December 19, 2019

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
December 19, 2019
Commissioners Scott Blain and Bill Bullock, Commissioners’ Secretary Barbara Daniel, and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioners discussed last night’s meeting in Joliet regarding the detention facility planning process and the Joliet land site proposal. There was a discussion at that meeting about holding an election to give the public a chance to vote on the site. Commissioners are concerned about the timeline and the possible implications a preliminary vote would have on an eventual bond measure. Commissioner Bullock suggested it may be beneficial to have a meeting with Deputy Sheriffs to make sure they have all the information that has been presented to the public.
8:50 Contract Planner Forrest Mandeville joined the meeting. Forrest noted concerns about the annexation process for the Joliet detention facility site and the pushback the Town will likely receive.
9:00 Alt One Lot Minor Subdivision. Forrest Mandeville, Tom Kelly, Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall, and Deputy Clerk and Recorder Lola Ashby were present. Forrest reviewed the expedited final plat process to lift agricultural covenants on a tract that is almost 26-acres. The Staff report did not recommend any conditions for approval. The parcel has a septic permit and meets all other criteria for the expedited approval process. Commissioner Bullock moved to approve the Plat of the Alt Subdivision; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
9:30 Petition to abandon a portion of Whitehorse Road North. Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall and Deputy Lola Ashby were present. Commissioner Bullock moved to accept petition as presented and order an investigation into the prayer of the petition and to appoint Commissioner Blain as the Road Viewer; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
10:00 Deputy County Attorney Shannon Foley met with Commissioners for the regular meeting. She noted she has pushed her final date to January 3rd. Shannon noted depositions and summary judgement dates in the Industrial Communications lawsuit has been pushed forward; she does not believe this will affect the trial date. Commissioner Blain discussed a sign on Cottonwood Road stating that it it is not a county road. He noted he has documents establishing the road as county road, but the road does not exactly follow the easement. He noted the sign went up when TCT used the County easement to place another fiber line. Shannon asked for a timeline of events for her review of the issue.

10:17 Carbon County News reporter Eleanor Guerrero joined the meeting. Regarding Cottonwood Road, Commissioner Blain is not sure if the sign is in the formal easement but is within the 30’ right-of-way of the prescriptive easement. Shannon noted she is working with the new Deputy County Attorney Michael Ellinghouse to revise dog ordinances. Shannon agreed that there would be challenges with holding an election to select the Detention Facility location. An informal survey would be a better route to solicit input if Commissioners would like.
Commissioner Bullock moved to approved minutes from November 26, 2019; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
10:30 Brent Moore and Lowell Cutshaw from Interstate Engineering met with Commissioners regarding an update. Regarding Detention Facility site preparation cost estimates, Interstate is in the process of working with the Spectrum Architects to help eliminate some assumptions that have been made. Brent noted the Department of Environmental Quality would have to amend the Certificate of Subdivision Approval for the Yellowstone Dog Sports property; the system drainfield would not be sufficient for a Detention Facility. He is not sure what it would take to get the system up to scale for what is needed; Commissioners would like Interstate to explore what the upgrades could cost. Regarding the Pryor Mountain Road Bridge, Red Lodge Surveying has completed survey work, the geo technical study is also completed, and the hydraulics report is completed to submit joint application for Floodplain, Army Corps, and 310 permits. They expect to advertise the bid in January so the project can be awarded in February. Noted expect construction to happen in May so as not to close bridge longer than necessary; Commissioners confirmed they have to have the bridge replaced by June 1 per the agreement with PacifiCorps. The design is for a precast concrete structure which should increase flows. Regarding Capital Improvement planning, they would like to begin prioritizing projects in January.
11:00 DES Coord. / Fire Warden Tom Kohley. Discussed adding a radio tower location to help fill Highway 310 coverage gaps near Warren. Also discussed road equipment needs.
11:40 Adjourned

Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer