August 2004 Commissioners Minutes

August 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:

• MONTHLY RC&D MEETING: The commissioners attended the monthly RC&D Meeting. For complete minutes contact the Mineral County Extension Office. Most of the agenda items were community updates including a report from Roger Hearst on the Mineral County Fuel Mitigation Program on private landowners property. A report from Superior Ranger District Rob Harper. RC&D report from the community tour up to the Seeley Lake area.
• EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS PROGRAM: Present at the meeting are Jim Morton, Director of Human Resource District 11and Rose Duncan, program director for Mineral County. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the proposed distribution of local funds between the three counties. The money must be spent on homeless folks. Mineral County will receive $1000, which is 2.9% of the funds. Mineral County has 2.9% of the population.
• SNOW PLOWING COURTHOUSE PARKING LOT: Present Sam Viche, Mineral County Custodian, and Bill Vigue, Mineral County Road foremen. Sam and Bill would like to purchase a small pick-up to plow the parking lots at the courthouse if the county trucks are busy. The commissioners denied the request.
• ENTRANCE TO AIRPORT: The commissioners agreed to have the entrance into the airport paved by Riverside Contracting. The amount will be $15,900.80. They have not decided if this will come out of the Road fund or the Airport Fund.

The commissioners adjourned.

August 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:

• BIG CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT OF THE USFS: The commissioners spent the morning going out on a tour of the Big Creek area where the USFS is planning on decommissioning a road and disturbing the ground and creek taking out a couple of culverts. They would also make the road that ATV’s are now using a trail. Present on the tour were the following: Rob Harper, Eric Barclay, Larry Svalberg, and Shane Hendrickson from the Lolo USFS, Dennis Hildebrand, Alan Amborn, Roger Hearst, from the Mineral County Advisory Council, and John Murray from the Clark Fork Chronicle. Present in the earlier part of the tour was Erin Ballas of Senator Burns Office. After the tour the commissioners are leaning toward appealing their decision to decommission things to leave the way that it is.
• SHAWN DONAVAN-MINERAL COUNTY SHERIFF APPOINTEE PROCESS: Present at the meeting John Q. Murray, and Shawn Donavan, county Attorney. The commissioners have decided to wait until we see who is appointed to run for the sheriff. So as of today we have not made any decision to appoint an acting sheriff.

The commissioners adjourned.

August 11, 2004

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

• WANDA JAMES, JP/LORNA SHARKEYS COLA: Wanda forgot to put Lorna’s pay COLA increase in the budget. It would be an increase of .38 per hour. The commissioners agreed to the request. Lorna also asked about her vacation time being increased because of her number of years at the county. Commissioner Warnken mentioned that he wanted Mineral County Employees to please not use abusive language when talking to other offices during work hours. The Clerk’s Office mentions that Lorna used abusive language when calling about her wage to the payroll office.

• MULLAN BENCH MINOR SUBDIVISION VARIANCE REQUEST: Present Jim Jensen, Chuck Jensen, Tim Read, Mineral county Planner. The Developers were in to ask for the following variances:

1. Minimum culvert sizing. They would like to be able to install culverts of 12 inch and 16 inch in place of 18-inch culverts.

2. Location of constructed road to run within several feet of south boundary of the easement. Utility pedestals located outside of the public road and utility easement.

3. Final road surface material not uniformly being four inches of screened third quarter minus gravel.

4. The Simons Road approach being paved with 2 inches of paving material for a distance of 18 feet from Mullan Gulch Road.

The commissioners agreed to all of the requests except the second sentence of #2, the easements must be on the plat so they are disclosed where they are.

• RESOLUTION NO 08-11-04: This is a resolution designating Tim Read as the Environmental Certifying official to produce an Environmental Review record for the CDBG Project involving Big Sky Machining.

• DEPARTMENT HEAD TRAINING FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER USE TRAINING IN MINERAL COUNTY COURTHOUSE: Present at the meeting were the following staff and employees, Tim Read, Brenda Reynolds, Sam Viche,( Samm’s Assistant) Anthony and Lois from the Department of Revenue, Stacy Hayes, KeLann McClees, Mary Yarnell, Shirley Hancock, Hugh Hopwood, Wanda James, and Dennis Hildebrandt from the public. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry is requiring we have training for our employees. Tim Read conducted the training.

• RS 2477 ROADS RESOLUTION PUBLIC MEETING: Present at Meeting:

• Denley M. Loge Rancher/MDT
• Richard Bachtal Retired
• Bob Rath Retired
• Earl Eisenbacher Retired
• Steve Pender Retired
• Pam Reed Contractor
• Beverly Dupree
• Kris Hager
• Ronnie Flannery Attorney
• Dave Harmon
• John Stamm Retired
• Everett Aarestad Retired
• Patty Freese Alberton Town
• Ron Schlader USFS
• Eric Barclay USFS
• Dennis Hildebrand
• Mike Byrnes
• Alan Amborn
• Jeff Perkins Intern County Attorney Office
• Bob Harper USFS
• Garry Edson USFS
• Shawn Donavan Mineral County Attorney

The commissioners listened to comments concerning RS 2477 roads. Shawn Donavan, Mineral County Attorney gave a brief explanation of what the law means to Mineral County. As far as Shawn can tell the date of 1906 is real important on the research of what road may be eligible for a RS 2477 road. Also should be noted that in the State of Utah they were loosing a significant amount of roads because of President Clinton’s Roadless Rule. The state of Utah invested in funding a whole legal staff finding out if any of the roads in question would comply with the state process that was required to qualify for a road. After listening to comment, the commissioners will first have to have proof of the road qualifying for a RS 2477 road and then will look at each situation to see if we will pursue claiming the road.

August 17, 2004

Commissioners B. J. McComb, Judy A. Stang, and James S. Warnken met in a special session. The purpose of the session was regarding a scoping meeting with Matt Pearce, MAPS and to review budgets. The commissioners conducted the following business:

• MAPS SERVICE AND UPDATE: Present at the meeting Matt Pearce, Mapps, George Gupton, DES Coordinator for Mineral County Dylan Berg, MAPPS, and Tim Read, Mineral county Planner and Sanitarian, Hugh Hopwood, Mineral county Acting Sheriff. The commissioners met with Matt to go over the particulars on our mapping project, which will enable us to provide, enhanced 911 services. Matt did need a decision to assign address on the 100 per mile or 1000 per mile. The commissioners decided to assign 1000 address per mile. This will cause a lot of citizens to be agree with changing their address, but for the future it will allow for enough address and less confusion later on.
• BAILY SUBDIVISION: The commissioners signed the final plat of the Bailey Subdivision. Present Tim Read, Mineral County Planner and Sanitarian.
• The commissioners spent the rest of the day reviewing budgets.

The commissioners adjourned.

August 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:

• The commissioners spent the morning reviewing budgets.
• LETC-Present at the meeting is Mike Byrnes, Marty, Birkender, Consultant, Hugh Hopwood, and Dennis Hildebrand. The commissioners signed a grant written by Marty to the Board of Crime Control for money for emergencies services needed in Mineral County. Marty feels in may be unlikely that the monies will be granted, but is a good idea to get a grant in case monies can be awarded next year. Most of the moneys went to the need of the fire departments and other emergency service needs.
• SHERIFF BUDGET: Present at the meeting is Hugh Hopwood, the commissioners and Hugh will need to cut this budget to just under $800,000. The commissioners sent Hugh back to work on this budget. The commissioners will budget for an extra detention officer and will leave other employees at the same staff.
• Dave Brink-contract for services MSU Bozeman for ½ extension agent. Present Dave Brink, the commissioners signed the contract with MSU-Bozeman to allow Dave to be a part-time extension office.

The commissioners adjourned.

August 25, 2004

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

· HUGH HOPWOOD: SHERIFF’S BUDGET: Present at the meeting Hugh Hopwood. The commissioners went through Hugh’s budget and agreed that the budget could be no more than $854,000. The proposed budget was for over $950,000. The extra costs are coming from more federal and state inmates; the non-tax revenue should cover the extra budget from last year. The commissioners Okayed one extra jailer position to cut down on overtime and all the rest of the employees will stay at the current last years staff numbers

• BUDGET HEARING; Present Jim Debree. The commissioners approved the budget for the fiscal year 2004-2005. There was no public comment.
• LEDFORD MINOR SUBDIVISION: Present Tim Read, the commissioner went through the Planning Boards recommendation to Ledford Minor Subdivision. The commissioners gave preliminary plat approval to this subdivision. The commissioners would like a careful review to make sure that the access road to the lots is actually a county road easement.
• ROGER SWAN, DEER LICK ROAD EASEMENT: Present Roger Swan, Shawn Donavan, And Mineral County Attorney. Roger was in with a complaint of his neighbor blocking his road easement into his home. It is on a private easement and the county has no jurisdiction.
• TOM STOTT: SCENIC BRIDGE, DA CAT ON A LOWBOY ACROSS SCENIC BRIDGE. Tom was asking the commissioners the procedure for going over the weight limit on the Scenic Bridge. The commissioners suggested he get an overweight permit from the MDOT.
• APPOINTING OF HUGH HOPWOOD TO MINERAL COUNTY SHERIFF: Present at the meeting are Shawn Donavan, Mineral County Attorney, Hugh Hopwood, Undersheriff, Kathy Jasper, Mineral County Clerk & Recorder, Wendal Frojen, Mineral County Parole Officer, and Ericka from the Mineral Independent. Commissioner Stang swore in Hugh Hopwood as Sheriff of Mineral County. Hugh will carry out the duties of Sheriff until December 31, 2004. At that time a newly elected sheriff will carry out the last two years of the previously retired sheriff.

August 31, 2004

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

• MAPS: (Mapping and Planning Specialist) BILLS AND SOFTWARE: Present Tim Read, Tim brought in a work change for MAPS an additional ArcGIS software for a cost of $1500. The commissioners also approved for the MAPS to inventory intersections and where we are missing road signs.
• USFS MEETING: Commissioners McComb and Warnken went to the Forest Service Office to meet with Rob Harper to discuss the Big Creek Appeal that the county filed. Commissioners McComb and Warnken did not make any decision and will discuss the request at a regularly scheduled session.
• RESOLUTION 08-31-04-RESOLUTION FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF GRANT MONIES RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF MONTANA DISASTER EMERGENCY SERVICES:
• TOM YOST AND NECIA FIELDS APPOINTED TO PLANNING BOARD: The commissioners approved the re-appointment of Tom Yost and Necia Fields to the Mineral county Planning Board.
• ADDITION TO THE TAX ROLL: After a field review an addition of $1097.17 was added to the tax roll of personal property from Westway. (Construction equipment).

The commissioners adjourned.