April 18, 2025 Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 by Commissioner Pancratz. Commissioner Goffena and Commissioner Turley were present.
County Attorney Krakowka was also present.
Pledge of allegiance.
Commissioner Turley made the motion to approve the agenda after adding item #4 and 5 to the business. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion as amended. Motion carried.
Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the April 4th & April 11th meeting minutes as written. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Commissioner Pancratz attended the DES FEMA Mitigation Conference this week. DES Director Russell did a great job. Musselshell County was used as an example for our interaction and has made a lot of progress. Prescribed burns have resulted in much needed thinning.
Norma Trent joined the meeting.
There was no public comment.
1 Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign the Service Provider Designation Form from the South Central Regional Mental Health Center. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.
2 Commissioner Turley made the motion to sign Resolution 2025-17 cancelling Uncalled Warrants Drawn between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 in the amount of $5,586.49. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.
3 Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign Resolution 2025-18 Ordering the County Treasurer to issue Tax Deeds. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.
4 Commissioner Turley made the motion to sign the Grant Application for Pavement Maintenance and Gate Replacement submitted by KLJ Engineering. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.
5 Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve funding for Headwaters Economics to conduct Musselshell County Business and Industry Viability Study. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.
County Agent Cooley gave his weekly report to the Commissioners. Monday April 21, 2025,
there will be an initial applicator pesticide training. There were 30 new people registered. There will be a Fair Board meeting on April 22, 2025. Mr. Cooley is going to be requesting plans from the Fair Board and 4H when there is something purchased or ordered.
Sheriff Lesnik gave his weekly report to the Commissioners. They have been busy. There was a closed-door HR meeting.
DES Director Russell and Coordinator Rook gave their weekly report to the Commissioners. They attended the Planned Action Conference this week. There were 32 jurisdictions represented in person and online. May 1st, 2025 there will be a FEMA meeting at 9:30 to discuss Allen Road and Alec Roy Road culverts and the Old Milwaukee bridge removal. The Building Resilience Infrastructure and Committee (BRIC) has been abolished and is going to be revamped to Block Grants managed through DES. The Demo of the Busy Bee has been put on hold due to a FEMA holdup.
There was a Department Head Meeting over the lunch hour at the Ambulance barn.
County Attorney Krakowka reported that the Sheriff’s Office has been crime crushing so he’s been busy with that. His office is finally set up and wants to remind everyone that he is always willing to help.
Clerk of Court Halverson reported that her office is all set up with e-filing on the public portal, courts.mt.gov. They are working on next year’s jury pool. Judge Larsen is settling in well.
Treasurer Hetrick reported that the mobile home taxes were billed out late because they are waiting on the Legislature to finish their session. The new County owned system is in and “interesting” The new person is doing great. They are waiting for grant reimbursements for negative balances on budgets.
Clerk & Recorder Tomassi reported that School Trustee ballots went out on April 17 for the May 6th 2025 Trustee Election. The office will be getting a new copier next week. The new budget year was opened, and the reports will be sent out to Department Heads. The County has hired Justina Marshall as the new County Accounting Specialist CAS and she will start in May of 2025.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Stockert reported that Goffena Bridge should open sometime this month. The Alec Roy and Colony Road washouts have been finished. There is still no plow truck. Mr. Stockert said that with him and another section man out for most of the winter he had a great crew. Dean Creek Road is going to need to go back to being gravel. The Road Department will be hiring a new secretary as Denise Newman is going to the Weed Department after Coordinator Meriel Beck retires in August.
DES Director Russell reported that the new addresses for the county have slowed. Road signs are up. It’ DES Grant season. Reimbursements from closed grants will be coming in. The Fire Staffed Stations were approved again this year. They are doing the annual inspections on firetrucks.
Sheriff Lesnik reported that they are doing good, and he thinks it’s due to having long-term employees. They have a position for a communications officer.
All Commissioners said the County is doing well and we have great employees.
Sheriff Lesnik and Road and Bridge supervisor Stockert said that we also have the best group of Commissioners.
End of Department Head Meeting.
Cory Talbott with Ameresco met with the Commissioners to discuss solar option, engineering and construction. They will be contacting the Commissioners with what they think Musselshell County would need.
Public comment:
Ken Naylor was present to tell the Commissioners Happy Easter.
There was a “Bob” present, but he didn’t identify himself.
Carli King and Tyler Bracken with MACo called in and they are going to be getting the Commissioners a quote for IT services.
There being no further business Commissioner Turley made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried. 3:28
Last modified: April 25, 2025
