May 2005 Commissioners Minutes

MAY 2005 COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

May 2, 2005

The commissioners spent their regularly scheduled session attending a Montana Association of Counties District Meeting in Polson.

May 3, 2005

A regular meeting of the Mineral County Commissioners was held in the Commissioners Meeting Room. Commissioners present include James Warnken, Judy Stang, B.J. McComb and secretary were present. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 9:10 a.m.

Adult Probation

Present: Wanda James – Judge

Judge James informed the commissioners that Lorna Sharkey resigned with her last day of work being May 13, 2005. Judge James also inquired about insurance for volunteers in the county. The commissioners approved Wanda advertising the position of a starting wage of $8.00 to $11.00, depending on experience of applicant.

Maternal and Child Health Block Grant

The commissioners approved the Intent to Request allocated federal Maternal and Child Health Block Grant (MCHBG) funds for State Fiscal Year 2006.

MAPS

Present: Dylan Berg, Matt Pierce – MaPS, Inc.

They updated the commissioners on their county mapping progress.

Screening Gravel Bids

Present: Jason McClees, Mineral County Road Foreman

The commissioners received 4 bids; the bids were hand delivered to Jason by all parties.

1. Felstet Concrete: 5/8 chip Sealing material $6.19 per cubic yard

2. Western Reclamation: 5/8 minus sealing $5.00 per cubic yard

3. Don Gull: 5/8 minus sealing material, $3.75 per cubic yard

4. St. Clair Construction: 5/8 minutes sealing material $3.65 per cubic yard

The commissioners will give the screening contract to St. Clair Construction.

The commissioners adjourned.

May 11, 2005

A regular meeting of the Mineral County Commissioners was held in the Commissioners Meeting Room. Commissioners present include James Warnken, B.J. McComb and secretary were present. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

M.A.P.S.

Present: Tim Read

The commissioners approved a M.A.P.S. invoice for the second phase in the amount of $7187.55 (Title III funds). Mr. Read gave an update on the progress of the mapping process.

Airport Capital Improvements Project – Morrison & Maierle

Present: Mark McDaniel – Mineral Independent, Gerry Geske – Airport Board,

Kenneth Houston – Airport Board, Steve Engebrecht – Engineer – Morrison & Maierle

Mr. Engebrecht explained where airport improvement project money comes from.

He explained how the program works and how the funds are allocated. The airport board and the commissioners put together an initial CIP (Capital Improvement Project) List. Morrison & Maierle will make suggested changes to the list and send a new list to the airport board. They will submit a final list to the commissioners for approval.

Superior Sidewalk Project

Present:

The City of Superior requested that the $18,000 in CTEP monies be used by the City for the increase cost of the sidewalk project. There were 2 bids received. B.J. made a motion to let the City of Superior have the $18,000.00 and Jimmy seconded the motion.

John Cochran – Property Tax

Present: John Cochran – Public, Lance Jasper – Attorney

Mr. Cochran and his attorney are requesting that the original 2004 tax amount of $5767.74 instead of the new appraisal tax amount of $22,690.09 be paid by Mr. Cochrane. They are claiming that the people who were purchasing the property did not reveal the situation to Mr. Cochran so he was unable to contest the value increase in a timely manner. They presented tax statement of similar properties showing values remaining close to the same.

Barry DeChamp

Present: Barry DesCamp – Public, Kevin Chamberlain – Extension Office

Mr. DeChamp is interested in leasing land from Mineral County to start a wall manufacturing company. The commissioners gave him permission to look at some property.

The commissioners adjourned.

May 18, 2005

A regular meeting of the Mineral County Commissioners was held in the Commissioners Meeting Room. Commissioners present include James Warnken, B.J. McComb, Judy Stang and secretary were present. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMISSION

Present: Dennis Hildebrand – Study Board, Kathy Jasper – Clerk & Recorder

Dennis requested an additional $200 for the Study Commission. The commissioners said the Study Commission could not have any more money until the new budget comes out in July.

COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN

Present: Dennis Hildebrand – Superior Fire Chief,

Discussion about the purpose, benefits and uses of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The commissioners signed the plan and Sonja will produce the final copies that will include the original signature page.

BUDGETARY AUTHORITY RESOLUTION NO. 05-18-05

The commissioners signed the resolution for the appropriation of fund received from the state of Montana crime control division for the AFIS/LIVESCAN project. Whereas: the State of Montana has approved a grant for the AFIS/Livescan Project in the amount of $17408.00 for fund 2300 Public Safety.

STATE TAX APPEAL BOARD

Present: Phil Donnelly, Terry Meeks

Ms. Meeks requested a tape recorder for the State Tax Appeal Board. The commissioners gave approval for the Board to purchase a tape recorder for $100.00 or less to record the sessions.

FAY MORIN – SEWER PROBLEM

Present: Fay Morin

Ms. Morin paid for repairs to the sewer line in the alley behind her house. She is requesting reimbursement for the repairs. The commissioners referred her to the City of Superior because it is a City issue, not a County issue.

VOICE MAIL BOXES

Present: Nancy Coles

Nancy informed the commissioners that the all of the mailboxes for the phone system are being used. She presented quotes from Blackfoot new mail boxes. The commissioners approved the purchase of 16 voicemail boxes from Blackfoot for $1047.00.

ST. REGIS RADIO STATION

Present: George Gupton

George provided a rough draft of the required equipment and costs of the emergency broadcasting equipment for the radio station.

COUNTY PLANNER ISSUES

Present: Tim Read - Sanitarian

M.A.P.S. is proposing to do mailers letting people know when they will be in the areas doing work. Tim will discuss it with Matt to get more details.

The commissioners signed the final plat for Amended Subdivision Plat of Lot 8 of Westfall Major Subdivision.

PROSECUTORIAL ASSISTANCE RESOLUTION

Present: Shaun Donovan – County Attorney

Mr. Donovan is requesting the commissioners approval to request prosecutorial assistance in the form of a special deputy County Attorney from the Prosecution Services Bureau of the Department of Justice on State v. Mauhar, State v. Layne, and State v. Joslin, the pending homicide cases from the Prosecution Services Bureau of the State of Montana. In the agreement, no fee will be charged for attorney time provided by the Bureau. The commissioners signed the resolution.

AIR CONDITIONING UNITS

Presents: Sam Viche – Custodian

The commissioners approved the purchase of two new window air conditioning units for the Justice Court and County Attorney’s office. The commissioners also approved the purchase of new mini-blinds for the Dept. of Revenue office.

INTERIOR SPRINKLER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Present: Troy Taron

Mr. Taron provided information to substantiate his opposing the Frenchtown fire chief proposing to require subdivision residents in Mineral County to install fire sprinkler systems in the homes. Troy also alleges that the Frenchtown Fire Dept. is charging permit fees for Mineral County being collected at the Frenchtown Fire Dept.

The commissioners adjourned.

MAY 25^TH, 2005

A regular meeting of the Mineral County Commissioners was held in the Commissioners Meeting Room. Commissioners present include James Warnken, B.J. McComb, and Judy Stang. The commissioners conducted the following business:

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE-TAX RECALCULATION

Present: Anthony Francesco

The commissioners approved a change in valuation for the St. Regis Nugget Campground. The Department of Revenue’s change would mean a reduction in tax amount of $3,194.37. The commissioners also approved a change in value, which would eliminate the taxes on the mobile home of Ty and Cherrie Steinbach. The mobile home burned and has no value.

MAPS (MAPPING AND PLANNING SPECIALTY) CLAIM:Present Tim Read, Mineral County Planner and Sanitarian, the commissioners approved a claim for $4,791.70 for structures mapping. The claim will be paid to MAPS, our contractor for mapping.

JOHN COCHRAN-ST.REGIS NUGGET CAMPGROUND VALUATION:Present John Cochran, Owner, Lance Jasper, Attorney, Anthony Francesco, Department of Revenue. Mr. Cochran still has problems over the valuation that the Department of Revenue has concluded for his campground. Lance asked several questions of the Department of Revenue, the commissioners will get an opinion from Shawn Donavan, mineral county Attorney. The Cochran’s have the right to appeal the 2005 taxes, but the opinion needed from Shawn is can the county do any thing to lower the burden from the 2004 taxes. The complaint comes from the Cochran’s who feel they did not know about the huge tax bill and do not agree with the value the state has given them. They feel it would be hard to come up with the amount of th4e tax bill at this time.

ST.REGIS SCHOOL PROPOSAL FOR RADIO TRANSMITTER:

Present Marlys Schwaderer, presenter for the proposal, Mark McDaniel, Mineral Independent. Marlys was in to present the commissioners with a Title III Project that would allow the radio station at the St. Regis School. The commissioners need more information in their proposal to have it be eligible for those particular funds. The commissioners would also like to see some kind of Memorandum of Understanding between the Regis School, Disaster services, Sheriff, St. Regis Fire District, West-end Fire District, that this $29,000 proposal would be used for emergency and sheriff services for a long term.

WEST-END FIRE DISTRICT – BUDGETORY ISSUES:

Present Billye, Ann Bricker, Mineral County Treasurer, Kathy Jasper, Mineral County Clerk and Recorder, Tyler Goss, Susan Charles, Bruce Charles, Philip Fingar, and Mark McDaniel, Mineral Independent. The commissioners called the fire department to a meeting for the purpose of educating them on the financial disaster their budget may be in. The fire department is only able to get $15,000 per year tax moneys for their service. There operating expense will now include an $8,000 loan payment back to the Mullan Bank for the erection of their fire Building. Currently they are operating under this amount of money for their regularly operating budget. The commissioners also suggested that they funnel all their moneys though the county warrants system like the St. Regis Fire District budget. The board members present are willing to move on and try to remedy the situation at the fire department.

ST. REGIS RESORT BOARD:

Present Sharon Patterson, Mark McDaniels, Mineral Independent.

Sharon would like us to support them in writing a letter to get the state to stripe, and sign the walking trail on the cut off road in St. Regis. The commissioners will support and send a letter.

PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT CARS:

Present Hugh Hopwood, Mineral County Sheriff, Mark McDaniel, Mineral Independent. Hugh was asking the commissioners if he could make a commitment to purchase and new car to be invoiced in his next fiscal year’s budget. The Ford Crown Victoria car has lost its 4^th transmission. Hugh has suggested that it would be more economical for the county to just purchase a new car. The commissioners did approve Hugh to purchase a new car for $18,000 and to budget in next years budget.

The commissioners adjourned.

May 31, 2005

WANDA JAMES/ MISDEMEANOR PROBATION OFFICER:

Present Wanda James, Mineral County Justice Of The Peace. Wanda reported that they hired Michele Held to fill the position of Misdemeanor Probation Officer. Michele has been working as the Juvenile Probation Officer in Mineral County and has experience and education for the position. Based on experience the commissioners agreed the starting pay to be $12.50 per hour. This job is for approximately 15-18 hours per week.

JASON MCLEES/MOTORCYLE TRACK:

Present Jason McClees. Jason met with the commissioners representing a group interested in a motor cross track. Jason feels that the biggest percent of the users would be for the age group between 6-13 years of age. Jason has researched the interest in the county and feels there are about 60 interested children. Jason researched other tracks and found the liability issue is less if on public property. Commissioner Warnken suggested Jason check out the land on the east end of the Airport Property.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SUBDIVISION CONTRACT: Present Tim Read, Mineral County Planner and Sanitarian. The commissioners signed and extended CONTRACT 400015 with Mineral County and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The contract is for review of subdivisions with in Mineral County by our employee, Tim Read.

RESOLUTION 05-31-05:

The commissioners passed a resolution to for grant moneys to the Mineral County Weed Department. The grant is from the Mineral county Resource Advisory Council (RAC) and is for $5000. The funds came from the USDA.

PERSONAL PROPERTY CHANGE:

Present Anthony Francesco, Department of Revenue. The commissioners approved a change in the taxes of Steven and Kathryn Finneman. Their mobile home taxes were cancelled. They are now taxed as real property.

SUPERIOR RANGER DISTRICT REPORT:

Present Rob Harper, Ranger Superior Ranger District. Rob was in to report activities on the Ranger District. Rob showed a slide show of the Deep Creek ATV loop presentation he did for the community. The district decided to cut the project and try and find a new solution to all of the ATV activities on the Lolo Forest in his district. Rob also reported on several timber sales in the county that would cut 18.5 MBF.

ST. JOE FOREST REPORT:

Present Charles Mark, St. Joe Forest Ranger. Timber sale…………………………….gold creek…………………roadless policy at the headwaters of the little joe road.

COUNTY INSURANCE

INCREASE OF 12%

GARY HABAZOL

The commissioners adjourned.