Musselshell County Commission Minutes

Commissioner July 12, 2024 Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 by Commissioner Turley Commissioner Goffena and Commissioner Pancratz were present. Minutes were done by Garilynn Rapp.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Musselshell County Commission Minutes

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the agenda as is Commissioner Pancratz seconded. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve the Minutes from June 28th, 2024. (NO MEETING ON JULY 5th) Commissioner Goffena seconded. Motion carried.

No Public Comment.

Business:

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion Review and Sign the Work Authorization No.3 for the 2024 Groundwater Investigation of the “Farmers Union Property” submitted by Tetra Tech. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion, motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to Review and Resolution 2024-23 Closing the Fire Season in Musselshell County. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion, motion carried.

The Elected Officials Compensation Board met. The board elected to give a 4.5% raise to County Employees.

Sheriff Lesnik gave his weekly report to the Commissioners. They discussed the RIDE event and suggested staffing for the Ride Event for 2025.

DES Director Justin Russell and DES Coordinator Darren Rook gave their update to the Commissioners. No FEMA updates to report. Fire Warden reports Three engines have been delivered to the fire departments, expecting all engines to be fully in service next week. 1 lightning-caused fire on Steep Road. The Fire Council met on 7/11/2024. The council approved the purchase of a smaller drone for the conclusion into the Musselshell County Drone Program. The council authorized the purchase of a pallet of water for the fire season. Rural Addressing: One new address was assigned. RAS vehicle was serviced. DES: Returned command trailer from the RIDE event. The department is continuing to get quotes for the Drone trailer and SOGs for the drone operation. The department has withdrawn applications for three culvert projects. Due to the FEMA changes, multiple different studies are required. The plan will be to obtain all the necessary studies and resubmit, as the deadline for current grants would be prohibitive for the completion of the current cycle. DES will be working on the tourism grant for equipment for fire equipment and drone projects.

Treasurer Hetrick gave her Monthly Cash Reconciliation and Quarterly reports to the Commissioners.

CFO Kirk and Norma Trent, Secretary of the Refuse Board met the Commissioners regarding a possible rate increase for the Refuse Transfer Station. The Board will run a public notice ad for 2 weeks for public comment.

The Commissioners met via Zoom conference with Theresa Doumitt and Karen Brynes, with Silver Bow in Butte, to discuss the Silver Bow example on how developers were solicited for building development projects.

Commissioner Pancratz attended the County Wildfire Prevention Plan (CWPP) meeting. The committee has a target of June 2025 to have a plan for wildfire protection rolled out to the community.

Commissioner Goffena and Commissioner Pancratz attended the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting on July 8th.

All Commissioners met with Senator Jason Small to discuss the Crow Revenue Act/Signal Peak Coal Exchange.

Claims were done on July 10, 2024. Claims = $115,011.28

Public Comment:

Tom Webber and Gary Thomas came into speak with the Commissioners about nominating Raymond “Rainbow” Hillman for the Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Debbie Willumson and Michael Pratt visited with the Commissioners. There are some concerns about manganese in the water and fill stations. There were questions about the Regional Central Montana Water District and their by-laws.

Brenda Serrano came to speak with the Commissioners about the cleanliness of the Fair Grounds after the RIDE Rodeo, and before the 4-H Fair. The Commissioners approved 4-H to leave the 22 pens to stay up, and Joe Teni to put ventilation in the horse barn.

There being no further business Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried, at 3:36 PM MDT.

July 15, 2024 Road Department meeting.

All commissioners and Road Department Secretary Newman were present. Road and Bridge Supervisor is working on hot mix roads.

Horsethief and Dean Creek Roads are going to be needing some different kind of work done. They are in bad shape. Roller was ordered from Idaho. The truck wreck has been moved off of the State pile. Supervisor Stockert is working on the permits for the Old Milwaukee Bridge removal. Next week they will be cleaning cattle guards.

End of meeting.

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Commissioners July 19, 2024 minutes

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 by Commissioner Turley Commissioner Goffena and Commissioner Pancratz were present. Minutes were done by Garilynn Rapp.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the agenda as is, Commissioner Pancratz seconded. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve the Minutes as amended from July 19th, 2024. Commissioner Goffena seconded. Motion carried.

Public Comment on the Business items below:

Richard Durgin visited with the Commissioners about the fee schedule for the refuse site, annual fee increase, and staffing of the refuse transfer site.

Daryl Tate visited with the Commissioners about the fee schedule for the refuse site and possible impacts on local businesses.

Bill Trent, with the Refuse Board, visited with the Commissioner’s about the Board’s discussion regarding cardboard recycling. The Board is willing to negotiate with local businesses to ensure that the County has maximum opportunity to recycle cardboard waste.

Business:

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion Review and Approve Certificate of Survey 2024-13 submitted by Central School Development Venture, LP. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to Review and Resolution 2024-25 setting new rates for the county refuse district. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion, motion carried.

Board Meetings:

Commissioner Goffena attended the Central Montana Health Board meeting, in Stanford. Musselshell County is the most populated county in the district and will have the greatest financial responsibility, currently $35,000 per year, with a projected increase to $50,000. The Board will continue to be applying for grants for funding.

Homes on the Range board members Parm Carter, Mike Morgan, Chris Kirk, and Irvin Weigum visited with the Commissioners on the status of the PAR that was finalized and submitted at the end of May. Kevin, with HUD has recommended a full building assessment. As part of the PAR, Plan A has been determined to be the land by the Homes on the Range. HUD is requesting a Plan B, if the geotechnical report of the site A, is unfeasible.

Maintenance Supervisor Jett gave her update to the Commissioners. The department is looking to get the heater hooked up in the maintenance shed. Extra doors have been removed from the courthouse the moved to cold storage.

Sheriff Lesnik gave his weekly report to the Commissioners.

DES Director Justin Russell and DES Coordinator Darren Rook gave their update to the Commissioners. No FEMA updates to report. Fire Warden reports 2 fires in Musselshell County. One fire occurred as result of lightning and the other was caused by a powerline. The department had 4 mutual aid fires, 2 in Yellowstone and 2 in Rosebud. Fire Warden has allocated 12 firefighters for staffed stations. The department is working on reducing the timeframe from request to load & go, for drone deployments. Currently, the timeframe is 45 minutes. Department goals is 15 minutes. A trailer with pure sine wave energy generator may be a solution, the department is looking into possible grants available. The tower for the East Repeater project will be here on Monday. This project is currently 6 weeks ahead of schedule.

CFO Kirk met with the Commissioners regarding budgets.

The Commissioners interviewed applicants for the County Attorney position.

There being no further business Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried, at 4:27 PM MDT.

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Commissioners August 9, 2024 Minutes

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 for the day. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the minutes from the August 2, 2024, meeting as written. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

There was no public comment on several budget amendments.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to discuss the quote & service description for Commissioner’s Meeting recordings/posting to website of Commissioner’s Meetings and get more information from Morrison & Maierle Systems. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion sign encroachment permit application submitted by

Central Montana Regional Water Authority for several Townships, Range and Sections.

Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign the State Aviation System Plan for the 2024 Pavement Condition Index Survey for the Airport Response Form submitted by KLJ. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to sign the Joint Application for Proposed Work in Montana’s Streams, Wetlands, Floodplains and Other Water Bodies submitted by the Floodplain Administrator. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign Resolution 2024-26 for several Budget Amendments. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Sheriff Lesnik reported that they are still looking for a communications officer. There is going to be overtime with the new pay periods.

County Attorney Larsen met with the Commissioners

The Commissioners, County Attorney Larsen and Jody Dahl from the Jody Alise Foundation had an interview for the Community Health Worker position.

DES Director Russell and Coordinator Rook gave their weekly report to the Commissioners. There will be a FEMA meeting on August 21, 2024 at the Ambulance Barn at 10:00. There were 8 Fire Warden service calls. They have allocated 12 firefighters for staffed stations, and they have been getting the NFRIS reports done. There was 1 new address assigned.

Greg Wilhelmi met with the Commissioners regarding a mural he wants to do on the side of a building on Main Street.

Commissioner Pancratz met with the City Works Director Sibley Tuesday August 6 regarding the fill station the County will be putting in at the fairgrounds. The water will mainly be for fires. Mr. Sibley will not let the County hook up to the well water. The County will need to do the process of permits to go before the City Council.

Commissioner Goffena signed a District 3 Opioid Application.

Duane Brewer met with the Commissioners regarding the fill station at the fairgrounds.

Ed Maclean met with the Commissioners regarding the Russian Thistle that is invading his yard from the Montana Frontier Sandstone property. The Commissioners will contact our Weed Coordinator Meriel Beck but they think it isn’t a noxious weed and there really isn’t anything they can do about it.

Monty Sealey with the Central Montana Regional Water Authority met with the Commissioner regarding the Encroachment Permit they signed at the mornings business and the fill station at the fairgrounds.

There being no further business Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Monday August 12, 2024 Road Department meeting.

All Commissioners, Road and Bridge Supervisor Stockert and Secretary Newman were present. They have been taking advantage of the moisture and working on school bus routes. Mr. Stockert is working on getting the permits for the Railroad Bridge Project. Interviews will hopefully be next Monday.