Musselshell County Commission Minutes

Commissioners August 24, 2020 Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 by Commissioner Borner. Commissioner Goffena was present.

Mike Turley was present for observation for the day.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Goffena made a motion to approve the agenda for the day as is. Commissioner Borner seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the August 17, 2020 minutes as is. Commissioner Borner seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Clerk & Recorder Tomassi met with the Commissioners to go over a few changes on the preliminary budget.

John Bach from Interstate Engineering (Veronica Meyer and Steve Aldinger were present via Zoom), Steve Studder and Jay Steinmazel from Knife River, Kelly Gebhardt and Ron Macadon from the Roundup Airport met with the Commissioners to give an update on the pavement project at the airport. Alt #6- West taxiway A has been excavated, P-154 has been placed and partially accepted. Alt #5 didn’t pass the specifications and they are rectifying it and hope to get a good test strip Tuesday or Wednesday. This week they are going to mill main runway, take out the fabric and put in gravel. They will meet again next Monday August 31, 2020 at 9:00 with an update.

Road and Bridge Secretary Kenner gave her weekly report to the Commissioners. There is going to be a Fish Wildlife and Parks meeting Monday August 31, 2020 at 1:00 to discuss the Fishing Access at Riverside. They would like to create a capital Improvement Account for a Bridge Fund and may need to do a Resolution for it. Mr. Turley asked if there could be a “road plan” submitted to the Commissioners for the budget. Today: shop stuff, mowing in Hay Basin area is almost done, doing a couple projects on E. Parrot and possibly hauling gravel to the shop from the Willow Cr. Site.

Sheriff Lesnik gave his weekly report to the Commissioners. Mr. Lesnik asked Commissioner Borner if she has heard anything from the Coal Board regarding contingency funds? Commissioner Borner will put a call

Musselshell County

Commission Minutes

in to them for a possible time frame. Mr. Lesnik thinks he is going to purchase Conex boxes for storage. There are 3 inmates at this time.

Clerk & Recorder Tomassi let the Commissioners know that she is going to be hiring a full-time payroll clerk because ours is going to be leaving to work with Judge Spaulding.

DES Coordinator Harper and Fire Warden Russell gave their weekly report to the Commissioners. Mr. Harper has submitted the general ledgers to the State for FMA-16 and now we wait for the re-imbursements. The permits for the Farrel Street Bridge replacement have begun to arrive but they are still waiting on the 404 permits. Mr. Russell told the Commissioners that there was a fire on Lennick Road on Monday night into Tuesday. The Commissioners agreed for Mr. Russell to purchase some fire investigation equipment. There was one new address last week. The EMPG final payment for FY 19-20 has been received and a letter requesting closeout was sent to the State. FY 20-21 is now currently open. There will be a MOU (memorandum of understanding between the Ambulance Department and the DES Office for rent for the DES Office at the old Wells Fargo Building.

County Agent Fosjord gave her weekly report to the Commissioners. Fairgrounds maintenance guy Will Donahugh will need to get a lift to put up the flags at one of the cemeteries. They will be looking for someone willing to let him use on to get the flag up. Ms. Fosjord will be having a Noxious Weed Workshop on Thursday August 27, 2020.

Kathie Bailey and Cathy Barta with Snowy Mountain Development called in to talk to the Commissioners about the Farmers Union Building and the ground water monitoring. There was a test a while ago showing high levels of petroleum in the soil. Snowy Mountain had Tetra-Tech do a cleanup for the County and the last time the levels were closer to normal. They think there is only one more cleanup needed. Snowy Mountain is going to try to get funding with the Petro Board for the cleanup. The Commissioners will put the decision to move forward with the clean-up to acquire a clean title on the August 31, 2020 agenda.

PUBLIC HEARINGFOR THE 2020/2021 PREIMINAR BUDGET AND PERMISSIVE LEVIES:

Mike Turley, Clerk & Recorder Tomassi and Deb Adolph was present (via GoToMeeting)

Ms. Tomassi said she transferred money into the Capital Improvement fund that didn’t get any last year because we didn’t know where our money was. There will be a .50 cent raise for employee and Elected Officials will receive a .25 cent raise. The base starting wage is moved from $10.00 an hour to $12.00 an hour. Clerk of Court Halverson entered the meeting. There was an unidentified caller that joined the GoToMeeting. Commissioner Goffena thinks that the general fund should be lowered another 2 mills dropping it 53.43 from last year.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to adopt the Preliminary Budget and Permissive Levies. Commissioner Borner seconded the motion. Motion carried

Mike Turley thinks that if the Road Department doesn’t have a plan, they should get one. Commissioner Borner said that the Final 2020/2021 Budget will be adopted August 31, 2020.

Deb Adolph thanked everyone for all their hard work.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Mike Turley, Deb Adolph (via GoToMeeting) and an unidentified caller were present.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign the Rental Agreement and Lease for DES to the Roundup Public School. Commissioner Borner seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign the Encroachment Permit for Sections 4, 5, 8 17, Township 8 North, Range 28 East, Fattig Creek Road submitted by Mid-Rivers. Commissioner Borner seconded the motion as long as it was reviewed and ok’d by the Road and Bridge Supervisor. (it was) Motion carried.

There being no further business the motion was made to adjourn. Motion carried.

Commissioner Borner and Commissioner Goffena attended the Fair Board Meeting on Tuesday August 18, 2020.

Commissioner Borner and Commissioner Goffena did claims on Thursday August 20, 2020.

Commissioner Borner and Commissioner Goffena attended the MACo Town Hall Meeting on COVID-19 reimbursement on Friday August 21, 2020.

Claims for the 2nd half of August = $327,784.19.