Minutes:August 09, 2021
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, August 09, 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.
Guests included Melody Loken Carter County Citizen and Ryan Tooke Dahl Memorial Health Care Association CEO.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the meeting minutes from July 30, 2021 and August 02,2021. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The commission reviewed early warrants for Postage and the CDBG funding warrant to Dahl Memorial Health Care. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the warrants and the Resolution #08092021-01 Budgetary authority for the CBDG funds. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Ryan Tooke left the meeting.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp joined the meeting to discuss in kind road work with Powder River County. Carl and the Road and Bridge Supervisor from Powder River County have agreed to gravel a small section of road in the for mentioned County.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve Carter County gravel 7/10 of a mile of the Coal Creek Rd in Powder River County. Powder River County will gravel ¾ of a mile of Crow Creek Rd in Carter County. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Commissioner Tauck made the motion to approve Walker Livestock haul 310 loads of gravel on the Pilgrim Creek Rd, Bogner Rd and Coal Creek Rd for the price of $60,000.00. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The commissioners read and approved the letter of MOU with the Ekalaka Public school for use of Caden’s Park and the approach at the event center. This would provide a play area and a route for drop off and pick up of students during the construction project at the school campus. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the letter of MOU. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Mike Madler, who is doing research for a book, joined the meeting with questions about Carter County history. The commissioners supplied him with numbers for local historians that may be able to assist him. Mike left the meeting.
KLJ Carter County Airport Master Plan Meeting.
Guests: Dane Castleberry, Greg Harris and Troy Fruit of the Carter County Airport Board. Andrew Zienke from KLJ Engineering. Joining the meeting on zoom conference was Craig Canfield, Mary Lynch, and Kent Penney for KLJ.
The discussion included the replacement and relocation of the Automated Weather Observing System. (AWOS) Several of the new locations would require easements with adjoining land owners. The Airport Board members selected Location C for the AWOS.
KLJ contacted Medical flight operators.
KLJ present 4 drawings for the Advisory Committee reviewed. They chose drawing 1 and 3 that KLJ will refine and present at the next Master Plan meeting. The next Ekalaka Airport Master Plan meeting will be held September 20, 2021. The commissioners will contract the landowners to discuss the plans that have been presented at a later date.
The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12:15 and convened at 1:05.
Concerned citizens of the County Joined the meeting to discuss the request for proposal (RFP) and the operation of the new hospital facility by Dahl Memorial Health Care Association as per request of Jennifer Williams, Attorney at law.
The meeting was moved to the courtroom as approximately 60 guests joined the meeting; see attached sign in sheet.
The comments and questions included: The majority of the Carter County guests at the meeting agreed that they voted on a bond to build a hospital to house Dahl Memorial Health Care Association. They requested that the Commission put a hold on the RFP process and let Dahl Memorial have a chance to run the facility and in so doing keep the local management, including the hospital board and staff.
There were questions raised regarding finances and including the cost of the lease, which would be one dollar ($1.00) no matter what business leased the building. There was discussion about the tax levy that the citizens pay to fund the maintenance of Dahl Memorial building as well as funds and loans for operating expenses of Dahl Memorial Health Care.
The commission made the decision to offer the RFP and the lease to see what other services other entities could provide. They fully intend on receiving and fairly evaluating all the RFPs that are received including Dahl Memorial Health Care Association.
The County records and the lease agreements will be reviewed by an independent audit firm as has been done in the past.
The request was made that the donors that provided items to Dahl Memorial should be given notification if they items are not going to be in the possession of Dahl Memorial. There was a request for a publicly available list of all the issues and decisions made on leasing the new building.
There were questions raised about the critical care access license and the Dahl Memorial status as a frontier medical provider. These cannot be transferred and will take several years to acquire if Dahl Memorial is not the lessee.
Attorney Jennifer Williams indicated that the minutes lack discussion details and do not include motions made. She finds legal issue with the Carter County Commissioners Agenda pertaining to public comment. The public requested that the minutes and agenda be published in the Ekalaka Eagle as well as Ekalaka and Alzada Post Offices.
The commissioners agreed to take into consideration the issues and comments brought before them. They will continue to set meetings to discuss the RPF and the lease. They welcomed the community to come to the meetings with comments and concerns.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 3:10 pm.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
Attest:/s: Steve Rosencranz Attest:/ s: Pamela J Castleberry
Steve Rosencranz, Chairman Clerk of the Board