August 31, 2021

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
August 31, 2021
Commissioners Scott Miller, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock; and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
8:45 Deputy Clerk and Recorder Lola Ashby met with Commissioners for public comment. She expressed concerns about staffing in the Sanitarian’s Office on Fridays. They had about 5 people in last Friday looking for the Sanitarian and they were quite frustrated when no one was in the office to assist them.
9:00 Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) Coordinator Cyrina Allen met with Commissioners regarding the Emergency Management Performance Grant for Reverted Funds. The County was awarded $3,500 for radio equipment; the grant requires a 50/50 match for a total project of $7,000. Commissioners signed the obligating award.
9:30 Geospatial Information Systems Coordinator / Fire Warden Tom Kohley met with Commissioners to discuss fire restrictions. Fire Chiefs are in favor of lessening restrictions; four would like to go to Stage 1 and two would like to eliminate restrictions and rely on the burn permit system (which is in effect Stage 1). Kohley noted both the Forest Service and Park Service have removed restrictions. Blain moved to rescind all fire restrictions and to leverage the burn permit system to regulate burning; Miller seconded; motion carried.
Miller moved to approve employee time as submitted; Blain seconded; motion carried.
Miller moved to approve Commissioners Proceedings for August 10, 12, 17, and 19; Blain seconded; motion carried.
10:30 Miller provided an update on the South-Central Rail Authority. There are now 16 Montana Counties in the authority. They are looking at the possibility of accessing the $66M Congress has authorized for rail transportation. The meeting he attended over the weekend included multiple railroad companies and members of Montana’s congressional delegation.
After a brief discussion regarding Sanitarian Office availability, Commissioners approved employee time as submitted.
10:50 Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall met with Commissioners to discuss the legal description of a road tract that was incorrect on the tax statement. Bullock recommended tax deed notices be reissued with the correct legal description. There was a discussion regarding the expectation of road maintenance if the County takes the property under tax deed. It was noted, accepting the road as a County Road with a maintenance status would require a petition.
Commissioners discussed the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget; they are looking at approximately $50,000 – $100,000 in cuts to the Public Safety and/or Road fund to balance the budget.
12:00 Lunch

1:00 Public Health Coordinator Erin Cross and Public Health Officer Cyrina Allen met with Commissioners to provide an update on the department’s transition to in-house. Cross has revised COVID positive isolation procedures to be in line with changes to state law and changing the contact tracing to put the burden on the positive individual. Discussion regarding additional staffing and the functionality of hiring another RN or Medical Assistant over a CNA or LPN.

Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer