Commission Minutes – July 27-31, 2026
MONDAY, JULY 27, 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 RAVE – COUNTY EMPLOYEE ALERT TEST AND TUTORIAL
A test alert had been sent out to county employees.
9:35 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:36 AM CEMETERY UPDATES/ Chanse Hoenke, Seasonal Cemetery Caretaker
Reported on mowing for cemeteries and equipment maintenance. Updated on the Bonnievale Cemetery Board meeting; requested repairs to the fence for the directory if the cemetery board purchases the materials. Discussed building up alleys at Bonnievale; will discuss further with Bryan Batchelor, Road Superintendent. Catholic Cemetery requested trees at the entrance to be cut back. Permission granted to repair the directory when time allows.
9:44 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:00 AM ATTEND BRIDGER PIPELINE EXPANSION COOPERATORS MEETING – ZOOM MEETING/ BLM Representatives & Cooperators
Commission attended the Cooperators zoom meeting. No decisions were made during this meeting, only updates.
11:45 AM PUBLIC HEARING FOR REVISING PLANNING FEE SCHEDULE
No one appeared for the Public Hearing.
12:00 PM 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
Katie Miller, SMART Executive Director joined the meeting. Discussed replacing a bench at the Veteran Memorial that was vandalized. SMART has funds designated for the Veterans Memorial and would like to use said funds for the bench or for assisting with adding names to the memorial. Will ask Robbie Christiaens, Outside Maintenance Supervisor for a quote.
1:19 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
1:30 PM COUNTY ATTORNEY WORK SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann
1. Discussion on Public Road Right-of-Way Easement Resolution
Discussed draft of easement resolution; the Commission is not interested in declaring public easements as public roads for maintenance purposes. Discussed giving the landowners the option to maintain the easement. Discussed options for landowners to revoke or abandon the easement if the landowners are not satisfied with the County’s maintenance. Reviewed MCA code for public highways and maintenance of public highways.
1:50 PM Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator joined the meeting.
Discussed possibility of easements being on plats for subdivision.
2. Review Resolution granting statutory authority to the County Sanitarian
Janalee received information from Richland County and will pass it along to the County Attorney.
3. Discussion on ownership and maintenance of the Upper Dam
Discussed including the Upper Dam in the COS to show the county owns the property the Upper Dam is located at.
4. Closed Session – Thielen Litigation Update (IF NEEDED)
Calvin Stacey is reviewing answers.
5. Old Business as needed
2:01 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:03 PM Kady York, Brosz Engineering joined the meeting via phone.
2:03 PM Bertha Kirschten, member of the public joined the meeting.
2:03 PM GUMBO LILY BASIN MINOR SUBDIVISION PRELIMINARY PLAT REVIEW/ Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator
Reviewed staff report and summary for the submitted Gumbo Lily Basin Minor Subdivision Preliminary Plat.
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Gumbo Lily Basin Minor Subdivision, a two lot minor subdivision located in the E1/2NW1/4 and NE1/4 of Section 15, Township 7 North, Range 60 East subject to conditions as stated in the Staff Report PRP-0726. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
2:09 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:30 PM DISCUSSION/DECISION ON PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WAGES/ Kim Bryan, Public Health Director; Julie Straub, HRM
Discussed responsibilities that the Administrative Assistant completes on a daily basis; completed billing for about a year. Requested the additional $2.00 per hour that Heather Harrison previously had when she was doing the ambulance billing. Commissioner Varner suggested a $0.50 increase. Commissioner Rost suggested between $1.00 and $0.50. Discussed possible title changes; will keep current job title being as she has clerical responsibilities. Billing was originally the responsibility of the Public Health Specialist but Heather was asked to take on the billing during flu season but eventually kept responsibility.
Commissioner Rost motioned to increase the Public Health Administrative Assistant position $1.00 per hour. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; increase will be effective this current pay period. 2 Ayes. 1 Nays. (Commissioner Braun)
2:41 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:41 PM DISCUSSION/DECISION ON EMR WAGES/ Brittany Renner, EMS Program Manager; Julie Straub, HRM
All five EMRs have completed skills testing with Brittany; will need to complete National Registry testing. Fallon County has not had volunteer EMRs before so there are no set wages yet. Discussed on-call wages for EMRs compared to fire drivers; fire drivers, who take on 75% of emergency runs, currently are paid $2.50 per hour for on-call wages. An increase in on-call wages has not been made for the last twelve years. After a decision is made, will re-evaluate on-call wages next year as well.
Discussed ground transfer rates for; EMRs would be compensated a certain percentage of EMT ground transfer rates and fire drivers would be compensated a certain percentage of EMRs ground transfer rates. Discussed difference of qualifications between the EMRs and the fire drivers. The Fire Department will be trained on the ambulances twice a year.
Commissioner Varner motioned to change on-call hours for Fire Drivers to $3.00 per hour, EMRs to $3.50 per hour and EMTs to $4.00 per hour along with Brittany’s proposed pay scale for EMRs at 75% of EMT ground transfer rates and Fire Drivers at 50% of EMRs ground transfer rates. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; Julie requested the adjustments be made effective on Saturday, July 25th when the pay period started. Commissioner Varner moved to amend the main motion to include the effective date. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
3:05 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:08 PM REVIEW DRAFT ROAD PLAT/ Cindy Irgens, Recording Clerk & Road/Land Researcher
Review draft road plat; discussed research on several roads that had questions.
3:48 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:48 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Approve July 20-24, 2026 Commission Minutes
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve July 20-24, 2026 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Varner 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 FY26-27 budget items/ Brenda Wood, Clerk & Recorder; Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator
Discussed an administrative assistant for Planning & DES; Commissioner Varner suggested a part-time position to start and revisit later. Discussed qualifications; Commissioner Rost requested a job description for the position before making a final decision. Will consider budgeting for a 20-hour position under the Planning Budget. Discussed budgeting for a Relief Fund that would be available for donations; would be utilized strictly for assisting with emergency services.
Commissioner Rost motioned to start a Relief Fund at $5,000.00 with Oil & Gas Funds. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; budget would be managed by the DES department and she will report when it is utilized. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
Brenda reported on several budget items.
b. Discussion/Decision on Western Emulsions oil quote
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Western Emulsions quote for the amount of $6,834.90. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Discussion/Decision on Bruha Family Transfer Certificate of Survey
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the presented Bruha Family Transfer Certificate of Survey. Comm Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
d. Discussion/Decision on U Bar C Certificate of Survey
Discussed additional documentation required for the ag covenants.
Commission Varner motioned to approve the presented U Bar C Certificate of Survey with additional requirements. 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 Montana Wool Growers Association Predator Control Fund Memorandum of Understanding
Commissioner Rost motioned to $15,000 for the livestock 2 Ayes 1 Nay
f. Discussion/Decision on Carter County DES’s request for Fallon County DES assistance and to utilize one message board during the Annual Alzada Event
Discussed two signs would be used for the event and returned Wednesday, August 12th.
Commissioner Varner motioned to allow Carter County DES to utilize two message boards. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
g. Discussion/Decision on Resolution #1184 to Revise Fallon County fees for Planning Services
Commissioner Varner motioned to adopt Resolution #1184 to revise Fallon County fees for Planning services. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
h. Discussion/Decision on amending DPHHS FY27 Strengthening Public Health Workforce task order
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve amending the DPHHS FY27 Strengthening Public Health Workforce task order. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Old Business as needed
No discussion at this time.
a. Discussion/Decision on Great West Engineering Task Order No. 2 for landfill staking
b. Discussion/Decision on submitted Grant of Easement
c. Discussion/Decision on assistance with Plevna road repairs
4. Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers/encroachment and approach permits/zoning compliance (as needed)
4:23 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
