January 16, 2020

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
January 16, 2020
Commissioners Robert ‘Pits’ DeArmond, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock, Commissioners’ Secretary Barbara Daniel, and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
Fish Wildlife and Parks Regional Supervisor Barb Beck, Wildlife Biologist Shawn Stuart, Bear management Kylie Kembel, Fisheries Technician Ben Bailey, and Cooney State Park Manager Marina Yshioka met with Commissioners for an update from the Department. Carbon County News reporter Eleanor Guerrero was also present. Shawn gave an overview of CWD positives from 2017-2019 in Carbon County. He noted intensive monitoring will be back in Carbon County this fall for animal testing. The Department is in the public meeting stage of setting Big Game Season dates; they have received a lot of comments on the elk shoulder seasons. They also discussed bison restoration, the Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan, aquatic invasive species, feral swine, and the new ALS licensing system.
9:15 Bridger School District Board President Crystal Zentner and Superintendent Bill Phillips met with Commissioners regarding the Interlocal Agreement for the Pryor Mountain Wind Farm Impact Fee. Bill Phillips will have the School’s attorney review the document before the next school board meeting. Krystal asked if the Road Preparation fee had been allocated. Commissioner DeArmond noted roughly $500,000 is allocated to replace the Pryor Mountain Road Bridge and he is working on a future maintenance plan so the funds are available for future road and bridge impacts from the project. Commissioners noted they hope to set a plan for how the County’s portion of the Impact Fee will be used so there is a balance set aside for future impacts. Commissioner Bullock moved to approve the Interlocal Agreement with the Bridger School District for the Distribution of the Pryor Mountain Wind Impact Fee; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
9:40 Red Lodge City Council President Dave Westwood joined the meeting. Dave and Commissioners discussed the resort tax meeting held last week. Commissioner Bullock noted there is a long list of people wanting funding outside of the capital infrastructure that was contemplated when it was first passed. Dave requested the Commissioners add the City as a standing agenda item to help facilitate communication between the two entities.

10:30 Treasurer Lori Lynde met with Comm for the quarterly collateral report. $23,288,832.24 about $5M increase $4M due to impact fee. Commissioner DeArmond moved to accept the Treasurer’s Quarterly Collateral Report; Commissioner Bullock seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner Blain discussed a “private property” sign on Cottonwood Road; he will instruct the landowner to remove sign or the County road department will remove it.
11:00 Takami Clark met with Commissioners regarding the Highway 78 realignment project. Takami is with BigSkyPublic Relations and is in charge of public outreach for the project which MDT has decided to start before the project is in the final design stage. The project hopes to increase site distances on curves, flatten steep hills, widen shoulders to 4 feet on both sides of the Highway, add vehicle turnouts, and replace the bridge crossing at Lower Luther Road. Construction is expected in 2025. Discussion regarding outreach/updates; Commissioners expressed concerns about lack of communication with public outreach companies on other projects.
12:00 Adjourned

Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer