Minutes August 12, 2021

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, August 12, 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. 

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

 Melody Loken, Carter County citizen joined the meeting.

The commissioners discussed the agenda. They will open the meeting with public comment from 9:00-9:15 at each meeting. The agenda will be set by the Chairman of the board and posted 48 hours before the meeting. They discussed contacting the Boyes and Alzada Post Offices for permission to post the agendas. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to strike the “All public comments on any non-agenda items will be taken by appointment only, made in advance with the Clerk and Recorder” from the agenda and set a 15-minute public comment period from 9:00-9:15. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

County Maintenance Bob Jacobs called into the meeting concerning the courthouse elevator. It has been reported that the elevator may not be working properly. Bob spoke to the state inspector who indicated that the elevator is running a recalibration that is usually scheduled for off hours. The inspection sticker in the elevator is out of date. The sticker and paperwork are still being processed in Helena.

County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting were the discussion returned to the minutes, as Attorney Harrington read his findings on meeting laws. The official meeting minutes shall be kept in Clerks office and available for inspection by the public for free. The minutes should not leave the clerks room. Electronic PDF copy of official minutes may be kept. Time and items on the agenda should not be changed without approval from the chairman of the board.

Deputy Clerk Judy wright, stepped into the commission meeting with a message to call Caleb from Crowley and Fleck law firm to set up an appointment for meeting with Attorney Stewart Kirkpatrick.

County Attorney Harrington also discussed:

·         Plans to restart the Child Protective Team.

·         Carter County Public Health research equine therapy.

·         A commission for adult services.

·         Meeting with school staff on reporting abuse and neglect.

Lisa Rieger County tax Assessor provided the commission with 2021-2022 certified tax values.

The meeting broke for lunch at 11:45 and reconvened at 1:05.

The call-in meeting with Attorneys Dan Semmens and Stewart Kirkpatrick to discuss the RFP for the new hospital building will be rescheduled. There were however guests present. Guests included Charles Parks, Jeri Thieme, Mirna Tooke, Ryan Tooke, Peggy Tooke, Bud Powell, Carole Carey, Dane Castleberry, Lora Tauck, Mike and Penney Hanson, Melody Loken, Lynn Williams, Ross Phelps, Travis Loehding, and Ty Conner. Points of discussion included:

·         extending Dahl Memorial Hospital lease 2-5 years

·         support for Dahl Memorial and CEO Ryan Tooke

·         support for continuing the RFP process with careful negotiations with all entities submitting RFP’s

·         disappointment in the County Commissions lack of public information about the project and lease process.

·         And the seeming lack of research before proceeding with the RFP and lease.

·         concern about the possible increase in costs of running the new facility

·          increased cost of medical care in the county if an outside entity leases the facility.

·         Loss of local jobs if an outside entity leases the facility.

The commissioners thanked the guests for the comments and the guest left the meeting.

The commissioners placed a call to Caleb from Crowley and Fleck law firm to schedule the call-in meeting with Attorney Stewart Kirkpatrick. This will be scheduled for August 26, 2021.

A call was placed to Attorney Dan Semmens of Dorsey and Whitney to schedule a meeting with the commission and attorney Stewart Kirkpatrick. He was unavailable. 

The commission called Hammel’s and Youngs to set a meeting to review the 20-year airport master plan. They will meet Monday August 16, 2021, at 1:00. 

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 pm.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

_________________________________                              Attest: _____________________________

Steve Rosencranz, Chairman                                                       Clerk of the Board