EMEDA Commissioner Meeting – February 4th 2025
EMEDA Eastern Montana Economic Development Authority Commissioner Meeting Minutes February 4h, 2025
Members Present: Chairperson Tasha Losing, Vice Chair Steve Zachmann, Treasurer Karol Zachmann, Commissioner Hugo Bumgardner. Members Absent: Commissioners Carson Beach and Cookie Zenko.
Staff Present: Childcare Director Carrie Schwartz (Zoom)
Public Present: None
Meeting called to order: 7:01 PM by Chairperson Tasha Losing.
Approval of Agenda: Agenda approved as presented, with no objections
Review of previous meeting Minutes:
•
Steve noted corrections
•
Motion (Hugo Bumgardner): To approve the previous minutes as corrected.
•
Second (Karol Zachmann).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried. Meeting Minutes approved with the noted edits
Financial Report: Presented by Karol Zachmann.
Karol added Bank of Baker debit card to report, and construction loan 1 and 2. Main Checking account $53,488.26 Karol and Tasha Moved $1,500 from Operating note to Childcare account to be sure Carries Check was covered. Childcare Loan Available amount $9293.10. $0 left to barrow on Construction loan 1. $6096.35 left in loan number 2.
Claims 130,131,132,133,134,136, 137 totaling claims $2945.26 excluding claim 135 (reserved for SMART bill)
•
Motion (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Second (Steve Zachmann).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Discussion on how to handle Childcare Claims, was decided to change claim forms to note Childcare account. Claims C1,C3,C4 paid with debt card C2 need paid with check.
Motion to pay current childcare claims C1,C2,C3,C4
•
Motion (Steve Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Karol presented a local government service bill received in the mail from Montana Department of Administration, for Accounting and Annual financial report with late fee. Karol will take and review with Rachel.
Chairperson Tasha requested approval of $1500 from Operating loan and moved to Childcare account prior to meeting.
•
Motion (Steve Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Construction Report: Presented by Steve Zachmann
3 pages of photos of Childcare building were presented and discussed.
Lane Straub’s time put into the Head Start would be Warranty work.
Carrie asked about getting a rain spout put above the door; Hugo asked about getting gutters done around entire building. Steve did not think anyone would do it this time of year.
Childcare Director Report: Presented by Carrie Schwartz
Carrie presented a definition of responsibilities for her job to detail what her responsibilities are, board decided to review and revisit at the next meeting.
Carrie Requested a burden rate of 20% for employee benefits. Discussion was had but the matter was unresolved.
Carrie has 11 applications, hiring committee determined to run interviews over April 17, 18th. Carrie hoped to hire lead teacher to start.
Carrie offered quotes for rubber mulch for playground, and using grant funds to purchase.
Carrie can offer childcare for 6 kids before having licensing. She is getting CPR training and opening up to other providers in the area. $50 per participant, and we can use workforce grant to help cover that cost.
Carrie requested using $3,000 which had been donated through GoFundMe and other fundraising campaigns for changing table and kids’ furniture. Board requested checking at Baker furniture for these items before ordering elsewhere. Motion to use $2,000 from Grassland Credit Union to buy changing table and kids chairs and table.
•
Motion (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Second (Steve Zachmann).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Carrie requested $21,890 from the grant which is currently in saving account to the childcare account. Karol and Tasha will get the money moved.
James Reetz is allowing us to store items in the old lumber yard and Carrie would like to get him an in-kind donation receipt. Carrie created an in-kind donation form for EMEDA.
Motion to give Carrie authority to sign in-kind donation forms on behalf of EMEDA.
•
Motion (Steve Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
For future storage Carrie would like to get an 8×20 Conex $5815 (delivered) for storage. Steve noted it would need to be fenced as to city code. Another option would be Menger has a stick-built storage shed for $14,400, but would need to be moved. Not pressing but noted for future reference.
Executive Director Report: printed reported submitted by Vaughn Zenko Jr.
Getting on the election ballot would cost $12,439.55 and there are no current candidates running.
Termination of MOU with SMART
Discussion for future working relation with SMART. Discussion of hiring an EMEDA director, or partnering with EPEDA: as well as storage of files. Motioned to sign the cancelation of MOU with Smart.
•
Motion (Steve Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Discussion of minutes being taken for future meetings, Carrie offered to take future meeting minutes. As well as recording and talk to text programs. Motion for Karol to look into talk to text programs.
•
Motion (Steve Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Chairperson Report: presented by Chairperson Tasha Losing
Reported on emails sent to her from Batterman law office, and her discussions with Rich Batterman about the Sheridan home half damage and the contracts with them. Discussion was had on if or how to move forward. Karol motioned to let the building damage rest.
•
Motion (Karol Zachmann).
•
Second (Steve Zachmann).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Tasha also reported having Batterman law office review the lease with HeadStart. Rich Batterman via email suggested adding amendments to lease and getting more details on paragraph 14 of the lease.
Old Business
Childcare Facility
Child care structure and business plan. Tasha also requested guidance from Batterman on how to move forward for the childcare business via email Rich suggested EMEDA takes steps to taking steps away from the childcare business, and just lease the building to the childcare business. Karol noted discussed her conversation with Rachel and has future meeting with Rachel’s accounting. Carrie was willing to look into programs that offer guidance for business startups. Steve moved for Carrie to move forward to create a business.
•
Motion (Steve Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
HeadStart
Tasha asked Steve about getting manuals from each building and creating a folder for each building. Steve is still working on accumulating everything, plans to have duplicates.
Chairperson Tasha requested the lease committee move forward with creating a couple amendments for the HeadStart lease for snow removal and future lawn care.
EMEDA Email Options
County emails would cost $11.85/per year per email and would need to do the county training. Karol asked why not using Gmail, discussion was had. Hugo moved for Karol to create a Gmail email account [email protected]
•
Motion (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Second (Steve Zachmann).
•
Further discussion: Karol wanted to better identify city and state in the email address.
•
Hugo Resended his motion
Karol motioned to use [email protected]
•
Motion (Karol Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Adoption of Donation Acceptance Policy
Steve motioned to accept the policy.
•
Motion (Steve Zachmann).
•
Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
•
Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Adoption of Bill Payment Policy
Steve motioned to accept the policy.
Steve resended motion and requested edits.
EMEDA Board Handbook / Board Duties
Steve had emailed suggested edits; Tasha will forward and will be further discussed the next meeting.
Karol noted she is getting all bills sent to new box number. PO BOX 746 is the new EMEDA Post office box.
Adjournment:
Steve motioned to adjourn the meeting.
- Motion (Steve Zachmann).
- Second (Hugo Bumgardner).
- Vote: All in favor, two absent. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted by Tasha Losing.
The Next EMEDA Monthly meeting is scheduled for March 4, 2025 at 7pm location TBD
s\ Tasha Losing, Chairperson s\ Steve Zachmann, Vice Chairman