Commissioner Proceedings

Monday, July 18, 2022

Chairman Lee Randall called meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Commissioner’s office, Powder River County Courthouse. Commissioners Donna Giacometto and John Olson were present.

The board read and approved meeting minutes from June 27, 30 and July 7, 11 and 14, 2022 to be published. The board reviewed and read the consent agenda.

Dan Davis met with board to make preparations between the county and horse sale for the upcoming horse sale in September.

Road Supervisor Teel Mullanix met with board for the FY22-23 budget meeting.

Extension Agents Julie Riley and Mary Rumph met with board for their monthly update.

Mid-month claims were read and approved.

Museum Director Jessica Malone met with the board for the FY22-23 budget meeting.

Transportation meeting for FY22-23 was held with Molly Lloyd, Superintendent of Schools, and commissioners present.

Discussion was held to appoint Library Board member. John Olson motioned to appoint Allan Reaves, Donna Giacometto seconded motion, motion carried.

Medical Administrator Sean Hill met with the board. 21 residents were reported. Updated Medicaid reimbursement rates were presented. TV rates were discussed and fees for private pay residents; Hill requested to raise private pay rates, no decision was made. A clinic update was then conducted. The board was presented an updated work agreement with Gardner Billing accounting firm to conduct professional services for the nursing home. The board signed the agreement.

Public Health FY22-23 budget meeting was held. Sean Hill was present.

Clinic FY22-23 budget meeting was held. Sean Hill, Abbey Barnhart and Vikki Klemm were present.

Nursing home FY22-23 budget meeting was held. Sean Hill, Julie Terrill and Paige Powell were present.

FY22-23 Compensation Board meeting was held. Board members present were Sheriff Drane, Lee Randall, Donna Giacometto, John Olson, Clerk and Recorder Cynde Gatlin, Attorney Jeff Noble, Ann Emmons, Doug Wilbert and Treasurer Pat Phillippi. Also, present was Justice of the Peace Cathy Landa, District Court Clerk Vanna Byrd and Superintendent of Schools Molly Lloyd. Lee called the meeting to order, previous meeting minutes were read by Clerk and Recorder, Sheriff Drane motioned to approve minutes, Pat Phillippi seconded motion, motion carried. Board reviewed CPI and inflation factor mill levy calculation. Salary survey was then reviewed and discussed. Lee called for public comment, no public comment was heard. Stipend for elected officials was discussed and it was requested by Cathy Landa to table the stipend request and vote until after the final vote of elected official raise. It was verbally approved by all to table this issue until later in the meeting. Jeff Noble motioned for a 3% raise for FY22-23 elected officials’ salary, Donna Giacometto seconded motion, motion went to vote, Cynde Jo Gatlin voted no, Sheriff Drane no, Doug Wilbert yes, Ann Emmons yes, Pat Phillippi yes, Jeff Noble yes, Donna Giacometto yes, Lee Randall no, and John Olson no, motion failed. Cynde Jo Gatlin motioned for a 3.5% raise for FY22-23, Lee seconded motion, motion went to vote, Cynde Jo Gatlin yes, Sheriff Drane no, Doug Wilbert yes, Ann Emmons no, Pat Phillippi no, Jeff Noble yes, Donna Giacometto no, Lee Randall yes, and John Olson yes, motion carried. Stipend for elected officials was then discussed, Clerk and Recorder, Treasurer, District Court Clerk and Superintendent of School all requested stipend, Justice of the Peace declined, Sheriff Drane motioned to approve all requested stipends, Pat Phillippi seconded motion, motion carried. After hearing no further comment, meeting adjourned.

Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Commissioners will meet again on Monday, July 25, 2022.

Monday, July 25, 2022

The meeting began at 8:30 a.m. in the Commissioner’s office, Powder River County Courthouse. Commissioners Donna Giacometto and John Olson were present. Commissioner Lee Randall was absent.

Aging Program Director Tammy Jackman met with the board for the FY 22-23 budget meeting.

Clerk and Recorder Cynde Jo Gatlin met with the board. Gatlin presented Janssen gravel contract to be signed, board signed. Gatlin informed the board grant write Julie Emmons-Stoddard has requested the county to prioritize the CDBG grant options, board chose to prioritize the capital improvement fund. Gatlin has been contacted by local residents that will be using the concession building in the fair barn during the fair and the needed maintenance of the facility. The board stated they will work with the Maintenance Department to get facility cleaned up.

District Court Clerk Vanna Byrd met with the board for her the District Court FY22-23 budget meeting.

Cemetery Board members Julie Riley and Katie Ward met with the board for the FY22-23 budget meeting.

Library Director Barb Mitchell met with the board for the library FY22-23 budget meeting.

Transportation Director Christy Olson met with board for the Transportation Department FY22-23 budget meeting.

Randy Sanders, DNRC employee, along with Raymond Ragsdale, Carey Trumps, Myles Gardner and Teel Mullanix joined the meeting. The meeting was to discuss the DNRC grant to purchase a dozer for the county fire department with the understanding the dozer will be maintained by county, may be used by county in off fire season and must be readily available for fires during fire season. The county will be responsible for the travel expenses incurred to get dozer to Broadus.

Commissioner Lee Randall joined the meeting after the lunch break.

Weed Board members John Barbero and Tim Fortner and County Agent Mary Rumph met with the board to discuss the FY22-23 weed budget.

Duane Talcott stopped in to present signed documents for the bridge replacement project.

The board discussed and voted on reimbursing the travel expenses for newly hired EMS Director Adam Johnson.

Ron Hecker, Forest Service, met with the board. Discussion took place on logging projects and road routes. Teel Mullanix, Road Supervisor, joined the meeting.

Belle Creek Road Project (teams meeting) was cancelled.

Maintenance Supervisor Marty Drane met with the board to review FY22-23 budget. Discussion continued to general maintenance update and board requested Drane to prioritize the request of cleaning up and maintaining the concession building attached to the fair barn.

After hearing no further public comment, the board adjourned at 5:00 pm and will reconvene Friday, July 29, 2022.