June 16, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 by Commissioner Turley. Commissioner Pancratz and Commissioner Goffena were present.
Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve the agenda as is. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the June 9, 2023 minutes as written. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Commissioner Goffena attended the Area II Council on Aging Executive Meeting Monday June 12, 2023. The Finance Officer is also doing the Directors job and would like to hire a director. They are going to wait until the year end reports and finances are available. The issue will be tabled until the July 23, 2023 meeting where they will discuss the job description and wage.
Commissioner Turley did a lot of road inspections after the flood to see what will need worked on.
Commissioner Turley and Commissioner Pancratz attended the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting. R.I.D.E and the parades were discussed. Monitoring the parades is a concern. Trees at the fairgrounds need to be worked on. There is a lot of connection with the Community and LEPC.
All Commissioners and Mayor Jones went to Senator Testers Office in Billings regarding the Signal Peak Mine EIS, Environmental Impact Study from the State. There is real concern for loss of revenue with no way for the County to replace it.
Maintenance Supervisor Jett gave her weekly report to the Commissioners. Ms. Jett asked if the Road Department might have the means to move a concrete block back where it should be. The Commissioner will ask Road and Bridge Supervisor Stockert if it would be possible. There are a few pieces of equipment that may be auctioned off when the County does the next surplus auction. Ms. Jett gave measurements of her equipment for a new shed for her. She will be getting estimates.
Vern and Patti Lang from Musselshell met with the Commissioners regarding putting a trailer and some slabs on County property temporarily. Mr. Lang has been cleaning up the property East of the Church. All Commissioner agreed to Mr. Lang using the property temporarily.
County Agent Solf gave her weekly report to the Commissioners. The yearly Administration Salary Share for her assistant is going to be coming in from Golden Valley. 4H Camp was last week and went well. The Fair entry deadline was June 15, 2023. 45 to 50 kids have entered. A tree fell on the west end of the pig barn in the storm. It is being cleaned up. There was breaker box damage from another tree that fell. Ms. Solf is going to check with local electricians for the fix. 4H Road is still closed. Market on Main is every other Wednesday and will be from 5 to 7.
County Attorney Larsen met with the Commissioner to go over some of the Middle Musselshell County Water District information for the election. MCA § 7-13-2241 required candidates to file a declaration of candidacy no sooner than 145 days and no later than 85 days before the election, and a write-in candidate must give a declaration of intent 65 days before the election. As the election is scheduled for August 15th, 2023, the 65th day prior to that was June 11th. The election administrator had only received one declaration by June 11th. MCA § 13-1-502(4) requires that if the number of candidates is less than or equal to the number of positions (in this case 5) to be filled at the election, the election administrator shall cancel the election and notify the governing body in writing of the cancellation. (5) of the same statute states that if the election is canceled and there is only one candidate for a position, the governing body shall declare the candidate elected to the position by acclamation, and if there are no regular or declared write-in candidates for a position the governing body shall fill the position by appointment. Larsen recommended the commissioners and election administrator accept any additional declarations of intent from interested individuals to take into consideration when deciding on appointments to the Board of Directors for the proposed water district.
Sheriff Lesnik gave his weekly report to the Commissioners. The budget was discussed. Identification of equipment needs to be updated in all departments. There is going to be an Employee Policy Handbook Committee for the new Policy Manual. Detention Officer position and wage was discussed.
DES Director Russell and Coordinator Rook gave their weekly report to the Commissioners. Private individual effected by flooding should send a Damage assessment to the State for possible assistance. There were 2 new addresses and 3 address verifications this week. Inventory is e being worked on.
Treasurer Hetrick gave the Commissioners her Monthly Balancing Report and went over investment percentage rates.
Matt Smith with Stahly Engineering met with the Commissioners to go over the Fairgrounds Master Plan for the ARPA Water Projects.
Ambulance Director Solberg met with the Commissioners and gave an update on the “panic button” installation.
Linda Yount met with the Commissioner regarding the Refuse Contract with Republic Waste
Jonty Stahl from Flatwillow met with the Commissioner regarding a permit to run a pipe over the County Road. The Commissioner told him to contact Road and Bridge Supervisor Stockert. Mr. Stahl asked the Commissioner to please go out to Colony Road to view the condition of the road for themselves. Who is liable if something happens to someone on the road?
There was no Public Comment of several budget amendments.
Public Comment:
Mike Jacko, Sherri Flanscha, Wendy and David Shreeve and Ken Naylor were present.
Michael Jacko met with the Commissioners to discuss junk vehicles and trailers on property close to his home. Mr. Jacko met with the Commissioners and County Attorney Larsen in March and was under the impression Mr. Larsen was going to be working on the issue. Mr. Jacko asked what the chain of Command is in the County. The Commissioners explained that they are the governing body but only have so much authority. There are covenants and or land use restrictions for properties in the area in question, but violations are a civil matter to be taken before a judge.
Wendy Shreeve and Sherri Flancha were given a draft agreement for using the Musselshell County Central Commons kitchen 2 days a week, with payment and insurance.
Ms. Shreeve asked about the Resolution to cancel the Trustee Election for the Middle Musselshell Water District. The deadline for turning in the Declaration of Nomination was missed so now the County Attorney advises any interested party to contact the Clerk & Recorders Office to get a Declaration of Nomination/Intent to give to the Commissioners.
Ken Naylor told the Commissioners that he is going to be getting an opinion letter from an attorney regarding the easements running through the Roundup Mesa Subdivision that he is going to give them possibly next week.
End of Public Comment
Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to sign the Standard Lease Contract with the Department of Revenue. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign Resolution 2023-36 Canceling the Middle Musselshell County Water District Trustee Election. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to sign the Coal Board Request for Funds Drawdown #1 in the amount of $96,200.00 for MT-CB-EP-23-0949 for the Road Department Belly Dump Trailers submitted by Stahly Engineering. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried
End of meeting.
Commissioner Turley and Commissioner Goffena did the second run of claims for the month of June on June 18, 2023.
Claims amounts for the last normal run of June, 2023 = $311,782.01
Monday June 19, 2023 Road Department meeting.
Commissioner Turley, Commissioner Goffena, Road and Bridge Supervisor Stockert and Secretary Newman were present. Minutes were taken by Secretary Newman.
Do to all the heavy rainfall, some County Roads washed out and had some flooding. The County Road Dept was out at night and weekends checking roads putting up barricades and hauling fill where needed. They spent last week hauling a lot of fill dirt and fixing the roads so they are safe again for residents. The Road Department had an interview on Monday for the job opening and has another one scheduled for Monday the 26th.
End of meeting.
Last modified: July 14, 2023
