September 2003 Commissioners Minutes

September 2, 2003

Commissioners Judy A. Stang, James S. Warnken, and B. J. McComb met in a regularly scheduled session. The commissioners conducted the following business:

• CDBG BUDGET-KEVIN CHAMBERLAIN: Kevin was in to discuss with the commissioners his budget, he had put a ½ time FTE. Into the his budget, it is completely budgeted by the revolving loan fund. The commissioners approved Kevin’s revolving loan fund back to what it was. It is all contingent of revenues from the revolving loan fund. The commissioners signed the Bailey Post and Pole CDBG Mineral equal opportunity policy and fair housing resolution for Baileys Post and Pole.
• Don Rickett-Airport Mobile Lot Rent: Don was in to inquire about the mobile lot at the airport. The commissioners felt it would be a bad idea to move a mobile there right now because we hope to start construction on the airport.
• JP BUDGET: Wanda James, Shawn Donavon, and Sharon Gull were in to ask the commissioners to reconsider her budget on asking for an additional FTE. The commissioners need to look at the figures. JP budget was asking for an additional $20,000 from last year, but the fines were down and also the valuation of the county is down.
• DISTRICT COURT BUDGET: Cheryl Demon was in to see if the commissioners would reconsider giving her a ¾ time employee instead of her employee getting 960 hours. The commissioners cannot increase employees.
• Kathy Jasper: clerk & recorder, budgets: Kathy was in to ask the commissioners where they can save another .49 of a mill. The commissioners will take some from a couple of budgets.
• Pat Hayes, Growth Policy claims: the commissioners discussed with Pat, before they could pay his claims they needed to see a contract and also justification for the claims. Pat gave the commissioners a report of what he had been working on and reported to the commissioners. The commissioners are a little concerned that Pat has begun work before the contract was signed.

The commissioners adjourned.

September 3^rd, 2003

Commissioners Judy A. Stang, James S. Warnken, and B. J. McComb met in a regularly scheduled session. The commissioners conducted the following business:

• Shawn Donavan, Anita Parkin-wage issues/ contracts/ large medical bill in public safety fund. The commissioners discussed the large medical bill the sheriff’s department has. If it can be paid in a two-year budget, the commissioners would okay a new car in the sheriff’s budget. The bill is for $65,000; a new patrol car is about $30,000. The commissioners also discussed with Shawn the overtime policy for the sworn deputies and the union contract. Shawn agreed they could get overtime in this instance.
• The commissioners would like Shawn to re-write the contract with pat Hayes to have it more clear who he needs to keep informed before paying his claims. Also to make it more clear what we are getting for our $10,000.
• Sue Ellen Cantrell and Kathy Bailey were in to discuss their situation at their property in the Two River’s Subivision.

September 8^th, 2003

The commissioners conducted a special session. The purpose of the special session was to attend a RC&D Meeting and to conduct county business: Commissioners Judy A. Stang, B. J. McComb, and James S. Warnken were present. The following business was conducted:

• RC&D Meeting: the following business was reported at the meeting. 1.) Western States Urban Interface Grant Program. 2.) Rob Harper, Superior Ranger, update on Mineral County Montana fires and other news. For complete minutes contact the MSU Extension Office.
• Sharon Patterson, MSU Extension Office was in and the commissioners signed a contract for Kevin’s Salary.
• The commissioners also attended a Health Board Meeting. For minutes contact the Mineral county Health and Planning Office.

The commissioners adjourned.

September 10, 2003

Commissioners Judy A. Stang, James S. Warnken, and B. J. McComb met in a regularly scheduled session. The commissioners conducted the following business:

• Doug Moeller (conference call) Juniper Lane: Doug Moeller, Montana Department of Transportation, called the commission to discuss Juniper Lane Maintenance. The commissioners will let Doug go ahead and write a letter to Pam Reed to let her know the state will not maintain it, but she can come to the county to ask. The commissioners feel there might be a future increase in traffic there and would like to wait and research it more.
• Sharon Patterson, Mineral County Extension Office was in and the commissioners signed a document that closed out of Baileys CDBG.
• Rob Harper, Superior Ranger District, was in to discuss concerns of Title II and Title III moneys, and the Importance of the RAC. Rob was wondering when the commissioners would make a decision on the allocations of Title II and Title III moneys. The commissioners agreed to give Title II 50% of the 20% of the PLl 06 moneys. Which would be about $70,000. Rob also reported on the fires and an update on the Hiawatha Trail Moneys.
• Marge Vigue was in to comment on Cheryl Demon, Clerk of Court, request to have more time allocated to her deputy. Marge’s comments were for the commissioners to grant the request because she would not ask for it if it were not needed.
• Judge McLean, Cheryl Demon, Kirk Kurtilla, Mary Ann Calamity, and Shawn Donavan were present. Cheryl was in requesting more money for her employee.
• Joe Ryan, sidewalks and crosswalks in the city of Superior. The commissioners pointed Joe in the direction of going to the city and hiring an engineer to look at the whole project. The commissioners gave Joe some phone numbers of state personal to call.
• The commissioners appointed Robbie J. Smith from St. Regis to the St. Regis cemetery district board.
• Thorn Johnson, Department of Public Health and Human Services: Annual Agreement and community operation plan with the state. The commissioners signed the Plan.
• Pat Hayes was in and updated the commissioners about the growth policy. Pat feels he is about ¾ of the amount done and that is about what his bill is so far.
• Bill Vigue, Mineral County Road Foreman, was in to present to the commissioners a bill for fixing the grassy swail storm drain by the school. The county is donating most of the work and materials. Bill also reported on other road issues.
• Ken McBee was in to ask the county to release a lien the county has on Lot #23 in the Cougar Meadow II Subdivision in St. Regis. The commissioners see no value for the lien now that the county owns Cougar Meadow Drive. They will have to ask Shawn to draw up a release.

The commissioners adjourned.

September 17, 2003

Commissioners Judy A. Stang, James S. Warnken, and B. J. McComb met in a regularly scheduled session. The commissioners conducted the following business:

· Lois Sherd, Department of Revenue: Lois has the following changes to the personal property tax rolls. A reduction in tax dollars of $1402.30 to Davis Logging, the equipment was actually in Powell County. An increase in tax dollars of $372.34 from Olympus America Inc., which is a new lease company.

Lois also reported that there have been some mistakes on recordings. One of her concerns was a recorded document that the purpose was a COS. It was titled a COS and amended plat, but the recording clerk recorded it as a subdivision because of the size of paper. There are some problems with this because of the way it was filed and did not go through subdivision review. The commissioners were hoping that the check and balance system they should have between the Recording Office and the Planning Office would eliminate the problem. They will check into it.

· Patsy Foote, Mineral County Librarian, was in with an employee problem. It seems Kay Eisenbacher had left

· John and Minnie Schmucker and Debby Galloway were present. The commissioners signed the final plat approval for the Phase I and Phase II of the Mountain Village Subdivision. The commissioners did have a question about the county road still being on the Title Report.

· Open Bids for Radio System upgrade and repeater backbone: Present are Anita Parking, Hugh Hopwood, and Clyde Stoker, Montana Electronics. The commissioners received 1 bid from Montana Electronics. Mobiles and Portables bid is for $65,321.15 and the bid for radio system upgrade repeaters/backbone is for $193,774.07. The commissioners accept the bids contingent on moneys from the DES coming.

· Andy Short and Debby Galloway from the Mineral county Environmental and Health Office was in to see if the commissioners could come up with a policy that would allow a better check and balance system when recording plats. The commissioners will talk to Kathy Jasper the Clerk and Recorder.

The commissioner adjourned.

September 24^th, 2003

Commissioners B. J. McComb and Judy A. Stang were in Lewistown at the MACO convention. Commissioner Warnken was in the office. Roy Yerian brought in a notice that he is retiring and the 25^th of September will be his last day. No decisions can be made because there is no quorum.

September 30, 2003

Commissioners Judy A. Stang, James S. Warnken, and B. J. McComb met in a regularly scheduled session. The commissioners conducted the following business:

· Reviewed claims and payroll.

· Title III Projects: Kevin Chamberlain, Pat Hayes, Bill Woodford, Mike Burns, Mr. Amborn, Chuck Mead, Alex Phelps, Dennis Hildebrandt, John Murray, and George Gupton were in to go over proposed projects. Pat went over the process that the RAC used to come up with some of the recommendations to the commissioners. They had went through quite a few proposals and came up with the following most popular proposals that would fit with the guidelines of the public moneys. 1. Community forester, 2. GIS mix, 3. A proposal for a history project for the travel centers to develop with the schools and the museum board.

· Shawn and Anita were in to discuss a claim that has been filed against the sheriff’s department. Shawn was asking permission to accept ser vice. The commissioners agreed, Shawn would accept service and call our insurance company to discuss the claim.

· The commissioners discussed with Shawn that we need our county attorney to be at planning board meetings because of the Montana Subdivision and Platting laws. Shawn agreed he needed to be more informed at these issues.

· The commissioners discussed with Shawn the office hours for the courthouse and the recent ad in the paper by the Clerk of Court saying her office might be closed. The commissioners feel they have not cut any hours and that the Clerk has enough extra employee time and needs to better manage her time. The commissioners will send a letter reminding the Clerk of Court the liabilities of not having the office opened from 8am-5pm Monday thru Friday.

· Bill Vigue, Mineral County Road Foreman, was in to discuss the following issues, Cedar Creek Bridge, Cougar Gulch Road, and other issues. The commissioners did not make any decisions.

· The commissioners passed RESOLUTION 09-30-03, this resolution was to $6200 to the Noxious Weed Department.

The commissioners adjourned.