Meeting Minutes: October 04, 2021

Commission Proceedings

10-04-2021

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, October 04, 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 Chair and Mike Watkins, Member; were present.

Commissioner Steve Rosencranz called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.

Judy Wright, EMT Director; joined the meeting to let the commission know that in the process of moving into the Carter County Health facility she found that there was flooring or baseboard glue on the floor in room 1119. She removed it; but noticed more in the hallway.

Judy also worked on the landscaping in the front of the Courthouse. She would like to see the County hire someone to maintain the beds if the maintenance staff is not going to do it. Commissioner Watkins suggested having Evergreen Landscaping apply a pre-emergence in the spring to help keep the flower beds free of weeds and grass.

Camp Needmore Board member Jeff Vanhaus called into the meeting to request permission to have the County Road Department dig a hole to place a new fire pit at The Camp. The Commission approved and Jeff will contact Carl Knapp, Road and Bridge Supervisor.

Justice of the Peace Kathy Rosencranz and Clerk Kamely Harkins joined the meeting requesting clarification of Kamley’s hours and wages when she is filling in as substitute judge.

Attorney Corbit Harrington and Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry joined the meeting. Commissioner Rosencranz recused himself from the meeting.

Kamely requested to meet with the commission to clarify that she be paid the 90% of the judge’s salary for the full day that Kathy is gone as per the letter she received stating as such after the meeting. She went on to explain that she is on call in Kathy’s absence and believes that she should be compensated, not necessarily for the on-call hours but for the 8 hours in the office.

Judge Rosencranz only approved Kamely’s hours work as the sub judge and not for the full day and required written transfer of duties for Kamely to be eligible for sub judge wages. Kathy found that there is a variety of ways other Montana Counties pay for Substitute judge services.

 Commissioner Tauck understood the commission’s decision was to pay Kamely sub judge wages only for the hours worked as a sub judge. He sees a value in having someone on-call and would like the commission to base their decision on this matter based on what is best for the County.

County Attorney Corbit Harrington suggested that it would be less costly for the County to pay Kamely as a substitute judge would be paid for their time as well as Kamely in Kathy’s absence.  Duties that could fall to Kamely would be temporary restraining order, 48-hour hearing, and warrants. Duties such as rulings and disqualifications would require a sitting judge to fill in for Kathy. He suggests compensating her for a full day’s work.

Clerk and Recorder / Human Resources officer Pam Castleberry stated that once a department head signs an employee’s timesheet for payroll it should not be changed without proper notification and communication between the department head and the employee.

Kathy stated that she will continue to use a written form to sign over judge duties to substitutes so that there is a clear understanding of when the duties change hands.

Commissioner Tauck made the motion to approve Kamely has a substitute Judge in writing in the absence of Judge Kathy Rosencranz. Kamely will be compensated for the full 8-hour day of work at 90% of the judge’s salary with back pay for the hours removed from her timesheet in June 2021. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment. The motion was approved.

Clerk and Recorder/ Human Resource officer officially Pam Castleberry requested a review of the hours of the office of the Justice of the Peace.  The review was tentatively set for October 29, 2021.

Meals on Wheels services are contracted by Terry Stieg and is paid through the Senior Citizens Program. The Department of Labor denied Terry’s Independent Contractors Application. The commission will have Terry and Tricia Lovec join the meeting this afternoon.   

The Commission discussed the Hospital Building lease. They also placed phone calls to Cody Taggart and John Neisner from Scull Construction with a request for keys to the building.

The meeting broke for lunch at 11:50 and reconvened at 1:00

Senior Coordinator Tricia Lovec and Meals on Wheels delivery driver Terry Stieg joined the meeting. The discussed options for the contracted services to deliver the meals. It was decided that he would resubmit his application for Independent Contractors Application.

The commission received an email from Jay and Michael Slaba regarding the un kept conditions at the Carter County Event Center. The commission discussed having a signed rental agreement, charging a deposit and having the building inspected before returning the deposit.

Deputy Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright presented the commission with a bill from Evergreen Landscape for the repair damage to the underground sprinkler system that was damaged when installing the sprinkler system install for the hospital.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 3:00 pm.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

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

Steve Rosencranz, Chairman                                                       Clerk of the Board