Commission Minutes – October 20-24, 2025
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025
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 PERMISSION TO CLOSE COURTHOUSE EARLY ON CHRISTMAS EVE/ Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk & Recorder; Kimberly Jensen, Payroll Clerk; Julie Straub, HRM
Discussed closing at noon on Wednesday, December 24th; permission granted.
9:17 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:33 AM PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATES/ Kim Bryan, Director of Public Health
Reported on flu shot clinics; have administered approximately one hundred and eighty-nine (189) shots. Updated on completed CDO training for both Kim and Kassidy; required to purchase a Montana license. Discussed offering in-body scans for county residents; don’t want to interfere with other local businesses that provide in-body scan services. Kim will research prices and how the local businesses offer this service.
9:38 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:42 AM COUNCIL ON AGING UPDATES/ Carla Brown, Council on Aging Director
Carla presented Montana Older Americans Act Programs contracts for the Commission to review. Discussed Fallon Medical Complex changing its lunch time to 11:30 AM; Meals on Wheels will be delivered at 11:15 AM going forward. Discussed purchasing a cut-away bus with the upcoming bus grants, also possibly replace the 2010 minivan with similar grants. Updated on Medicare plans being submitted for the upcoming year.
9:47 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:00 AM ROAD UPDATES/ Bryan Batchelor, Road Superintendent; Carl Overland and/or Mitch Overn, Shop Mechanic
Carl was unable to attend the meeting. South Ismay Road will be seeded this week; discussed hiring a contractor for seeding but Bryan decided the Road Department will complete the seeding. Finished up culverts at Custer Camp Trail, Latigo Trail, and on the frontage road (Avenue A) in the North Baker Water & Sewer District. Mitch updated on winterizing equipment. The Landfill requested to take the old tire machine being as it is currently in cold storage; permission granted. Commissioner Braun reported on a county resident being given permission to place scoria on Buerkle Access; Bryan will check its placement. Reported on road maintenance and new blades; discussed chip and sealing several roads and mulching for drainage. Discussed using a tiller on sod berms; Mitch will reach out to Wibaux County to inquire about the high-speed discs they use. Still need to clean several auto-gates. Commissioner Rost updated on a possible easement from Dave Meccage.
10:18 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:30 AM PROJECT UPDATES/ Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering; Rich Menger, Sanitarian
1. Discussion on responsibilities for future dam inspections
The County needs to decide who will be responsible for the dams; Rich stated that he would be willing to complete the inspections as long as there are forms with instructions. The Commission discussed including Desiree Thielen, DES/Planner as another position responsible for the dams. Discussed upcoming inspections. Reviewed owner statement of intent for the Lower Dam.
10:35 AM Desiree Thielen joined the meeting.
Discussed the Road Department mowing the downstream face in the fall before annual inspections; will complete same maintenance to the Upper Dam. Discussed annual seepage evaluation near the storm drain and investigation of sump pumps located near Reynolds. Operations and Maintenance Manual (O&M) won’t be updated until a few of the inspection corrections are completed; will hire a contractor to complete the O&M. Discussed geotechnical for the lower dam. Reviewed floodplain mapping and box culvert replacement for South 6th Street. Desiree reported on changes to the floodplain regulations that were brought up during the Planner Conference. Changes will not be included in the new floodplain maps; discussed how to plan the project to reduce costs. Will discuss further next week.
11:08 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:00 AM GOLF COURSE UPDATES/ Nathan Kalbach, Golf Course Superintendent; John Didier, Seasonal Golf Course Superintendent
Completed aerating and sanding tee boxes. Currently cleaning out sprinkler heads; will repair a few leaks after blowing out the lines. Discussed pump maintenance and replacing the heater in the pump shed. Discussed replacing the shed over the pumps. Discussed draining the small pond by hole one and winterize the fairgrounds well. Discussed closing the golf course down for the winter so there is no public access; possibly around November 1st.
11:21 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:21 AM CHAMBER UPDATES/ Alissa Miller, Chamber Executive Director; Skyla Varner, Assistant
Reported on newsletters that are posted on the Chamber website and facebook page. Updated on upcoming events. Chamber has not received EMEDA donation as of yet; will ask Account Payable. Requested a letter of support from the Commission for the Grid United grant. Reported on upcoming Recreation Department sports.
11:34 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:40 AM Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk & Recorder joined the meeting.
11:40 AM COUNTY ATTORNEY WORK SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann
1. Restitution amount for damage to the livestock barn
Discussed reaching out to Todd Griffith for another quote; will be added to next week’s agenda. The County will need to sign an affidavit for the Restitution and Sentencing hearing. The County will be able to do the repairs before any decision is made from the hearings. Debbie will submit the incident to the individual’s insurance before Darcy files for restitution.
11:50 AM Debbie left the meeting.
2. Easement & Right of Way Agreement with Bracket Butte Ranch
Presented the Pinnow’s requested changes; would like the road graveled and a payment increase every five years. Will discuss further with landowners their requested changes on the gravel and easement amount.
3. Old business as needed
No old business at this time.
11:55 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:55 AM CLOSED LITIGATION SESSION – UPDATE ON FALLON COUNTY’S ANSWER TO THIELENS VS FALLON COUNTY CAUSE NO. DV-13-2025-12-QT/ Darcy Wassmann
Commissioner Varner motioned to go into closed session. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
12:11 PM Commissioner Rost motioned to come out of closed session. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
12:12 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
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
Bill and Judy Whitney, Terry Mahoney and Marty Asay attended the meeting. The Fallon County Central Republican Committee will be sending a request to Secretary of State to have cast votes made available to the citizens of Fallon County. Discussed the public’s concerns with using the tabulators when there is a supposed back door for changing votes; the Commission explained how the tabulators are not connected to the internet or thumb drive. Post audit count is hand counted by election judges only; tabulators would send out results faster and would available for the post audit being as they cannot count for both the election and the post audit. Discussed difficulty of finding and/or retaining citizens willing to be election judges. Discussed the grant for the tabulators. Discussed possibility of creating more precincts for counting ballots on election night or including students that are eighteen years old.
1:40 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
1:30 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Executive Decisions
a. Discussion/Decision on purchasing election tabulators/ Kathy Newell, Elections Clerk; Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk & Recorder; Kimberly Jensen, Payroll Clerk
Discussed the thumb drive that is plugged into the tabulator; Debbie explained how the thumb drive does not have ethernet capability, the thumb drive is used for uploading results into a secured laptop only. Commissioner Rost stated that if there were citizens willing to become election judges for hand counting then the tabulators wouldn’t be considered, but currently there are not and the tabulators could remedy the issue with finding election judges for both the election and the post audit counts. Discussed process of training for elections judges. Discussed time frame for the grant; need to decide by November 1st, also not guaranteed that the grant is still available. There was a bill proposed for hardened (secured) computer laptops to be used in Election Departments, even if the department does not have tabulators. Debbie will check the status of the bill. Expressed difficulty of retaining election judges. Debbie expressed that the Election Department does not have any opinion on whether the tabulators should be purchased or not, just need direction for training. Decision has been tabled until October 27th.
b. Discussion/Decision on Fireside Maintenance Service Agreements
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the maintenance service agreements. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Old Business as needed
a. Correction to EMS bags quote
Commissioner Rost motioned to correct the EMS Bag quote to $4,625.82. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Discussion/Decision on American Commercial Furniture Sales Agreement for previously approved quote
Commissioner Braun signed the agreement.
c. Discussion/Decision on Bracket Butte Ranch agreement for the TV Board
Currently waiting to discuss requested changes with the landowners.
d. Discussion/Decision on Notice of Termination Non-Storm Water General Permit Authorization for Bergstrom Hill Road
Commissioner Braun signed the Notice of Termination.
3. Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers/encroachments/zoning compliance (as needed)
2:15 PM CLOSED PERSONNEL MEETING/ Jessica Scott, Emergency Communications Dispatcher; Brenda Hoeger, Emergency Communications Supervisor; Julie Straub, HRM
This meeting has been cancelled.
3:15 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION CONTINUED (IF NEEDED)
4. Approve October 13 – 17, 2025 Commission Minutes
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the October 13-17, 2025 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Approve October 2025 Mid-Month Claims
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the October 2025 Mid-Month Claims for the amount of $335,423.12. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Other old business
Debbie Wyrick presented a Commercial Insurance Proposal from The Insurance Store.
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Commercial Insurance Proposal for the Fallon Medical Complex renovations, not including the Terrorism Insurance Coverage. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
Individuals will submit the quote to their own insurance for damages to the Livestock Barn to see if their insurance will cover it.
The Commission received a letter of resignation from Jessica Scott, Emergency Communications Dispatcher which gives two-week notice but the Commission have accepted it effective immediately.
2:44 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Being as there is no further business, meeting adjourned.
ADJOURN
s/ Kevin J. Braun, Chairman
s/ Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
s/ Brenda J. Wood, Clerk & Recorder
