FEBURARY 2004 COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

February 2, 2004

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

• MINERAL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR: Don Erickson, Mineral County’s Mental Health Director came in to update the commissioners on the Mental Health Programs. Don has taken the position that was opened in the last few months. Don seems to be working well with the other agencies.
• RC&D MEETING: Agenda items included. 1.) Five Valley Land Trust. 2.) Community Reports. 3.) Fire Department protection and fuel mitigation needs with in Mineral County. For complete minutes contact the Mineral County Extension Agency.
• The commissioners agreed to give $5000 additional moneys for the Forest Task Force to help Tricon Timber Company recover attorney costs for our mediator position in the lawsuit against the Sierra Club and the Ecology Center.
• POWER POLES AT AIRPORT PROPERTY: the commissioners decided to put the power poles at the airport for sale in the public notices of the newspaper and open bids for them. The money shall go into the airport fund.

The commissioners adjourned.

February 3, 2004

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

• Nancy Coles-Mineral County Tech Proposal: Nancy met with the commissioners to go over a proposal that would include hiring a new position for the county. The position would be for a person who would be responsible for keeping up with our growing needs using computer technology. Nancy brought the commissioners a draft of a job description for such an employee. The commissioners will research the need and will hopefully come to a decision by next years budget.
• CEDAR CREEK BRIDGE: Dan McCauley and Karl Yakawich, Entranco Engineering firm from Helena, and Bill Vigue, Mineral County Road Foreman, was here with a proposal for the Cedar Creek Bridge replacement. The commissioners are hoping they can get some emergency funds for the bridge. The State of Montana has some temporary bridges we can use. We are planning to be ready to apply for TSEP. Bill will take Dan and Karl on a tour of some of our bridges to see if there are any more that could qualify for these funds.
• MINERAL COUNTY MAPPING ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT: Present Liz Gupton. Liz was in and gave the commissioners a summary of what the mapping advisory committee came up with. The advisory committee would like to be considered when the commissioners contract out our GIS mapping and the task of GPS rural addressing and digital mapping in the support of our E-911 project.
• BAILEY’S POST AND POLE: Present Dana and Mick Bailey gave the commissioners an update on the CDBG loan project that they are working on. It has been a long process getting all the building done and up to the correct specs. The Baileys have received a CDBG loan from the state and a USFS grant to complete their post and pole treatment plant. The county will benefit from the payments of the CDBG loan; it will go into Mineral County’s revolving loan fund.
• CARL METCALF-IMPOUND STORAGE: Carl was in with a proposal to the commissioners that would comply with MCA 61-8-906. This would allow a qualified tow truck operator to provide a storage facility for our impound cars. Presently the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department keeps them locked at our road facility. Personal at the Sheriff’s Department have fallen behind on the removal of the cars and it is causing a problem at the county road property. This proposal would allow tow truck operators to operate the impound yards and to collect the money needed for removal. The commissioners will be researching this and are hoping it is a solution to this problem.

The commissioners adjourned.

February 11^th, 2004

Commissioner James S. Warnken was the only commissioner attending the session. No action because of no quorum. Commissioners Judy A. Stang and B. J. McComb were attending Montana association of Counties and the Disaster and Emergency Services Mid-year conference in Billings. The commissioners conducted the following business:

• Jim Warnken spent the afternoon attending a public hearing on the Little Joe Road Project being proposed by the Federal Highway commission. The meeting was in the community building in St. Regis.

The commissioners adjourned.

February 18, 2004

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

· Tim Read, Mineral County Environmental Health and Planning Office. Tim gave the commissioners an update on some of the projects in his office. Some of the plans are the need to update Mineral County’s Subdivision Regulations. The growth policy document that we have contracted to be done by Pat Hayes. The commissioners would like Tim to work with the Sheriff’s department in planning our update of mapping and E-911.

· Necia Field-Deems Property. Mineral County has a mortgage on the 10 acres Necia thought was included in the property she bought. The Deems have agreed to quitclaim that 10 acres, but Necia does not want to assume that liability. Necia has made an offer to pay the county $7000 for the 10 acres if they release the lien. The commissioners will have to get legal advise from the county attorney on this process. They will also like to negotiate the price. The amount of the mortgage was for $20,000.

· Bill Vigue, Mineral County Road Foreman, was in to get the okay on buying a new transmission for the GMC county pick-up. The commissioner approved the request.

· Growth Policy and Mapping: Jim McGowan and Dan McCauley from Entranco Engineering firm were in to answer questions and give a presentation on their 911 and mapping projects with other counties and public entities. They also answered questions on some of the growth policies that they have done. Also present at the meeting was Anita Parkin, Mineral County Sheriff, Hugh Hopwood, Undersheriff and Tim Read, Mineral county Environmental and Health Department. Tim and Anita are going to get together a list of what they have for inventory in place already. Dan will come back and maybe give the county an idea of what they may need to ask for.

· Peggy Stevens, Mineral County health Nurse Director, was in to ask if she could use sick leave while in Africa at a Medical Camp. The commissioners explained you couldn’t use sick leave for anything but sick leave.

· RESOLUTION 02-18-04, the commissioners passed a resolution regarding the regional certified development corporation. The resolution names and supports Lake County Community Development Corporation as the certified regional development organization for Mineral County.

· ADMENDED BUDGETORY RESOLUTION NO. 11-12-03. Commissioners passed a resolution for the appropriation of funds received from the United States Treasury for the Federal Aviation Administration program. The amount of $57,187.00 is appropriated to fund 2170.

· AMENDED BUDGET AUTHORTY RESOLUTION NO 12-17-03: Commissioners passed a resolution to appropriate $147,283 to the fund #2170. The moneys received are from the Federal Aviation Administration.

· BUDGET RESOLUTION NO. 02-11-04: $144,464.33 The Commissioners passed a resolution to appropriate $144,464.33 to fund #2170. The moneys are received from the Federal Aviation Administration.

· The commissioners receive a budget amendment proclamation from the St. Regis School District of Mineral County. The school board will meet on March 10, 2004 for the purpose of adopting the budget amendment. The amendment is for an increase of $2755.97 for an increase to the technology fund.

· LEARN-NRAC-ALAN AMBORN AND DENNIS HILDEBRAND: AD HOC COMMITTEE – COOPERATING AGENCY STATUS.

· LOAN COMMITTEE REQUEST: PRESENT Shaun Donovan, Billye Ann Bricker, Jim DeBree, three commissioners from the loan committee. Also present staff Sharon Patterson, Kevin Chamberlain staff and Kathy Bailey. The committee asked the applicant several questions and will table a decision of the request until some more information is acquired.

The commissioners adjourned.

February 25, 2004

Commissioners James S. Warnken, Judy A. Stang, B. J. McComb met in a special session. The purpose of the special session is to Open RFP, is for a study of bridge work needed in Mineral County. The commissioners received one proposal from ENTRANCO ENGINEERING AND GRANT SERVICES. The commissioners approved the proposal submitted by ENTRANCO. Present at the meeting Ollie St. Clair amd Bill Vigue, Mineral County Road Foreman.

The second item on the agenda for the special session is for a presentation for the Local Environment and Resource Network ( LEARN) Program. Present are Alan Amborn and Dennis Hildabrand. Alan gave a brief presentation on the focus of Learn. The commissioners agreed to ask for cooperating agency status with the USFS and will advertise for members to be on a committee.

The commissioners also conducted the following business:

· BOARD APPOINTMENTS: the commissioners reappointed Tom Anderson and Francis Williams to the West End Rural Fire District. Both of these appointments are for a three year term. The commissioners re-appointed Alan Brockway and appointed James Miller to a three year term for the Superior Rural Fire District.

· BUDGETARY AUTHORITY RESOLUTION NO. 02-27-04. The commissioners passed a resolution for the appropriation of grant monies received from the State of Montana for IAP (Immunization Action Plan) 2976

· The commissioners approved the dues of $900 to belong to the Montana Association of Forest Counties.

The commissioners adjourned.

February 27, 2004

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

· GIS MAPPING-911 PROJECT PRESENTATION: Jackson Beighle, GEO COMM. Also present are Tim Read, Mineral County Planning and Environmental Health Department, Hugh Hopwood, undersheriff, and Anita Parkin, Sheriff. Jackson gave the commissioners a presentation of the abilities of their company to complete mapping and enhanced 911 in our county. Jackson answered a lot of questions for the commissioners. The commissioners hope to have some kind of inventory and evaluation done by someone and put out to bid the project.

· DENNING, DOWNEY, AND ASSOCIATES-EXIT CONFERENCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003. Present Jessica Connolly, Denning, Downey and Associates, Tim Read, Planning office, Anita Parkin, Sheriff, Kathy Jasper, Clerk and Recorder, and Billye Ann Bricker, Treasurer. Jessica mentioned we had a pretty good audit. Jessica went through Last Year Findings, which were 1.) Unrecorded lease, 2.) Farm Bill Grant never closed out, and 3.) Justice Peace and Sheriff’s Office Checking account. All of these last years have been implemented, but the Justice of the Peace checkbook. Their new computer system is helping solve the problem. Suggestions to help for the future are to raise fixed assets to $5000, some object coding have been put to the wrong funds, and a $50,000 negative amount in the Public Safety fund were discussed.

· Anna Getz-PERSONNAL PROPERTY 1998-99 FIVE YEAR CANCELLATIONS. The following properties were cancelled because the parties have left the county and the personal property is gone from the county.

TAX BILL NO NAMES AMOUNT

336200 MARK BAKER $156.08

489500 DEE DRA’S CUSTOM

SEWING $125.13

349300 LOST GULCH MINES $ 38.14

349300 LOST GULCH MINES $ 53.28

373500 WILLIAM & RHONDA PATERA $ 47.34

381800 SUPERIOR SAFETY CORP $ 51.16

· LOAN COMMITTEE REQUEST: committee members present are Billye Ann Bricker, Shaun Donovan, the three commissioners, staff present are Sharon Patterson, Kevin Chamberlain. The committee met to ask questions from an applicant. The loan was approved with some contingencies.

· TITLE III REQUEST: The commissioners tabled any decision on a proposed watershed project for the town of Alberton.

Claims and Payroll for the month of February as follows:

Claims $73,843.95 Payroll $133,494.06

A complete listing can be seen in the Clerk and Recorders office.

The commissioners adjourned.

Mineral County Commissioners

Judy A. Stang, Chairperson

James S. Warnken, Member

B.J.McComb, Member

ATTEST:

Katherine Jasper, Clerk and Recorder