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County Commissioners Meeting Minutes

January 7, 2022

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Commissioner Goffena. Commissioner Turley and Commissioner Pancratz were present. Clerk and Recorder Tomassi took minutes at today’s meetings.

Pledge of allegiance.

Clerk and Recorder Tomassi opened nominations for the 2022 Commission Chairman. Commissioner Turley made the motion to nominate Commissioner Goffena as Chairman. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena opened nominations for the 2022 Vice-Chairman. Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to nominate Commissioner Turley as Vice-Chairman. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve the agenda as written. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Turley made the motion to approve the minutes from December 30, 2021 meeting as is. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Turley attended a Hospital Board meeting on January 6, 2022. Commissioner Turley gave an update on the status of the Roundup Memorial Hospital.

Mayor Jones, Councilman Toombs and Councilman Fisher attended today’s meeting to discuss the draft copy of their interlocal agreement between the City of Roundup and Musselshell County Law Enforcement with Sheriff Lesnik and the Commissioners. Mayor Jones also handed the Commissioners a copy of their draft interlocal agreement between the City of Roundup and Justice Court. Justice of the Peace Bradley Marking was not at today’s meeting. It was decided that all parties will meet again on January 28, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the changes and corrections to the draft agreements.

DES Director Russell and Coordinator Rook gave their weekly report to the Commissioners. They announced that the FEMA Big Buy Out is completely closed out. They are currently looking into purchasing a shed in order to keep the palates of sand bags out of the weather until the sand bags are needed for floods. Delivery of foam has been handed out to the Fire Departments. Director Russell is currently working on possibly trading in 4 fire truck/vehicles in order to get 2 dual purpose vehicles which will be a big improvement in fighting fires. There have been 2 new addresses assigned this week. Direct Russell discussed the possibility of hiring a full time GIS employee instead of a part time. There are currently 10 active COVID cases in Musselshell County.

Ambulance Director Solberg met with Commissioners and gave his weekly updates.

CFO Kirk met with the Commissioners to go over monthly expenditure and revenue reports.

There were no attendees present during the 2:30 public comment meeting regarding spending some of the ARPA funds.

Theresa Doumitt attended 3:00 business meeting. Commissioner Goffena opened public comment on any public matter within the jurisdiction of the Commission that is not on the agenda.

Theresa Doumitt gave an update on the funding of the Welcome Plaza/Kiosk project and asked the Commissioners if they had any ARPA or Cares Act funds available to go towards the project. There is still approximately $105,000 shortfall to cover the completion of the project. The Commissioners will look into if the project is even eligible for the use of ARPA funds and will discuss how much the County can put towards the project.

There was no more public comment.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve and sign Resolution 2022-1 changing the reimbursement rates for mileage to 58.5 cents. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Turley made the motion to approve and sign Resolution 2022-2 setting legal holidays for 2022. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve and sign Resolution 2022-3 establishing regular meeting dates of the Musselshell Commissioners and describe procedure for public participation. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to table Resolution 2022-4 establishing travel and meal reimbursement rates for County employees. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion to table. Motion to table carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve and sign Resolution 2022-5 establishing the 2022 Elected Official Salary Compensation Board. Commissioner Turley seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Turley made the motion to approve and sign Resolution 2022-6 setting the Fire Season for the County of Musselshell for 2022. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to approve and sign Resolution 2022-7 allowing the County Road Department to apply for the 2022 Montana Coal Impact Grant in the amount of $304,640.

Commissioner Turley made the motion to table the Contract with One Health to be part of the Central Montana Health District. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion to table. Motion to table carried.

There being no further business the 3:00 business meeting was adjourned.

Monty Sealey from Montana Reginal Water Authority came in and discussed the corrected agreement for approval.

No other business was held for the day.

Commissioner Goffena and Commissioner Turley did claims on January 6, 2022

Claims for the first run of January 2022 = $549,916.33

Department Head Meeting Minutes

January 14, 2022

Commissioner Goffena, Commissioner Turley, Commissioner Pancratz, Clerk & Recorder Tomassi, Treasure Hetrick, Clerk of Court Halverson, CFO Kirk, Maintenance Supervisor Jett, Ambulance Director Solberg, County Agent Solf, DES Director Russell, DES Coordinator Rook and Auditor Denning were present. The Weed Department and the Road Department do not work on Friday’s. Road and Bridge Supervisor Stockert gave his department report for Secretary Hagstrom to read. County Attorney Peterson and Justice of the Peace Marking were not present. Sheriff Lesnik was on a call.

Road= Stahly Engineering finally got the building permit for the equipment shop and hope to start in the spring. Farrell Street Bridge is completed and open to the public. They did not get a Coal Board Grant for chip seal at the last session but will resubmit in the spring. The Goffena Bridge project is moving forward. They are working on legal paperwork to reclaim the irrigation ditch and the get a Floodplain permit to work in the bridge area. They are working on a major buildup area and relocating a section of Goffena Road to straighten past the switch backs. They are trading Paul Goffena for a railroad ROW and reclaiming an old part of the County Road in that section. Nothing has been done with the water well and they aren’t happy. They rebuilt and installed all 3 culverts on 3 miles of East Parrot Creek Road and it is ready for gravel. They reseeded the Bull Mountain Mine #1 at Signal Peak and will see in the spring how much more they will have to do for the reclamation. There have a lot of major repairs on equipment this year so they are tight on their budget. There was also a list of the 2021 work projects done

Clerk of Court Halverson is destroying the allowed old records and making room for storage. There is a trial on January 26 till the 28th, 2022. They need to work on the temperature in the Courtroom.

Clerk & Recorder Tomassi reported that the office is archiving the old deed books and microfilm. Filing has opened for elections.

Maintenance Supervisor Jett reported she does turn down the heat over the weekends and it may take longer for the Courtroom to warm up on Mondays. She has been working on snow removal and railings at the Commons. She will be taking a vacation in February.

Treasure Hetrick reported that it has been quiet in her office but delinquent tax notices have been sent.

DES Director Russell reported the PDMP (pre disaster mitigation plan) will be submitted by the end of February. The EOP (emergency operations plan) has been updated. They have hired a seasonal employee to do signs and is now doing inventory. They need a new door for the cold storage building. Training in February.

County Agent Solf reported that there are 2 more small acreage meetings and they have been going well. There will be a 4-week Estate Planning Series starting Tuesday January 18, 2022. 4H Fair planning has started.

Ambulance Director Solberg reported that they have a new records management program and a “rapid SOS’ system. They received the new ambulance.

Cheryl Goffena asked about a new key system for people that rent the Commons. It will be looked into.

Commissioner Turley reported that him and Commissioner Goffena went to the Elected Official training. They discussed Black Mountain, budgeting and ethics training. Overall, a good training.

All Commissioners thanked everyone for working so hard for the County and they think we are a good team.

End of meeting