Commission Minutes
MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021
9:30 AM CONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Steve Baldwin, Member; Brenda Wood, Clerk and Recorder
ABSENT: Kevin Braun, Member
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Pledge of Allegiance was held in the Commissioner’s Office to start off the week.
9 :30 AM PUBLIC COMMENT –AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
No one appeared for public comment.
9:45 AM COMMISSIONER MINUTES APPROVAL FOR December 20-24, 2021
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to approve the minutes from December 20-24, 2021, with corrections. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 1 Absent (Commissioner Braun). 0 Nays. The motion carried.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to approve the Closed Minutes from December 20-24, 2021, as presented. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 1 Absent (Commissioner Braun). 0 Nays. The motion carried.
9:50 AM ROAD/SHOP/PROJECT UPDATES/Carl Overland, Shop Mechanics
Road/Shop updates-The Ambulance turbo has been found. The tracking stated it had been delivered to the County shop, however, it never made it here. The turbo was found to be broken so the company has ordered another one to be shipped; it will be tracked also. The final, new blade should be here this week. The crew will be hauling or plowing show today. They are waiting for a pinion seal for end dump #213. It was caught so no further damage was done; thanks to the driver of the truck noticing it was leaking. A new tire was ordered, mounted and placed on the Landfill scraper.
9:55 AM Carl left the meeting.
10:30 AM Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering will call-in later this morning due to morning meetings at their
Bowman office.
10:45 AM SHOOTING RANGE CLEANING UPDATES/Jim Leischner, Shooting Range Manager
Updates on Shooting Range cleaning. Jim stated the company that completed the project removed 5400 pounds of lead. The filters were also changed, with the exception of HEPA filters, which did not need to be replaced.
Jim gave the Commission some calculated statistics regarding the amount of lead removed: There are
approximately 47 bullets per pound, i.e., 150-grain bullet. This calculates to approximately 254,129 bullets shot into the backstop or 5,082 boxes of ammunition. Jim calculated the cost of bullets at an average of $20 per box or
$101,640 ammunition purchased. Jim further stated that does not include all the bullets shot at the outdoor
range. Jim felt that was a good boost for our local economy. Jim has scheduled the company to come back in two
(2) years; the Company takes the lead and Fallon County receives ½ of the revenue.
The group discussed limited storage space at the Shooting Range.
11:05 Jim left the meeting.
11:07 AM Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering phoned in.
PROJECTS-The Contractor did get the pipe, for the waterfall, placed in the lake last week. The Commission stated Rich Menger, Sanitarian had expressed his concern the pipe may not have been bedded properly. Shannon stated it should be fine; the contractor installed the pipe 2’ lower than planned and then brought it to grade. The Contractor used the dry material removed from the trenched area to bed the pipe.
The Contractor will need to place rock on the shore, where the existing trench is located, probably next spring. It was decided not to place the washed rock in case it would cause the manhole to improperly seal; also worried it may damage the pipe. Commissioner Rost asked if there would be a credit to the County since the rock was not hauled. Shannon will ask the contractor but also stated the material will probably be used next spring for back fill.
Shannon instructed the contractor to place cones around the trenched area so the public will stay away from the area. This was completed last Thursday; the Commission feels the area should be froze now due to the sub-zero temperatures. The contractor will not be working this week, due to the weather but will try to dig on the back side next week.
11:15 AM Shannon hung up the phone, therefore leaving the meeting.
11:15 AM COMMISSIONER WORK SESSION
The Commission reviewed, revenues received, reports, emails and other correspondence, board minutes and agendas.
11:20 AM Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to take a noon recess. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 1 Absent. 0 Nays. The motion carried.
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Steve Baldwin, Member; Kevin Braun, Member (via conference call); Brenda
Wood, Clerk and Recorder
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
PUBLIC COMMENT –AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
No one appeared for Public Comment.
1:30 PM PERMISSION TO HIRE OR RECRUIT HOME HEALTH AIDE/Julie Straub, HRM; Kim Bryan, Public Health
Nurse
Commissioner Rost recused himself.
The Commission previously approved the hiring of a candidate from the Home Health Aide pool. Julie reported the candidate’s start date will be delayed for two months due to her spouse’s medical procedure. The candidate is still interested if the start date can be delayed; she will contact Julie this week. Discussion on the time frame for a new recruitment versus waiting for the candidate. The next candidate (candidate #3) in the pool is not a viable option because of criminal history and current sentencing status. Kim does not feel the candidate is a good fit at this time. Julie agreed; the candidate can reapply in the future when the legal issues
are resolved. Commissioners’ Braun and Baldwin agree, currently candidate #3 does not meet the requirements.
Other options were discussed, including returning a Public Health employee to the Home Health Aide position as it may be easier to recruit for an Administrative Assistant. Kim’s preference is for the employee to continue in the Administrative Assistant position and help with the home health clients as time allows. The Commission had approved moving the employee from the Home Health Aide position to the Administrative Assistant position; this was effective December 23, 2021.
Commissioner Rost is now able to return to the conversation.
Public Health utilized a short-term employee during the absence of the former Administrative Assistant. The short-term employee will continue to work as needed and as available; she will be able to help with training. Discussion on utilizing the short-term employee to allow front desk coverage and the new Administrative Assistant to help with home health clients. Kim will discuss this with both employees.
Commissioner Braun is concerned about recruiting for a new Home Health Aide. Kim feels the wage scale negatively affects the number of applicants. She said another factor is the work is mostly housekeeping at this time. Kim questioned why the position was moved to Public Health; she feels it would be better suited with Council on Aging. Julie explained when and why the Home Health Aide position was created. The client load and needs were very different pre-Covid.
Kim would prefer the housekeeping part of the home health services be taken back over by the Council on Aging. Public Health will take care of the personal care needs such as bathing and dressing. Kim feels the foot clinic should the responsibility of the Council on Aging as Public Health does not have the time or staff for this.
Julie suggested the discussion continue when Carla Brown, Council on Aging Coordinator, can participate as she is on vacation. A meeting with Carla, Kim, and Julie will be scheduled as soon as Carla returns. Kim will discuss the Administrative Assistant help with home health clients until a decision is made; she advised housekeeping is the lowest priority due to staffing and time constraints as well as ongoing Covid testing.
1:58 PM Kim left the meeting.
2:05 PM Julie left the meeting.
2:05 PM Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN
s/Roy Rost, Chairman
ATTEST:
s/Brenda J. Wood, Clerk and Recorder
