Commissioners April 28, 2023 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 after adding the Department of Revenue meeting at 9:00 to discuss a public meeting schedule for tax assessments. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion as amended. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the April 21, 2023 minutes as written. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Turley attended the April 25, 2023 Refuse Board meeting. The new hire was discussed and some upgrades they are wanting to do.

All Commissioners attended the Homes on the Range meeting on Monday April 24, 2023 with Carly Wheatley from Snowy Mountain Development. They have people working on the issue of what can be done to replace or repair the building to make it safe and are perusing the next steps.

Commissioner Goffena attended the Central Montana Health Board Meeting on Tuesday April 25, 2023. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Board (PHEP) cut the budget by $50,000.00 so they need to budget accordingly. They are still determining just how much each County is distributing to CMHD.

Commissioner Goffena also attended the Musselshell County Council on Aging (MCCA) meeting on Tuesday April 25, 2023. They are feeding over 100 people three days a week at the Senior Center. The Commissioners are still trying to find an alternative building to address the Thimble issues. The MCCA still has ARPA funds and they are going to use them to update the kitchen.

Commissioner Turley and Commissioner Goffena attended the 911 Committee meeting on Thursday April 27, 2023. They are still working on the east tower. They discussed how each department should be spending their money. They will be having more meetings in the future.

All Commissioners attended the Dean Creek area residents meeting regarding concerns about their roads and traffic. They will be having a meeting on Thursday May 4, 2023 with the Amish Community and local residents.

Chad Beckman and Lis Franz with the Department of Revenue met with the Commissioners regarding having a public meeting for residents of Musselshell County regarding the property assessments that will be dated June 30, 2023. Treasurer Hetrick was also present. The meeting will be for educational information.

Sheriff Lesnik and DES Director Russell met with the Commissioners. County Attorney Larsen was also present. There is a new dispatch employee hired. Sheriff Lesnik is working on the COPS Grant. Judge Spaulding joined the meeting. Smith Road easement issues were discussed. It is a privately maintained road and some residents are encroaching on the easements.

County Attorney Larsen told the Commissioners the Victim Witness Advocate is going to need a new computer.

Cody Samuelson from Key Insurance and Shannon Chamberlain from MACo met with the Commissioners to go over the 2023/2024 Property and Casualty renewal.

Department Head meeting.

Ambulance Director Solberg and Assistant Vivirito met with the Commissioners to discuss their budget.

Public comment:

David and Wendy Shreeve, Warren Hanson, Sherri Flanscha, Ken Naylor, Dan Main, Richard Durgin and Michael Jacko were present.

Wendy Shreeve and Sherri Flanscha asked the Commissioners if they could use the kitchen at the Commons to make bread. The Commissioners will talk to MACo.

Mr. Durgin is concerned that the chip seal on #4 Road is breaking up.

Ken Naylor wanted clarification on if the Regional Water Authority is going around the Roundup Mesa Subdivision. The Commissioners confirmed that they are going to be going south around the subdivision.

Michael Jacko asked about a decay ordinance for the County. The Commissioners will ask County Attorney Larsen what needs to be done.

End of public comment.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to sign Resolution 2023-27 Cancelling uncalled Warrants on First Security Bank from June 2021 – June 2022. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried. The following are the uncalled warrants.

Date 10/21/2021

Warrant # 71541

Amount $568.05

Name McCleary Dist.

Date Canceled 4/28/2023

12/3/2021

71761

$20.00

Patrick Contini

4/28/2023

1/21/2022

72007

$20.00

Ryan Buffington 4/28/2023

1/21/2022

72056

$119.99

Ray Allen Manufacturing 4/28/2023

2/4/2022

72097

$12.59

Christian Barber 4/28/2023

2/4/2022

72122

$21.36

Eric Eliasson

4/28/2023

2/4/2022

72137

$14.93

Corin Heron

4/28/2023

2/4/2022

72196

$16.68

Owen Thatcher

4/28/2023

2/4/2022

72198

$13.17

Frankie Thompson 4/28/2023

2/4/2022

72212

$12.59

Michaela Viviano 4/28/2023

3/4/2022

72329

$155.50

Empire Heating and Cooling Inc

4/28/2023

3/4/2022

72336

$40.25

L&J Design & Mfg 4/28/2023

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign Resolution 2023-28 Appointing Special County Attorney Burt Hurwitz. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pancratz made the motion to Sign the Standard Audit Contract Amendment submitted by Denning, Downey & Associates. Commissioner Goffena seconded the motion. Motion carried.

End of meeting.

Monday May 1, 2023 Road Department meeting.

Commissioner Turley, Commissioner Goffena, Road and Bridge Supervisor Stockert and Secretary Newman were present.

Senate Bill 536 Regarding State funding for bridges and secondary roads was discussed and needed to be opposed. The millings on some of the roads is coming up. They are going to check on making Eagle Rock Road “non-maintained”

End of meeting.

Commissioners May 5th, 2023 Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 by Commissioner Pancratz. Commissioner Goffena was present. Commissioner Turley was absent.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the agenda for the day. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to approve the minutes from the April 28, 2023 meeting as written. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Tuesday May 2, 2023, Commissioner Pancratz and Commissioner Goffena had a zoom meeting with Susan Hayes from GreatWest regarding the PER for the Roundup Mesa Subdivision. They have established the boundaries for the proposed water district and will do a resolution for the boundaries once the PER paperwork is completed.

All Commissioners attended a meeting on Thursday May 4, 2023 at the Dean Creek Fire Hall with the residents of the Community regarding growth concerns of the area. The main concerns were water, road conditions and incoming industry.

Maintenance Supervisor Jett gave her weekly report to the Commissioners. The downstairs lady’s bathroom floor is coming up in a spot. The Commissioners told Ms. Jett to contact the company that installed the floor. Ms. Jett would like some gravel in front of the dumpsters in the Courthouse parking lot. It is very muddy.

John Albert visited with the Commissioners regarding getting the lawn mower that he uses to mow Handel Park and Musselshell Cemetery fixed.

County Agent Solf gave her weekly report to the Commissioners. There is a water bath workshop on May 6th, 2023. There are 8 people signed up. They are preparing for the Multi County 4H Camp. Every first Tuesday of the month there is a Bee Keeping meeting.

Sheriff Lesnik gave his weekly report to the Commissioners. The Signal Peak Community Foundation provided a check in the amount of $7008.00 for body armor for the Sheriff’s office. They are having problems with the new furnace. The COPS grant application Sheriff Lesnik is working on is almost complete and he would like a letter of support from the Commissioners. Treasurer Hetrick joined the meeting to discuss the Department of Revenues educational meeting on tax assessments July 13, 2023 at the Commons. Ms. Hetrick and Sheriff Lesnik think the meeting should be put on zoom, recorded and put on our website. The Commissioners agreed and Ms. Hetrick will contact the DOR.

DES Director and Coordinator Russell gave their weekly report to the Commissioners. We will be getting a new Floodplain Administrator. The Fire Council meeting on Thursday May 4, 2023 went well. The part for the radios came in and will be installed. They are working with CFO Kirk on the fuel budgets for the end of the fiscal year. There were 2 new addresses this week. They will be in Helena next week for the annual DES Conference.

Treasurer Hetrick met with the Commissioners to give them the list to cancel the Personal/Mobile Home/Real Estate Property Taxes. There will be a resolution signed at the 3:00 business Friday May 12, 2023

Wendy Nelson and Duane Binstock from ASK Insurance met with the Commissioners in regards to having a Medicare Seminar. The Commissioner think it would be a good idea and gave them the information to contact the people at the Musselshell County Central Commons.

Ambulance Director Solberg gave his weekly report to the Commissioners. Thad McGrath from Systems will be getting in contact with Mr. Solberg about a new phone system for the County. The County Attorney will be getting a camera system from DIS Technology. They will be ordering a new computer for the Victim Witness Advocate. The Signal Peak Community Foundation funded an oxygen booster for the ambulances.

Debbie Willumson met with the Commissioner with some questions about the purposed “Water District” and the maps. The Commissioner told her the PER isn’t completely finished but the maps and reports, when finished, should answer all the questions. Ms. Willumson asked about the minutes from the April 20, 2023 meeting? The minutes were taken by Commissioner Turley and he will get them posted as soon as he returns.

Public comment.

Theresa Doumitt met with the Commissioners with some updates on Community projects. Roundup Community Partners will be meeting on Thursdays. The Central School project is waiting on a Historical Tax Credit, but they are working on inside of the building. Signal Peak Community Foundation granted the “Welcome Center” $21,250.00 for landscaping. They will be meeting with the landscaping company Monday May 8, 2023 at the Grand at 3:00.

Sherri Flanscha met with the Commissioner about using the Commons kitchen for baking bread. The Commissioners still need to talk to MACO.

End of public comment.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Golden Valley Commissioners regarding the County Attorneys shared salary. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Commissioner Goffena made the motion to sign the Encroachment Permit for an approach in Section 19, Township 6 North, Range 24 East on Homestead Road submitted by Solomon Beachy. Commissioner Pancratz seconded the motion. Motion carried.

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

Thursday May 4, 2023, Commissioner Turley and Commissioner Goffena did the first run of claims for the month of May, 2023.

No Road Department meeting for the week.

Claims for the first run of May 2023 = $198,873.37