Meeting minutes: June 24, 2021

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday June 24, 2021 in the Carter County Courthouse Board Meeting room of the Carter County Courthouse in Ekalaka, Montana.  Steve Rosencranz Chairman, Rod Tauck Vice Chair, Mike Watkins member, were present.  Board Chairman Steve Rosencranz called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Tricia Lovec Senior Citizen coordinator, presented updated Council on aging bylaws for signature.

The commission discussed the urinals that do not meet ADA code in 3 of the main floor bathrooms in the new hospital.

Tracey Goerndt Prairie Hills Recovery, joined the meeting to request that Carter County designate the Substance Abuse funding from the state to Prairie Hills recovery. She works out of offices in Glendive, Baker and Sidney and has in the past been referred cases from Carter County. These Counties have split funding with Prairie Hills and Eastern Montana Mental Health. Carter County has already earmarked all the allocated funds to Eastern Montana Mental Health. The commission discussed options to divide the funding between the two next year. Tracey left the meeting

County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting where they reviewed Predator Control Contracts. The commission called Ralph Brownfield, Predator Control Board President. They agreed to change Chad Harrington’s contract to four months rather than I year with four months paid. The contract will require a copy of Independent contractor’s license.

Pam Castleberry Clerk and Recorder joined the meeting.

RFP for lease of Hospital Building. Ryan Tooke CEO of Dahl Memorial joined the meeting where he presented a spreadsheet of grants and funding Dahl Memorial has received. There was discussion regarding what has been paid for by the County and what has been paid for by Dahl Memorial. Pam stated that individual Items in the building are not listed on the fixed assets as owned by the County. Ryan has applied for a grant for the ambulance. There was discussion on who pays for the Ambulances, and the maintenance and up keep. Currently Dahl reimburses Carter County for fuel and minor repairs. The county owns the ambulances and covers the insurance and major repairs.

The group clarified insurance coverage for the current building. Dahl Memorial pays for the malpractice insurance on the medical providers as well as Liability insurance. The County provides insurance on the building.

Hospital building Propane tanks will be filled soon. Steve will have the County fill them the first time and then maintenance would be spelled out in the contract.

CDBG fund receipts go through EPEDC- Beth Eply and then to Carter County who will send the funding on to Dahl Memorial. Items purchased with CDBG funds are owned by Dahl Memorial.

Attorney Corbit Harrington left the meeting.

The group discussed the new building issues. Ryan agrees that the urinals should be fixed to meet ADA requirements and that the landscape in front of the building my need to be measured to make sure it meets the spec. Ryan left the meeting.

Stacey Ashbrook County Attorney secretary stepped into the meeting with an update on the Mill Iron clean up. There is currently a Carter County resident wishing to purchase the property and do the cleanup. 

Commissioner Rosencranz received a call earlier in the week from Pubic Health Officer/ Health Nurse Trish Loughlin. She requested a change in hours for her and Kirstie Nelson Pubic Health Nurse. Trish would work 16 hours a week so that she would only have 2 days of travel and Kirstie would work 24 hours giving her 3 full days. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve change in hours worked for Trish Loughlin and Kirstie Nelson. This change would take effect July 1, 2021. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. The commission requested that Pam write a letter to Trish and Kirstie granting the change in hours.

There was discussion regarding the RFP for the New Hospital Building lease. Pam Castleberry Clerk and Recorder questioned the need for the RFP. She requested the estimated cost of the RFP for budget purposes. The estimated costs with the RFP and the lease agreement would be approximately $20,000.00.

The fair board by laws update, the Board has requested payment for mileage for Board meetings. Commissioner Watkins made a motion to approve payment of mileage for travel to board meetings. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Tauck made the motion to approve Victory Workers Compensation insurance quote. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion, there was no public comment. The motion carried unanimously.  

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the encroachment permit for Range Telephone to install fiberoptic cable on Indian Creek RD. Commissioner Rosencranz seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. 

Pam Castleberry Clerk and Recorder joined the meeting for the Annual 2021-2022 budget review.

Lisa Rieger Fallon/ Carter Assessor stopped in to discuss tax assessment for 2021-2022. She has also changed her hours in the Carter County office. She will be in the Carter County office on the Second and fourth Thursday of the month.

Commissioner Tauck made the motion to sign the request for the CDBG draw down. Commissioner Rosencranz seconded the motion. There was no public comment. The motion carried unanimously.

Weed Board Supervisor, Jesse Scott joined the meeting for the weed department 2021-2022 annual budget review. Jesse updated the commission on the summer spraying. She has begun looking to the Montana Conservation Corps for help for the up coming spray season.

Carl Knapp, Road and Bridge Supervisor joined the meeting to sign the Encroachment permit for Range Telephone.

Bob Jacobs County Maintenance, met with board. The elevator at the courthouse has been inspected twice this year. Once by the original State inspector and a second time by his replacement as he has retired. The second inspector came to inspect the elevator at the new hospital building. The new inspector fined the county for the inspection being late. The Museum sprinkler system is malfunctioning, Bob is currently working to fix the problem. Bob left the meeting.

The commissioners called Greg Benjamin, Stahly Engineering to make sure the plans that he used during the walk around inspection on June 21, 2021 were included in the building specs. Greg sent his findings in an email to Scott Cromwell of Slate Architect and will follow up with the commissioners as well. The commission informed Greg of the issues with the urinals in the three main bathrooms. Greg will check on things and get back to the commissioners. The call ended with Greg.

The commission drafted an email requesting the correction of the space between the sink in the urinals. They stressed that they want the bathrooms to meet ADA code and fit the standards of the rest of the building. 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:15 pm.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

Attest:/s Steve Rosencranz                             Attest:/s Pamela J Castleberry

Steve Rosencranz, Chairman                                                       Clerk of the Board, Pamela J Castleberry