Commissioners Proceedings

December 10, 2018

All commissioners were present for their meeting. Minutes were presented and approved. Hearing no public comment on the day’s agenda, the board addressed routine business items before scheduled department meetings.

Marty Drane, Building and Grounds Supervisor, reported he and nursing home maintenance have installed a floor sink in the bath area of the nursing home. One of the furnaces at the Community Center is down but has been repaired. The maintenance crew will be going back to working five 8-hour days. The tin is here and will be installed in the MP Building. The tin cost more than budgeted so the difference has to come from other maintenance departments in the All-Purpose Fund.

Teel Mullanix, Road Supervisor, met with the board to report there is a possibility of repairing the old John Deere blade. He’s going to look into the cost. Powder River County is going to move the riprap from the State Highway 212 project to the East Fork shop for future projects.

Donna reported on the Montana Taxpayer’s Association meeting she attended in Helena this past week. She also attended the Montana Association of Counties newly elected training on Thursday.

Kathy Roberts, Transportation Director, was unable to meet with the board because she was on the road.

Lee Randall, commissioner-elect, joined the meeting at 9:30 AM.

Jerry Grebenc with Great Western Engineering visited with the board on a conference call with Julie Emmons with Southeastern Montana Development Corporation to discuss the next steps in updating the growth policy for Powder River County. Jerry stressed the need to involve the county planning board in the discussions. He would like to meet with the planning board on January 14 or 15, 2019. Jerry asked for contact information for all who should be present that day, including the road department, weed department, etc. Jerry will try and coordinate this meeting with that of the Rosebud County meeting.

After discussion, the newly elected county officials will be sworn in on December 31, 2018, at 8:30 AM in the courthouse lobby.

Mid-month claims were presented, reviewed and approved for payment.

Some outstanding landfill charges were discussed. Since the cost of postage is high, it is cost prohibitive to send out bills. The commissioners discussed making phone calls to remind those remiss in payment of their unpaid bill. The commissioners unanimously voted to no longer allow charging at the landfill.

Cynde Jo Gatlin, Clerk and Recorder-elect and Lee Randall, Commissioner-elect, reported on the MACo elected officials training held last week in Helena. Both felt the training was very worthwhile.

Cherie Stachey, Nursing Home Administrator/Director of Nursing, met to report 26 residents. Physical therapy wages were discussed along with the step raise scale. Cheri suggested adding a medication aide to free up the nurse. She will look into pay.

Kristy Elgin and Hailey Hudson, physical therapists, met with the board to discuss final pay for Hailey as she is leaving employment.

Carole Richards, Clerk and Recorder, discussed the resolutions for establishing the Board of Health, landfill and swimming pool. The board will discuss the number of board members for each of the boards and let her know how to complete the resolutions.

Pat Phillippi, County Treasurer/Assessor, called the board to let them know that investments earned $13,000.00 this past month.

Tim Fortner, Jerry Wilson, John Barbero and Phil Verwolf, weed board members, met with the commissioners to discuss grants and weed coordinator hours. It was agreed that the weed coordinator will work five 8-hour days with a one-hour lunch. She will also use the county vehicle when traveling.

Having heard no public comment on the day’s meeting and having completed all current business, the board adjourned at 5:00 PM.

S/ Darold L. Zimmer, Chairman

Board of County Commissioners

Attest: Carole R. Richards

Clerk of the Board

December 17, 2018

All commissioners were present for their meeting. Minutes were presented and approved. Hearing no public comment on the day’s agenda, the board addressed routine business items before scheduled department meetings.

Marty Drane, Building and Grounds Supervisor, reported Copp’s Hardware has tables on sale so he got some for the Community Center and moved the old tables to the MP Building. He is working on the generator at the nursing home. Marty will be checking on getting a keypad and gate opener for the airport. The cost is approximately $600.00. He will also be going to check on the tower on Russell Hill. It could need repair from recent high winds. Safety meeting will be January 8, 2019.

Kathy Roberts, Transportation Director, reported the roof is leaking on the transportation building. Marty will try to fix it.

Teel Mullanix, Road Supervisor, reported he will be gone for three weeks for medical reasons. He also brought in a gravel contract with K & D Livestock to establish a permanent pit. The Forest Service is going to look at the pit on 15 Mile on Wednesday, to try and establish a location. Teel will be putting two men on the crusher and each will receive crusher pay.

Carole Richards, Clerk and Recorder, met with the board to present employee evaluations and step increase forms for the commissioner’s approval. She also received contact information for financial analysis for the Critical Access Hospital project. She asked the commissioners to set a date and time for public hearing notice for resolutions establishing county advisory boards. The commissioners will hear public input on January 7, 2019, beginning at 10:30 AM and continuing throughout the day. The commissioner’s discussed the number of board members for the Board of Health. Donna moved to put three commissioners and two persons from the public on the Board of Health per Section 50-2-104, MCA. Rod seconded the motion, motion passed unanimously.

Phil Verwolf, area rancher and planning board member, met with the board to submit his resignation to the commissioners.

Cheri Stachey, Nursing Home Administrator/Director of Nursing, met to report 26 residents at the Manor.

Having completed all current business and hearing no public comment, the board adjourned at 5:00 PM.