Minutes: August 30, 2021
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, August 30, 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 Steve Rosencranz called the meeting to order at 9:00 am.
Guests included Melody Loken, Carter County Citizen and DMHC board member and Carter County Attorney Corbit Harrington.
The Commission reviewed and approved payroll in the amount of $246,945.46 and claims in the amount of $474,103.18 plus a late claim for $800.00 for a total of $474,903.18.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp joined the meeting with employee Vince Gallegos. Vince has stopped into the meeting to inform the commissioners that he has resigned his position on the Road and Bridge crew effective September 10, 2021. Carl and Vince left the meeting.
OAC meeting
John Neisner, and Cody Taggert Scull Construction. Melody, Georgia Bruski DES Coordinator, and Ryan Tooke, DMHC CEO. Phone in: Scott Cromwell Slate Architect.
The certificate of occupancy inspection was done on August 25, 2021. There were items that need to be completed including connecting the dryers and test the boilers.
The closeouts should be finished by the end of the week. They will be working on the ER side, and installing cable railing. The roof ice guards will be installed in the end of September. The entry way ceiling. The glass on the pallet is broken and will be picked up in several weeks.
The pile of dirt/ gravel on the southside of the hospital can be moved, given away or used by the County after the retention pond has been filled to the proper depth. There was discussion regarding the retention ditch and the culverts on the southside of the building. Scott will talk to Greg Benjamin about it.
CAR #8 – Commissioner Tauck made the motion to accept the contingency allocation Request. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Ryan Tooke brought up the sprinkler heads by the front sidewalk and by the road on the west side of the building. They may be damaged by snow removal and traffic.
The installation of the CT will start September 13. It should take ten days. John will touch base with Muth electric and offered helped from Scull on the install.
The roof leaks are from the roof top units and will be included in the final punch list repairs.
Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry asked what the square foot price for the building would be for insurance purposes. Scott and John figured approximately $321. 00/ ft. - $436.00/ft.
The OAC meeting adjourned at 11:00 am. The next OAC meeting will be September 20, 2021.
The commission discussed the hospital building project. The meeting adjourned for lunch at 11:45. And reconvened at 1:00.
Guests included Melody Loken citizen and Hospital Board member and Linda Zittlow and County Attorney Corbit Harrington.
Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry joined the meeting for the 2022 budget hearing. She calculated the budget reserves at 22-25%. She respectfully requested that the commission approve the 2022 Preliminary Budget.
Commissioner Tauck made the motion to approve the 2022 Preliminary Budget. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously.
The board met with Attorney Caleb Kaywood of Crowley and Fleck law firm and Steve McNeece of CAH Solutions Group by Zoom. Guests to the meeting are listed on the attached sign in sheet.
Carter County Attorney Corbit Harrington read a statement recommending that the Commissioners suspend the RFP and negotiate a lease agreement based on the “significant turnaround efforts set by DMHC to address the commissioners’ concerns.” “If the County is unable to reach an agreement by the end of year 2021 then they will extend the current lease and the County will reopen the RFP to transition the operations. If the County is able to reach an agreement with DMHC on the new lease by the end of the year, the County will allow a period of time under the new lease to determine whether the turn around efforts and other measures agreed to in the new lease are effective. If the efforts are not effective, then the County will reopen the RFP to transition the operations. The most important thing to the Commissioners is to have a strong hospital to serve our community.”
Commissioner Tauck made the motion to temporarily suspend the RFP process to negotiate a new lease with Dahl Memorial Board of Directors. If a new lease is not signed by the end of the year, 2021, then the parties will extend the current lease and the County will reopen the RFP to transition the hospital operations to a new operator. If the County is able to reach an agreement with Dahl Memorial Board of Directors on a new lease by the end of the year, the County will allow for a period of time under the new lease to determine whether the turn around efforts and other measures agreed to in the new lease are effective. If the efforts are not effective, then the County will reopen the RFP to transition the hospital operations to a new operator. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously. The motion was then amended to state “18-month lease” in place of “a period of time.”
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to have Dorsey and Whitney draw up the first draft of the lease proposal. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was public comment was taken. The motion carried unanimously.
Steve McNeece thanks the commission for working with CAH Solutions Group and Dahl and requested a meeting with the Commission on September 23, 2021.
Pam Castleberry Clerk and Recorder will submit legal notice suspending the RFP in all the publications that it was published in previously.
The Zoom meeting with Caleb Kaywood and Steve McNeese concluded and the guests left the meeting. Public Health manager Stefanie Harrington stayed were there was discussion regarding COVID-19 testing and current rate of infection in Carter County.
Tracey Walker Superintendent of Schools came in to meet with the commissioners. Drusilla Dye applied for the assistant Superintendent of schools. There was a brief discussion of the duties involved in the position.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to hire Drusilla Dye as the replacement for Superintendent of Schools. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 4:05.
Carter County, Montana
Attest:/s: Steve Rosencranz Attest:/s: Pamela J Castleberry
Steve Rosencranz, Chairman Clerk of the Board