Powder River Examiner -

January 21, 2021

Commissioners met for their weekly meeting with Lee Randall, Donna Giacometto and John Olson present.

Meeting was called to order. No public comment was received at this time.

Consent agenda – Donna moved, John seconded this motion, all in favor, motion carried. Consent agenda approved.

Greg Disney with Joint Power Trust stopped in to discuss and answer questions regarding employee concerns with the requested health statements by JPT.

Sean Hill, Medical Administrator, met with the board at 9:00 a.m. Hill reported 20 residents and the facility is open for visitors that follow the COVID visitation guidelines. He also reported on COVID vaccine clinics. COVID funding was then discussed and Hill stated the Medicaid supplemental payments were additional monies for each. Food costs were discussed along with the Maintenance and PT departments. The clinic currently has 5 providers. Hill will be pursuing an in-house lab at the clinic. Hill provided a special bulletin to commissioners with information on rural health clinics. Greg Disney joined the meeting to answer any questions and concerns Hill had with the health statements.

Ryan Melin and Luke Schwagler with the Forest Service met with the commissioners at 1:00 p.m. to update on the Forest Service.

No public comment was heard at this time.

Meeting adjourned.

January 25, 2021

Commissioners met for their weekly meeting with Lee Randall, Donna Giacometto and John Olson present.

The meeting was called to order, no public comment was heard, and consent agenda was read and approved.

Teel Mullanix, Road Supervisor, met with board for his weekly meeting. It was discussed moving Mullanix’s meeting dates to bi-weekly at 8:30. Roads were discussed and Mullanix updated on gravel and the status of the Road Department’s work progress.

At the request of health organization OneHealth, OneHealth CEO David Mark, OneHealth Medical Director Ashley Quibeck, and Kent Doughty met with the Board of Commissioners to discuss business opportunities for the clinic. Sean Hill, Medical Administrator, joined the meeting.

Commissioners expressed their concerns for the medical future for the county. The ambulance service was also discussed. Commissioners and OneHealth will continue to further discuss health concerns and draft ideas.

The board then met with the Medical Advisory Board. Board members Dave Gardner, Shane Copps, Kristy Elgin, Mike Riley and Sean Hill were present. The Advisory Board updated the commission that Mr. Dick Jesse has stated he will be retiring from the ambulance service as of July 1, 2021. Elgin updated the community health survey has been finished and touched on some of the highlights of the survey. The ambulance service was discussed. The possibility of beginning the grant process for ambulances was discussed. The boards discussed the future of EMS services for the community.

Commissioner Randall reported Julie Emmons, Cass Zimmer, Julie Riley and Brandon with Great West Engineering had stopped in to request funding assistance for a portion of the engineering cost for the transportation assistance grant for sidewalks. Commission asked for an estimate and Emmons will get back to the commission with that number. The walking path being repaved with that funding was briefly discussed.