Minutes: March 24, 2022
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, March 24, 2022, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Present were Steve Rosencranz, Chairman; Rod Tauck, Vice Chair and Mike Watkins, Member.
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 P.M.
The was no public comment.
Road and Bridge supervisor Carl Knapp joined the meeting where the group went over the State Department of Transportation (MDOT) County bridge inspection reports.
Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry joined the meeting.
Carter County Road Department Boom bid opening. There was one bid from Robin Kawecki. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to accept Robin Kawecki’s bid in the amount of $1,500.00. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. there was no public comment and the motion carried.
Carl left the meeting.
There were no bids for the used Public Health department furniture. There were no plans made for the office furniture.
Museum 6-month performance review for Denise Elmore, museum receptionist with Sabre Moore, museum director. Denise received an excellent review from Sabre who recommends that Denise be placed on regular employment status. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to remove Denise from probational employment status; increasing her salary to $ 19.03 / hour. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion passed unanimously.
Sabre, Denise and the staff at the Museum are currently working on an after-school program slated to begin this summer. Sabre and Denise left the meeting.
Deputy Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright presented the commission with warrant to Scull Construction for partial payment. This has been with-held until the punch list of items have been completed at the new hospital.
Commissioner Tauck made the motion to approve the warrant for $100,000.00. Commission Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion passed.
Slate Architecture will submit another claim before Carter County will finalize a warrant for partial payment.
Town of Ekalaka Board member Jim MacKay joined the meeting to bring to the attention of the Commission that culverts on Sandy Street and Central Avenue are collapsed. The Town has tried to jet them with no results. The Town of Ekalaka believes the culverts have been damaged by the construction at the new hospital building. Jim left the meeting. The commission discussed the condition of the culverts and they will have Carl look them over and get back to the commission.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve publishing a follow up public notice regarding the Montana Department of Transportation meeting where the Commission presented the Highway 7 petition. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment.
Clerk and Recorder, Pam Castleberry joined the meeting.
The commissioners called Nathan Stone of Denbury Resources with regard to “The Termination and Release agreement” for the Road use agreement between Denbury and Carter County. The commission will sign the agreement when they have received payment. Nathan and Dave will send check out this Monday or the following Monday. The Clerk and Recorder will hold the document until the county has received payment.
Sheriff Neil Kittlemann joined the meeting to discuss the Montana Fire Restriction Agreement. The agreement would require all counties in the region to go into fire restriction at the same time. Neil and the commissioners agree that a blanket fire restriction will not work for a wide area of the state. They have agreed not to sign the agreement. Neil left the meeting.
The commission called Jade from the Insurance store about the 911 tower insurance. He returned their call and they discussed the options outlined on the list that was emailed to him. He will contact the county with a quote as soon as it is ready.
Judge Kathy Rosencranz joined the meeting to discuss bookkeeping with the commission, including payments to the general fund and the update on software. Their office will start training for the software next week. Judge Rosencranz left the meeting.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the meeting minutes for March 10, 2022 with corrections. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:35 pm
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
Attest:/s: Rod Tauck Attest: /s: Pamela Castleberry
Rod Tauck, Vice-Chairman Clerk of the Board