.
3. Old Business as needed
1:46 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:00 PM PLANNER & DES UPDATES/ Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator
Southeast Electric won’t be submitting their BRIC grant application until September. Southeast Montana 911 Center is now the official name for the dispatch center. Upper Dam inspection will be tomorrow. Reported on an MOU between the County and the City regarding the upper dam; discussed designation of operating the flood gate. Reported on BNSF’s request to close crossings without arms and relocating a crossing closer to Ag Lane. Updated on GIS mapping for emergency services, EMPG grant, AAR meeting, mutual aid agreements, road specifications. Updated on recent MACo Energy Economies in Rural Montana Event.
2:16 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:16 PM DISCUSSION ON PLANNING BOARD’S RECOMMENDATION TO IMPLEMENT ZONING FOR FALLON COUNTY/ Fallon County Planning Board Members; Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator
Updated on receiving 10% of the surveys back. Discussed options of zoning or conditional use permits. Discussed moratorium process to provide more time to research and hold public hearings. Discussed reaching out to attorneys and engineers specialized in zoning for more information on the process of implementing zoning. Discussed conditional use permits being more of a public process; currently being presented to state legislators to propose a process be created on the state side. There will be further discussion at a later date.
2:37 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:42 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Approve July 6-10, 2026 Commission Minutes
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve July 6-10, 2026 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Executive Decisions
a. Discussion/Decision on ambulance collection accounts/ Brenda Wood, Clerk & Recorder
Discussed current fiscal year collection account balance being $27,758.87. Last fiscal year balance was much lower and was forgiven. Will find out what the collection process is; discussed a policy for sending patients to collections for ambulance billing.
b. Discussion/Decision on Grant of Easement
Grant of Easement will be corrected and sent back to the landowner.
c. Discussion/Decision on Olness & Associates, P.C engagement letter for FY25-26 audit
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the Olness & Associates, P.C engagement letter. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
d. Discussion/Decision on Memorandum of Understanding with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with BLM to become a Cooperating Agency. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
e. Discussion/Decision on RDO Equipment Co quote for a 35P John Deere excavator
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the RDO Equipment Co quote for the amount of $64,000.00. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
f. Discussion/Decision on State and Local Cybersecruity Grant Program Award Letter and Agreement
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the State and Local Cybersecruity Grant Program Letter and Agreement. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
g. Discussion/Decision on Parkview boiler and Derrick’s pickup repairs
Installed the old heat exchanger in the current boiler which has now started leaking. Discussed looking for a new supplier for boilers going forward.
Derrick’s pickup is under repair for a new transmission at the Road Department; currently using the Extension pickup.
3. Old Business as needed
a. Discussion/Decision on Griffith Steel Inc quote for Museum, Library and Iron Horse Park concrete projects
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the Griffith Steel Inc quote for the museum and library for the amounts of $6,300.00. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the Griffith Steel Inc quote for the Iron Horse Park for the amount of $5,200.00. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
2:57 PM Cindy Irgens, Recording Clerk joined the meeting.
Cindy presented a resolution showing Ag Lane being a county road and updated on current wind project agreements/easements.
b. Discussion/Decision on Great West Engineering Task Order No. 2 for landfill staking
Have not received an itemized quote yet.
c. Discussion/Decision on Mutual Aid Agreement for Ambulance Services with Wibaux County
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Mutual Aid Agreement with Wibaux County. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers/encroachment and approach permits/zoning compliance (as needed)
3:02 PM Being as there is no further business to come before the Commission, meeting adjourned.
ADJOURN
s/ Kevin J. Braun, Chairman
s/ Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
s/ Brenda J. Wood, Clerk & Recorder
