The Ekalaka Eagle - Your Community Builder

09-07-2021

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, September 07, 2021, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Steve Rosencranz, Chairman; Rod Tauck, Vice Chairman; and Mike Watkins, member was present.

Commissioner Rosencranz called for public comment. There was none.

Carter County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

The commission reviewed the CDBG close outs (Dahl Memorial/ Hospital funds). They called Beth Epley of Eastern Plain Economic Development Corporation to ask about the $8,000.00 that has been withheld for the grant. It will be released when the close out documents are signed. The commission requested an itemized list of the purchases made with the grant funds which Beth will send out as soon as possible. Commissioner Tauck made the motion to sign the Conditional closeout Certification and final close out. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Carl Knapp Road and Bridge Supervisor, joined the meeting where he requested the commission approve the Thomas Ranch Inc. gravel pit lease. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the Thomas Ranch Inc. gravel pit lease. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Carl spoke to Rick Fike of Fike Crushing Inc about crushing 25,000 yards at the Thomas pit. Carl would like to use 20,000 yards on the Cottonwood Creek Rd. He will speak to Rick to see if he would be willing to crush for $3.20 per yard.

Fike Inc. has two piles crushed gravel at the Brownfield Pit that the County will have measured. Broz Engineering has done this in the past.

Carl would also like to advertise for a Road and Bridge Employee. Commissioner Tauck made the motion to advertise for a Road and Bridge Employee. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Obsolete property, Commissioner Watkins made the motion to advertise two gravel trailers for sale: 1990 Midland triple axel gravel trailer and a 1990 Alco pup trailer. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

There was discussion about the cost of treated sign posts. Carl 4x6x12 treated posts are about $65.00. The Road Department needs a bundle (40 posts). Carl can supply the posts for $15.00/ post and take them to Whitewood, SD to be treated for $14.00 a post. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the purchase of 40 posts from Carl Knapp to be treated and used for sign posts. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Carl left the meeting.

The commission discussed placing a notice in the paper when the New hospital building receives the certification of occupancy.

Tye Williams of South East Electric stopped in to the meeting to request the Commissioners support SEE and MECA in keeping the Sage Grouse rider in place in the. If the Sage grouse rider does not continue they may be listed as an endangered species. This would affect the work Southeast Electric does as well as landowners. The commission requested that attorney Corbit Harrington draft a letter supporting the Sage grouse rider. The letter will be sent to Montana representatives Tester, Daines and Rosendale. Tye left the meeting.

The Commission called Cody Taggart of Scull Construction to check on the Certificate of Occupancy. The dryer install needs to be completed and pictures sent to the inspector before the certificate will be issued. The call ended with Cody.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:54.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/S/ Steve Rosencranz, Chairman

Attest: Pamela J. Castleberry, Clerk of the Board

09-13-2021

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, September 13, 2021, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Steve Rosencranz, Chairman; Rod Tauck, Vice Chairman; and Mike Watkins, member was present.

Georgia Bruski DES Coordinator dropped by to have the commissioner fill out a Pre-disaster mitigation plan (PDM) survey. Georgia left the meeting.

Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry presented Resolution #09132021-01 opposing 30x30 Half Earth.

Commissioner Rosencranz received a call for Bruce Denstil who is looking to purchase gravel for his private road. There was no action taken.

Pam presented the Eastern Region Juvenile Detention Board Fiscal Year Professional Service Contract. The fees for this are $18.61. This claim was paid the month before.

County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting. Dan Semmens of Dorsey Whitney has DMHC lease nearly complete. He will be sending a letter of engagement for the lease agreement and the negotiation. The commissioners and attorney Harrington discussed the time frame and the cost of hiring Attorney Dan Semmens for these services.

Commissioner Rosencranz received a call from Doug Stieg of A and A Stieg Wholesale because the new hospital generator is low on fuel. There is an issue; as the tank was supposed to be filled by Muth Electric when they completed the testing if the generators. Stiegs where not informed that the tests where complete. The generators may have run for several days after the test where completed.

The commission called John Neisner of Scull to explain the generator fuel situation. He asked the commission to send the bill for the fuel to Scull Construction, he will work with Muth to pay the bill. Cody Taggert joined the call where they discussed the Certificate of Occupancy. The dryer gas lines are not installed at this time. They have been ordered by Dahl Memorial and will be installed as soon as they are received. Cody and Robert will be in Ekalaka for final punch list items this coming Wednesday. He requested the commission join him on a walk through. There was a discussion regarding propane use, automatic lighting, and threshold between the ER and the decon room. The call with John and Cody ended.

There was a discussion about the semi-trucks that have been ordered for the Road and Bridge Department. Black Hill Truck and Trailer has with drawn their bid, as they do not know when they will receive new trucks. Carl would like to purchase the seconded truck from Westlies from Dickinson, ND. Carl Knapp Road and Bridge Supervisor will have Black Hill Truck and Trailer send an email rescinding their bid.

Attorney Corbit Harrington spoke to Kitty Schmid Town Clerk about the ARPA/SLTP funds that will go to the Town of Ekalaka. She has incurred Engineering bills and wanted to make the Commission aware of the project schedule. The deadline for use of the funds is December 31,2024. Attorney Harrington suggested that the County request that the Town of Ekalaka submit monthly claims and reports on the use of funds.

Commissioner Watkins made a motion to approve Resolution# 09132021-01 opposing 30x30 Half Earth. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Tauck made the motion to sign the letter requesting Sage Grouse continue to be listed as a rider on the Appropriations Bill to Representatives Danes, Tester and Rosendale. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Pam joined the meeting as the HR. She has prepared letters of employment for the commission to sign. Drisilla Dye was hired last week in the Superintendent of Schools office for $22.66 / hour. She will be on 6- month probation. Denise Elmore was hired by the Museum for 16 to 20 hours a week. Starting pay will be $15.00/ hour with six months of probation.

There was discussion regarding publishing the meeting minutes in the Ekalaka Eagle.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the meeting minutes for August 26, and 30, 2021 with corrections. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Jade Boggs from the Insurance Store joined the meeting where they discussed the renewal of the Comprehensive Liability insurance coverage for Carter County. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to accept the insurance quote of $141,918.00. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion passed unanimously. Jade left the meeting.

Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp stopped in to present the commission with the email with drawing the bid on the Kenworth (truck #2) from Black Hills Truck and Trailer.

The meeting Broke for lunch at 12:08 and reconvened at 1:15.

The commissioner discussed the Airport master plan including runway length and the addition of hangers and a terminal.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:55pm.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/S/ Steve Rosencranz, Chairman

Attest: Pamela J. Castleberry, Clerk of the Board