April 7, 2020

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
April 7, 2020

Commissioners Scott Blain and Bill Bullock; Administrative Officer Angela Newell; and Commissioners’ Secretary Barbara Daniel were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
8:40 County Attorney Alex Nixon, Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall, and Election Administrator Macque Bohleen joined the meeting to discuss the newly vacant Commissioner position in District #1 with the passing of Commissioner DeArmond. Discussion regarding 13-14-118 Montana Code Annotated: Vacancies Among Nominees After Nomination And Before General Election.
9:00 County Contract Planner Forrest Mandeville, Travis West of Engineering West, Deputy Clerk and Recorder Lola Ashby, and Gordon Sirrine joined the meeting. Discussion about Lot 10 Amended, Plat No 2200 RB 2 in the Woodlands on Rock Creek Subdivision. Commissioners reviewed this item at the Mar 18, 2019 meeting and approved it subject to 8 conditions. The conditions have been met and the Planning Office recommended approval of the final plat application. Commissioner Bullock reported that the County’s requested “Congested” signage has been received and will be installed when the ground thaws. Commissioner Bullock moved to approve the final plat application for Lot 10 Amended, Plat No. 2200 RB 2 in Woodlands at Rock Creek Subdivision, LLC as proposed by Richard and Janice Stout; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried. Stovall, West, and Sirrine departed the meeting.
Mandeville discussed concerns with current development regulations. The Planning Board will draft some recommended solutions after a future meeting.
Commissioner Bullock moved to approve the District 7 Human Resource Development Council’s (HRDC) Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) plan for 2020-2021; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
10:00 Sanitarian Cortney Lynde joined the meeting for her monthly update. She’s receiving a steady stream of septic permit applications. Inspections are slow due to Governor Bullock’s COVID-19 closure of restaurants.
Commissioner Bullock moved to approve Claims for March 20, 2020; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
10:40 Disaster & Emergency Services Coordinator / Fire Warden Tom Kohley joined the meeting for his monthly update. Ashby and Sirrine re-joined the meeting via tele-conference. Kohley reported having submitted the Emergency Management Performance Grant and the Homeland Security Grant for the flood response trailer; he expects to hear back on the grants in a month. Due to COVID-19, DNRC is waiving firefighter pack tests and other refresher trainings. Although Yellowstone County has shut down burn permits to reduce the chance of unnecessary response calls, Kohley is not inclined to follow-suit. Commissioners concurred that burn permits should continue for the time being.
Kohley discussed the structure of the Incident Management Team and has observed the strengths and weaknesses of the community’s ability to respond to a pandemic, which is a low frequency yet high impact emergency.
Newell detailed COVID-19 expenses to-date and expects to be slightly over the $10k budgeted for the emergency. Discussion about FEMA’s Public Assistance Program providing COVID-19 emergency reimbursement funding. Kohley discussed Incident Management Team staffing and recommended that Otsu be paid as a contracted Deputy Public Information Officer; Commissioners approved. Discussion about financing for surge operations; Kohley will apply for the FEMA Public Assistance Program for lodging citizens in need of COVID-19 isolation.
Commissioner Bullock moved to approve Commissioner Proceedings from March 9th and March 10th, 2020; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
12:00 Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted: Barbara Daniel, Commissioners’ Secretary