February 28, 2019

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
February 28, 2019
Commissioners Robert ‘Pits’ DeArmond, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock, and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner DeArmond and Commissioner Bullock noted they met with Architect Gary Levine yesterday regarding Court House repairs. Gary thought the biggest issues would be finding matching bricks.
9:30 Sheriff Josh McQuillan, Under Sheriff Jeff Schmalz, County Attorney Alex Nixon, Deputy County Attorney Shannon Foley, Contract Civil Attorney Jacque Papez, City of Red Lodge Mayor Bill Larson, Chief Jason Wells, City Attorney Rebecca Narmore, and City Court Judge/Clerk Raphael HeDoesIt met with Commissioners to discuss prisoner transports. Justice of the Peace Kevin Nichols, Heidi Adams, and Carbon County News Editor Alistair Baker were also present. Alex noted the County would like to resolve the transport issues without taking an adversarial route. He noted Stillwater and Yellowstone Counties do not transport prisoners for Columbus and Laurel respectively. Alex also noted his frustration with the City Attorney’s refusal to supply the letter sent to the Attorney General’s (AG) office claiming it was privileged; he noted that as the document was a public record his office was able to get a copy from the AG.
Chief Wells expressed his concerns that City residents were paying for the transport of prisoners through the Public Safety mill levy and that City taxes should not have to bear the transport costs and asked for the AG opinion. Sheriff McQuillan expressed his frustration with some of the issues raised in the letter to the AG were not addressed with him first.
Both entities discussed the impacts that the other could have on their budgets and there was a discussion regarding the case law cited in the City’s letter to the AG. Commissioner Blain interrupted the unproductive discussion stating that cooler heads need to prevail or parties will have to wait for the AG’s response. Sheriff Josh McQuillan asked if he and Chief Wells could sit down to work out an agreement in the meantime. Alex agreed that it is in the interest of the taxpayers for both entities to work together. Sheriff McQuillan would like to see city handle initial arrest, but is happy to work to schedule transports for court. Commissioners requested any agreement be put in writing. Alex suggested Vision Net as another option for City Court Appearances as it would eliminate the need to transport. Shannon noted there may have been some confusion regarding who was being noticed regarding the transport for the incident cited in the letter to the AG.

10:11 County Attorney Alex Nixon and Deputy County Attorney Shannon Foley and contract deputy Jacque Papez met with Commissioners for their regular meeting. Shannon noted she has drafted a letter to Architect Susan Hovde regarding the lack of slope in the floor of the sally port; Commissioners approved of the draft letter and Commissioner Blain signed it. Commissioner Bullock noted he attended the Red Lodge City Council meeting on Tuesday to discuss weed control; the Commissioners will place the issue on another agenda. Jacque noted Industrial Communications’ amended answer to the radio system complain puts the burden of the defunct system on Blue Wave, the repeater manufacturer.
12:00 Adjourned