10 W Fallon Ave Baker, MT 59313
Fallon County of Montana

Commission Minutes

Commission Minutes

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

9:00 AM CONVENE

PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Kevin Braun, Member; Kelsey DuCharme, Secretary

ABSENT: Steve Baldwin, Member

FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE

9:00 AM The Pledge of Allegiance was held in the Commissioner’s Office to start off the week. PUBLIC COMMENT –AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

No one appeared for public comment.

COMMISSIONER MINUTE APPROVAL FOR MAY 3-7, 2021

Commissioner Braun made the motion to approve the minutes from May 3-7, 2021, as presented. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin).  The motion carried.

COMMISSION WORK SESSION

The Commission reviewed/approved emails/correspondence; reports/revenues; Board Minutes & Agendas received for the week.

Commissioner Braun made the motion to appoint himself, Commissioner Braun, to the Fallon County Transportation Committee as the Commissioner Representative. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.

Commissioner Braun made the motion to appoint Commissioner Baldwin to the Tri-County Alcohol & Addictive Disease Board as Fallon County’s Commissioner Representative. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.

10:02 AM Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent joined the meeting.

Road Updates- The Road Crew was able to blade a few roads due to the moisture received last week. One of the trucks is getting picked up in Billings today. They are working on welding car gates this morning.

Golf Course Chip Sealing- Commissioner Braun found a bucket that goes onto a skidster that would work to lay the chips at the Golf Course for the cart path. The Commission would like Bobby to look into the different size buckets and purchase for the next budget year. The Road Crew will get the City’s oiler and make sure it runs well.

10:10 AM Bobby left the meeting.

10:37 AM Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering joined the meeting.

Discuss/Approve Conducting Level II HAER Documentation for the Cottonwood Creek Bridge- Shannon received the estimate for the engineering record for the Cottonwood Creek Bridge from Ethnoscience. The quote is about $10,000, which is much higher than the estimate was for the Plevna Bridge. The Commission is interested in looking into another quote. Shannon will contact different companies about estimates.

10:44 AM Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent; Mitch Overn, Mechanic joined the meeting. MOTOR GRADER BID OPENING- The agenda was wrong and due to the advertisement stating the bid

opening will take place at 1:30 PM today, it will be postponed until then.

10:52 AM Bobby and Mitch left the meeting.

10:57 AM Darcy Wassmann, County Attorney joined the meeting.

11:00 AM Shannon left the meeting.

PUBLIC HEARING TO ABANDON MAPLE LANE LOCATED IN HERBST INDUSTRIAL SUBDIVISION-

Commissioner Rost opened the Public Hearing to Abandon Maple Lane Located in the Herbst Industrial

Subdivision. The advertisement was published in the May 7th and May 14th edition of the Fallon County Times. No members of the public attended the Public Hearing. Commissioner Rost asked for any comments, concerns, questions, etc. regarding the abandonment. No comments were heard. The Public Hearing was closed.

Commissioner Braun made the motion to adopt Resolution #2021 – 1062 – Resolution to Abandon Maple Lane of the Herbst Industrial Subdivision. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.

11:11 AM Darcy left the meeting.

11:12 AM Commissioner Braun made the motion to take a noon recess. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.

NOON RECESS

12:45 PM RECONVENE

PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Kevin Braun, Member; Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Clerk/Secretary

ABSENT: Steve Baldwin, Member

FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE

AGENDA/NON AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT

No one appeared for public comment.

1:00 PM FALLON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING/COURTHOUSE BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM

1:20 PM Jeff Kihle, Tractor & Equipment; Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent; Mitch Overn, Shop

Mechanic; Mark Feland, RDO joined the meeting.

Motor Grader Bid Opening- Two bids were received for the Motor Grader Bid Opening for the

Road Department.

Tractor & Equipment – 160 AWD Per Unit – No Trade – $359,000

Snow Wing – $16,500

V-Plow – $9,400

Front Lift Group – $5,500

Buy Back – $235,000 each

Delivered by November 30th, 2021

Guaranteed Repurchase-

3 Year – $249,000

4 Year – $231,000

5 Year – $212,000

RDO – John Deere 872GP

Per Unit – No Trade- $350,160

Snow Wing – $15,000

V-Plow – $8,500

Front Lift Group – $4,000

Buy Back – $219,500 each

Delivered by October 15, 2021

Guaranteed Repurchase

3 Year – $244,750

4 Year – $219,750

5 Year – $202,750

Bobby and Mitch will review the bids and come back to the Commission next week with a recommendation.

1:54 PM Jeff, Mitch, Bobby and Mark left the meeting.

1:55 PM Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering; Brenda Wood, Clerk and Recorder joined the meeting.

County Road Study Written Proposals- The only County Road Study Written Proposal that was received was from Charles Madler. Commissioner Braun read aloud the proposal. It would be a study of how to proceed with the County Road study, as there is unknown information of what that will entail that this point.

2:03 PM Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent joined the meeting.

The project at this point will be to create a report on what is needed for the updated Road Study. Discussion on where the County is planning to go with the Road Study in the future.

Commissioner Braun made the motion to award the County Road Study Written Proposal to Charles Madler in the amount of $60 an hour, not to exceed $16,000. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.

2:16 PM Brenda, Bobby and Shannon left the meeting.

2:24 PM Mary Grube, Planning Administrative Assistant joined the meeting.

Growth Policy Discussion- Mary explained that there is a grant available that may be able to help with the expense of the Growth Policy for Fallon County. She is expecting the update to the Growth Policy to be expensive. The Commission is interested in applying for the grant. They would also like to go out for a Request for Proposal for updating the Growth Policy.

2:39 PM Mary left the meeting.

2:59 PM Melissa Rost, Museum Curator joined the meeting.

Museum Updates- The heating is completely installed in the Metal Building. Direct Electric is waiting to receive the lights before they can be installed. Melissa is hoping that the camera system will be completely installed before June 1st. During Baker Jam, 29 people attended the Museum. The Museum is hosting monthly presentations with the 6th graders about novels they are reading. The 5th graders are coming in for a scavenger hunt. Next week, the 2nd graders will do their annual field trip.

Heritage Fest- Heritage Fest will be June 12th from 10 AM to 4 PM. The street in front of the

Museum will be shut down. A list of entertainment, vendors/donations, facilitating activities, activities and unpaid volunteers was reviewed.

3:11 PM Melissa left the meeting.

3:30 PM Nathan Stone, David Anderson, Denbury Resources joined the meeting via teleconference.

Discussion on Denbury Pipeline and County Roads/Haul Route Agreement- Darcy Wassmann, County Attorney, had added comments to the Haul Route Agreement with Denbury. The bonding amount was discussed. Denbury plans to use 35 miles of road. The bond will be $1,000 per mile. The price of crushed gravel will be $17.50 per loaded mile.

Pipeline Update- Denbury plans to start the civil surveying next week. They are starting at Bell Creek and mile post #70, moving north on both locations. They are planning to start construction the second week of June.

3:45 PM Nathan and David hung up the phone, therefore leaving the meeting.

4:00 PM Julie Straub, HRM joined the meeting.

Fallon County EPST- The meeting was held to discuss the Fallon County Emergency Paid Sick Time Program in response to COVID. The Commission would like to end the EPST June 30th, 2021. Employees that have COVID or are in quarantine due to COVID will be required to use their own sick or vacation leave.

Commissioner Braun made the motion to end the Fallon County Emergency Paid Sick Time Program on June 30th, 2021. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.

4:10 PM Julie left the meeting.

MID-MONTH MAY 2021 CLAIMS APPROVALS

The Commission reviewed and approved claims in the amount of $911,022.63. They are filed in the

Clerk & Recorder’s Office.

4:30 PM Commissioner Braun made the motion to recess for the evening. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion.  Commissioner Rost asked for further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1

Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.

EVENING RECESS

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

9:00 AM CONVENE

PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Steve Baldwin and Kevin Braun, Members

FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE

9:00 AM WORK SESSION

The Commission and the following met to discuss the Fallon Medical Complex Management Agreement. David Espeland, CEO; Marjorie Losing, CFO; Judy McWilliams, Susan Stevens, Theresa Myers, Sue Lunde, Karol Zachmann, Fallon Medical Complex employees; Alice Kay Schweigert, Betty Mueller, Richard Menger, Fallon Medical Complex Board and Darcy Wassmann, County Attorney

The Terms of the management agreement were discussed. The main things were as follows:

1.   The parties generally concurred that a separate agreement is necessary to govern Parkview and, if FMC is willing to manage Parkview, the contract needs to better define the responsibilities of each party.

2.   There was discussion about the termination clause and appropriate notice periods.  It was discussed whether the contract could be terminated if the registered voters create a hospital district.  This type of provision is not currently in the contract.  The County Attorney advised that all such terms should be included in the contract or the County would be bound to carry out the contract as written.

3.   Commissioner Rost suggested that a clause be included in the agreement that FMC is required to furnish the County its agenda and notify the County if the facility or related items will be discussed and give them an opportunity to be present during that agenda item.

4.   There was discussion about FMC ensuring that its sublessees reimburse the county for any taxes incurred.

12:00 PM Commissioner Braun made the motion to adjourn.  Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURNED

s/Kelsey DuCharme, Secretary

ATTEST:

s/Brenda J. Wood, Clerk and Recorder

s/Roy Rost, Chairman