Powder River Examiner -

Monday, July 17, 2023

Commissioner Chair Lee Randall called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Commissioner’s office, Powder River County Courthouse. Commissioners Lori Fortner and John Olson were present.

Commissioners reviewed and approved the consent agenda.

Mid-month claims were reviewed and approved for payment of various county department expenses submitted by the Clerk & Recorder’s office.

The scheduled meeting for discussion on Old Airport Road was cancelled. Clerk and Recorder Cynde Jo Gatlin updated the board on residents’ concerns on the road. The commissioners will tour the road later to view the concerns.

Cynde Jo Gatlin, Clerk & Recorder, met with the board. Gatlin reported Clinton Watters stated there were concrete stumps dumped in the wood pile this weekend. Gatlin then presented an updated MACO job application for county use. The board reviewed the job application and approved Gatlin to use the application and discontinue use of the old application. Gatlin then presented the SRS delegation form that is due July 25. The board reviewed and will agenda for final decision on July 20, 2023. Gatlin then updated the board on Grant’s Hardware invoicing issues and concerns.

Barb Mitchell, Library Director, met with the board to discuss the 2023-24 budget. Mitchell requested the authority to install security cameras in the back area of the library for safety concerns. The board authorized the installation of cameras.

Extension Agents Mary Rumph and Julie Riley met with the board for their 2023-24 budget meeting. They also conducted an update of the fair.

Valley View Cemetery Board members Julie Riley and Katie Ward met with the board to discuss the 2023-24 budget.

The board then discussed the removal of the fairground bleachers. Commissioner Olson had offered to remove bleachers. Concerns were brought to the commissioners regarding the removal, disposal and where the disposed materials would go. At the time of the offer by Commissioner Olson, there were no decisions made as to what would happen to the material after being removed. The concerns brought forward were that there might be value in the wood and it should be auctioned to the public. Commissioner Randall and Fortner asked Commissioner Olson to consider a cost for the removal of the bleachers and submit a claim for payment of his company’s time and labor. A decision on how to proceed with the auction of materials will be decided at a later meeting date.

Weed Board members John Barbero, Phil VerWolf, Tim Fortner, Ann Mackaben, and Tammy Van Tine, Weed Supervisor, met with the board to discuss the 2023-24 budget.

Nadine Elmore, Nursing Home Interim Administrator, met with the board for her weekly meeting. Kylie Randall joined the meeting. Elmore presented the Accountable Care Agreement with Montana Health Network and requested the board to sign the agreement for Powder River County. The ACA agreement to prove to Medicaid and Medicare that services and goods care are being provided by the clinic. The agreement ends December 31, 2028 and the county can withdraw at any time. The board reviewed the agreement and signed it. Elmore reported she is meeting with Transportation Director Christy Olson next week to discuss transportation for the residents. Discussion continued to the need for a Nursing Home Administrator.

At 3:30 p.m., the County Salary Compensation Board met with elected official members including the three commissioners, Sheriff Devin Boman, Clerk & Recorder Cynde Jo Gatlin, Treasurer Hattie Arithson, Attorney Jeff Noble, resident tax payers Ann Emmons, Todd Gardner, and Billy Stuver was also present. Jeff Noble motioned for a 7% raise for elected officials for the 2023-24 FY, Ann Emmons seconded the motion, all in favor, motion carried. The option for the $2000 stipend was discussed and it was decided to break from the meeting for a chance for Jeff Noble to see if Cathy Landa could join the meeting. Cathy Landa joined the meeting. Commissioner Randall opened the floor for the elected officials that can opt for the stipend to state their request; Treasurer, Clerk & Recorder, Justice of the Peace, and Clerk of District Court (via phone) all requested to receive the stipend. John Olson motioned to approve the stipend for all elected officials that opted yes to receive the stipend, Lori Fortner seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed. Hearing no further public comment, the meeting was adjourned.

The board then spent the remainder of the day conducting administrative duties. After hearing no further public comment, the board adjourned at 5 p.m. and will reconvene Thursday, July 20, 2023.

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Chairman Lee Randall called meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Commissioner’s office, Powder River County Courthouse. Commissioners Lori Fortner and John Olson were present.

The board reviewed and approved the consent agenda.

The scheduled meeting with Ty Gee was cancelled. Mr. Gee was unable to attend.

The board then reviewed the SRS allocation needed for the 10-year renewal process. The board unanimously agreed to choose the SRS and Communities Act payment.

The board then left the office to inspect the fairgrounds before the fair. The commission will reconvene Monday, July 24, 2023.

Monday, July 24, 2023

Commissioner Chair Lee Randall called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Commissioner’s office, Powder River County Courthouse. Commissioners Lori Fortner and John Olson were present.

The minutes of the July 17 and 20, 2023 commissioner proceedings were read, approved, and ordered published.

Cynde Jo Gatlin, Clerk and Recorder, and Tracey Gorder, Payroll Clerk, met with the board to discuss a payroll issue concerning the travel reimbursement for an EMT traveling to Rapid City or Billings to retrieve backboards. After discussion it was decided that the EMT will be paid the instructor fee at this time and during the budget process a pay line will be created for equipment retrieval.

Teel Mullanix and John Trusler met with the board to discuss a potential contract with Mr. Trusler to blade and maintain the county roads from Highway 212 east at Pumpkin Creek, 10 Mile Road, 15 Mile Road and Taylor Creek. Discussion was held on various issues that the contract would need to state. The board requested Mr. Trusler to meet again later with his requests of the verbiage in the contract and the board would then make a final decision on how to proceed.

Teel Mullanix stayed in the meeting to conduct his budget meeting for fiscal year 2023-24 and biweekly meeting. The board informed Mullanix they had received a call from local rancher that there are trucks on a county road that are flying down the road. It was determined that these trucks are the contracted trucks the Forest Service has contracted for road maintenance. Mullanix then presented a cattle guard installation request. The board then requested the Road Department fulfill the contract requirements with Powder River County and Bruce Dinstel.

Christy Olson, Transportation Director, met with the board to conduct her 2023-24 budget meeting. Olson reported she has hired Beau Kuhbacher as a part time driver. Olson also asked the board for approval of scheduling contract for the department. The board approved Olson to sign the 1-year contract.

Transportation budget meeting for the 2023-24 school year began with Molly Lloyd, Superintendent of Schools, Jim Hanson, Superintendent, Commissioners and Clerk and Recorder Cynde Jo Gatlin present. Lloyd presented agenda and previous meeting minutes. Individual contracts were discussed, and Jim recommended individual names be listed on the proposed contract list. After review of contracts, Lori Fortner motioned to approve contracts, Lee Randall seconded motion, all in favor, motion carried. Bus routes were then discussed, and Lee Randall motioned to accept bus routes, John Olson seconded, all in favor, motion passed.

Molly Lloyd, Superintendent of Schools, met with the board to conduct her 2023-24 budget meeting.

Ty Gee stopped in to discuss a possible road blading contract.

A public hearing for private pay increase at Powder River Manor began with Nadine Elmore, Paige Powell, and Kylie Randall, Commissioners and Clerk and Recorder Cynde Jo Gatlin present. No public comment was heard. Elmore presented a Nursing Home Pay Rate & Resident Longevity Discount pay proposal. Discussion was held on the proposal. Elmore also presented potential pay rates. The board will review proposal and rates and agenda final decision later. No further public comment was heard, and the hearing was closed.

Nadine Elmore, Interim Nursing Home Administrator, met with the board to conduct her weekly meeting. Paige Powell and Kylie Randall were present. Elmore reported she has met with Transportation Director Christy Olson regarding the transportation of residents to doctor appointments. Olson and Elmore will continue to work together for transportation needs. Elmore requested the board to consider purchasing a vehicle for transportation needs for both medical and recreational for the residents. The board will request Elmore get quotes and will consider the request during the budget process. Elmore and Julie Emmons-Stoddard are continuing their work on the feasibility study.

Marty Drane, Maintenance Supervisor, met with the board to conduct his 2023-24 budget meeting.

The board spent the remainder of the day reading correspondence and taking care of various administrative duties.

After hearing no further public comment the board adjourned at 5:00 pm and will reconvene Monday, July 31, 2023.