Commissioners Proceedings
May 2, 2019
April 8, 2019
Commissioners met for their weekly meeting with Donna Giacometto, Lee Randall, and Rod Schaffer present.
No public comment was received at this time.
Consent agenda – Rod moved, Donna seconded this motion, all in favor, motion carried. Consent agenda approved.
Maint. Supervisor, Marty Drane, met with board. He is still working at airport—all 4 connectors where bad; he has ordered parts. There is a smell issue at the Manor; it was determined the smell was coming from the sink drainage. The maint. crew is going back to 4 - 10 hour shifts. Bruce Rogge has taken his boiler test. Rod Schaffer reported to Marty he has heard good things about Mr. Rogge.
The commission received a phone call from local rancher to invite them to the Forest Service District meeting in Ashland at the ranger station.
Road Supervisor, Teel Mullanix, met with board. Mullanix took a local contractor out on the roads to start the estimate process. They reviewed 9 spots with an estimate of $106,000, labor only. Discussion was held regarding Doyle Creek, and it is estimated they will need 5000 yds of dirt to fix this area. The big culvert at Buckshot’s is rotted out. They discussed the culverts at the Minow Bridge, and they are actually footings. Mullanix reported the Crow Creek Road is passable. Belle Creek Bridge is going to need some repairs to help the flow of water. The road crew is blading roads and the road crew will be paid out on their overtime during the disaster per DES requirements for the county to be fully reimbursed. Cargate cleaning was discussed.
Lee Randall, Chairman, visited with the Weed Coordinator about the weed chemical bids. No bids were submitted. Meeting with the Weed Board was discussed and it was decided the commissioners need to get a meeting set but no dates were finalized.
The board reviewed the 2019-20 MACO Health Insurance rates and options. Donna motioned to accept the following plan: MACO Health Insurance 2019-20 Fiscal Year: Option 1, RM 1500, RM2000, BP2000, HD4000, HD6000, Vision, Dental – the county will pay the base amount of $982.00. Rod seconded the motion, no public comment, all in favor, motion carried.
Nursing Home Administrator, Cheri Stachey, met with board. The board accepted Cheri’s resignation as Administrator and Director of Nursing. They discussed the timeline regarding her resignation, and Cheri offered to stay on as administrator until the state inspection. There is a dietary aide interview next week. Stachey reported the Dementia workshop was a success and that Nursing Home Week is coming up in May. Commissioner Schaffer asked about the housekeeping supervisor, Stachey reported it is going well and she is the acting supervisor; the ordering of supplies is done by Nancy Trent. Stachey reported there is an employee that would like to mow the lawn this summer; there was brief discussion and Stachey will look into the maintenance budget.
Sheriff Drane stopped in to report he has hired a deputy; he will start May 9. He also asked the board to sign the Eastern Montana Drug Task Force Agreement; the board reviewed it and the chairman signed it.
Julie Riley stopped in to discuss the community garden and getting the fence put up.
Forest Service representatives Ron Hecker, Virginia Kelly, Marna Daley, and Mary Erickson met with board to discuss the strategic direction rules for future projects required by law for the Forest Service. This plan is similar to the county’s growth plan. Discussion was held regarding the RAC program. Mary Rumph has been the previous committee person for this program for our county and her term limit is up. The Forest Service asked if the commission could help find applicants to be on this committee. $96000.00 is the future funding Powder River County could access. Mary Erickson will check term limits again and get back to board about being able to keep Mrs. Rumph on the committee. Discussion was held regarding the Custer Gallatin working group. Another issue the group discussed was Fort Howes. In 2010, outbuildings were built and by 2014 is was determined it was too much. The Forest Service is turning the buildings and area over to BLM. They are in the de-commissioning process. Hecker mentioned the livestock turnouts are anticipated to be the same. The briefly discussed controlled burns, salvage sale, gravel pits, trees that need cleared out and the Ash Creek Project which Hecker will discuss in more detail with the board at a later date.
Jeff Noble, County Attorney stopped in to visit about the procurement policy.
No public comment was heard at this time.
Meeting adjourned.
April 15, 2019
Commissioners met for their weekly meeting with Donna Giacometto, Lee Randall, and Rod Schaffer present.
No public comment was received at this time.
Consent agenda – Rod moved, Donna seconded this motion, all in favor, motion carried. Consent agenda approved.
Pat Phillippi, County Treasurer, met with board to share her thoughts on the procurement policy. She asked about the $80,000.00 purchase requirements, suggested the RFQ might need more definition, and asked what the commission requirements were regarding an emergency when ordering. The board will take all her suggestions under advisement. Phillippi then asked about the new windows in the courthouse building. The commission explained each bank of windows will have one that opens. Phillippi asked if her office could possibly get 2 per bank of windows. The board will contact Marty Drane and look into this. She informed the board she will be leaving today for school in Great Falls.
Maint. Supervisor Marty Drane met with board. He informed the board the fuel pump at the airport is working again. The maintenance crew will begin replacing the light poles at the courthouse this week. The board asked Marty to remove the waste pile behind the Manor. Discussion was held about the trailer behind the Manor and the board will find out if it is used or needs to be removed. The board and Drane then discussed his 5 year raise evaluation. The board asked Marty about the windows in the Treasurer’s office. Marty will check into this. Marty is also getting quotes for concrete repairs this summer. The areas that will be fixed will be the sidewalk in front Sheriff’s office and the patio at the Manor. There is also some damaged concrete at the Community Center.
Road Supervisor, Teel Mullanix, met with the board. He informed them all his paperwork for the disaster has been submitted to State DES. The estimated repair cost is $300,000 to $350,000. Mullanix has found 2 excavators he thinks would be good for the county. He will go look at both of them.
Excavator #1- 2005 Case Excavator-2600 hrs.- CX130 Case-110hp- $25000.00 or best offer
Excavator #2- 320 Cat Excavator – 6700 hrs.- 2 arms- $54000.00 plus $20,000 for second boom
No decision was made. Mullanix updated board on the crusher and they are working on the screen. Gravel is needed around the MP Bldg. and Fairbarn. Discussion was held on the growth policy and the bridges. Discussion was held regarding the Mobley Bridge snow issue and maybe putting up a snow fence; no decision was made. Discussion was held regarding the SHIPPO approval on the Collins pit. Teel updated board on the DEQ pit fees. The board let Teel know the community garden area is starting and he will need to get started on the dirt removal.
Ryan Tooke stopped in to visit with board regarding the nursing home and future CAH. Ryan gave the commission suggestions to help with the advertising of an administrator and DON. He gave advice on board packets.
Clinic employees, Jaci Phillips, Kerry Gardner, and Vikki Klemm, met with the board. Discussion was held regarding the upcoming health fair. Kerry informed the board that the x-ray computer needs updated right now. Gardner will get this ordered. They discussed the current daily number of visits. Discussion was held regarding a CAH facility and the future with a new administrator at the nursing home and the possibility of a Medical Facility Administrator.
Nursing Home Administrator, Cheri Stachey, met with board. 22 residents were reported. There is a water leak in the bath area caused by an old sprinkler head. Big Sky Fire is here fixing the problem. They informed Cheri the Manor will need to start thinking about replacing the sprinkler heads and they will work on a quote. The state ombudsmen was here last week (he is an advocate for the residents). The board asked Cheri about the trailer in the back and she sees no need for it. The board presented the upcoming procurement policy to Cheri and asked for input if she has any. They discussed the transportation bus and Cheri will look into whether or not she will be able to help sell it. The board let Cheri know they will start advertising for a D.O.N next week. Wages were discussed and the board informed Cheri the county nurse wages are comparable to other nursing home nurse wages.
The board held a phone conference with Julie Emmons to discuss the funding for a feasibility study and funding for a CAH. There are a limited number of applicants for the CDBG Grant. We currently have one open and need to get that finished up so the county is eligible for another one. The commission informed Julie they would like to visit with Jason Riddell, MACO. Lee informed the board he had visited with Kesa and Shane Copps a while ago and they are concerned about the ambulance service if the county were to go to a CAH. If this were to happen the ambulance would no longer be able to take patients to Miles City but rather have to go to Billings, Gillette, or Spearfish as an ambulance cannot transport from one CAH to another. Then the worry of getting volunteers to make these longer trips is a concern.
The board then reviewed the previous health insurance options and decided to offer the county employees the option of choosing a higher deductible health plan that the county would offer the difference to a health savings account. Donna motioned the following: The county will pay the health insurance premium of $982 with MACO, and if an employee opts for a high deductible plan the county will put the difference into a H.S.A—Rod seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed. Effective July 1, 2019.
The board then had a phone conference with Pam Walling, MACO Health Insurance. They discussed the 2019-20 health insurance plans. They asked Pam about the express scripts issue our local pharmacy is having and Pam informed the board she has a meeting Thursday in regards to this issue with MACO. The commission asked Pam about different options regarding health insurance options for employees.
Clerk & Recorder, Cynde Gatlin, met with the board for her weekly report. Gatlin presented fixed asset removal request forms to be signed, along with a letter to be mailed out for congregate meals and meals on wheels bids for the 2019-20 fiscal year. The board reviewed and signed the letter; Gatlin will get them mailed out this week. Gatlin also presented the Biddle School Classification of Isolation School agreement to be signed; commission reviewed and signed it. Commission signed the letter. Discussion was had that there is a vacant spot on the planning board. The commission asked Gatlin to advertise the vacancy.
Darlynn Williams, Public Health, met with board for her monthly meeting. Discussion was held regarding the measles issue in the US. They discussed the vacancy on the Eastern Montana Mental Health Board, and Darlynn agreed to be on the board. Discussion was held regarding the flu season, measles, tobacco fund, and the vaping issue with the youth.
Teel Mullanix stopped back in at the board’s request to discuss the removal of the dirt behind the manor.
The board discussed Fort Howes request to bring 30 loads of trash to our landfill. The contractors had called 2 weeks ago and spoke with Lee. Lee had informed them at that time that the county would not take anything that was unburnable or concrete with rebar. At some point, the contractor had contacted Clinton Watters, and Clinton said they could bring it. Commissioner Schaffer and Commissioner Giacometto are against any of it coming to our landfill. The contractor stated he had based this job with the understanding that he could bring it to our landfill. The board decided they will allow 10 loads to be brought in.
Teel Mullanix informed the board that Weeden Construction will not start work on the Ranch Creek Road until April 29.
No public comment was heard at this time.
Meeting adjourned.
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