08-31-2022

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday 31, 2022, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Vice Chair and Mike Watkins, Member; were present. Steve Rosencranz, Chairman; absent.

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 and there was no public comment.

The Commission approved payroll in the amount of $277,511.03 and claims in the amount of $455,027.50.

Carter County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp joined the meeting to present Brence gravel pit lease. He also requested a Gravel crushing contract ad for the Brence Pit.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the lease agreement between Carter County and Paul and Nancy Brence of the Rose Ranch. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve approximately 25,000 yards of gravel crushing at the Brence Gravel Pit. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

The Commission approved and signed the Action for Eastern Montana contract modification which included an increase in funds that were $34,859.00 with a match of $2,426.00 from the County to $53,079.50 with a match of $7,480.00 from the County. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the modified contract. Commissioner Tauck Seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the State Livestock Board Predator fund allocation in the amount of $13,699.00. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously.

County Maintenance Bob Jacobs stepped into the meeting with on an update on utilities and fire suppression system at the old hospital building. He replaced the toilet at the museum with one from the old hospital building. Bob and Corbit left the meeting.

Deputy Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting with an update on Camp Needmore. There was a water sample sent in on August 24th that required treatment. Helen Stevens and Jeff Vanhaus doing the treatment and will do the follow up tests.

The meeting broke for lunch at 12:00. The meeting was called back in session at 1:13 p.m.

Public Health Task Order discussion; Present - Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry, County Attorney Corbit Harrington, Public Health nurse Kirstie Nelson, Deputy Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright, and Public Health Manager Stefanie Harrington. Public Health Nurse Trish Loughlin called into the meeting.

Kirstie has reached out to DPHHS, Magdalena Kendall Scott MPH, Communicable Disease Epidemiology Supervisor who will send a revised Congregate Living Coordinator/ Disease Intervention Specialist (CLC/DIS) Task order. The funds from these two task orders may now be used for employees’ salaries that are already on staff.

Judy update the group on the refund of the payment for the credentialing services from Bickham Healthcare. The follow up email stated that they could not provide Credentialing services to a government entity. Stefanie was not aware of this refund or the reason behind it until today.

Trish recommended reaching out to Fallon County Public Health for the next steps for Credentialing that will be needed in order for Carter County Public Health to charge for services.

Kirstie received approval from the state for a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in Carter County. DPHHS offers funding and assistance setting up the program. It may be a year before the program is operational. The guests left the meeting.

The Commissioners called Scott Cromwell of Slate Architecture for information on the New Hospital generator feasibility study. There is a draft report in progress that Scott has not received yet. There is still the option to add a second unit or replace the current generator with a larger one. Scott will be in touch when receives the copy of the draft feasibility study.

Corbit and the Commissioners reviewed the land surveys, deeds and the current lease for the Old Airport property provided by Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry. Neil Kittelmann joined the meeting where he asserts that the current lease for the property does not include the section of property once referred to as the Pavement Mixing lot. More formally known as tract! COS16 in records of the Clerk and Recorder. Neil requested consideration for the fact the agreement that the commission made in 1999 that allowed Neil to lease the property if he agreed to remove the junk.

The lease signed August 15, 2022 between the County and Dell Dague included the property referred called the Old Airport Property. Commissioner Watkins made the motion for a 90 Day grazing agreement with Neil Kittlemann for the pavement mixing lot. The lease will be ending on 90 days. Corbit will write up a lease agreement for Neil. The Commission will revisit the lease on December 05, 2022. Neil left the meeting.

Cyber security was discussed. The County will wait to decide a course of action based on the insurance renewal.

The Commission with the assistance of the Clerk and Recorder randomly drew lots to determine terms. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to set the terms for the Carter County Board of Health as follows. Steve DeFord- Chairman 3-year term. Sharon Carroll- 2-year term. Rona Meyer- 1-year term. Dana Eshelman secretary, 2-year term and Jessica Walker, 3-year term. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion there was no public comment and the motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:02 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Steve Rosencranz, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Pamela J Castleberry, Clerk of the Board