January 7, 2020
COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
January 7, 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.
Casey Collins from Congressman Gianforte’s Office met with Commissioners for an update. He and Commissioners discussed the Pryor Mountain Wind Project, the completion of the Highway 212/310 realignment, and detention facility planning. Regarding the detention facility staffing concerns, Casey noted available workforce is an issue state-wide. Casey asked Commissioners about drug trafficking and crime spillover from adjoining counties; Commissioners noted the Sheriff’s K9 and the Bridger Police Department see a lot of drugs on the Highway 310 corridor.
9:30 Commissioner Bullock moved to approve interlocal agreement with Town of Joliet for Planner Services; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner Bullock move to appoint Mark Richard to the Carbon County Weed Board for a 3-year term and Skip Bratton to the Carbon County Planning Board for a 2-year term; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
9:50 Commissioner Bullock moved to approve District Court Fines and Fees Summary for December 2019; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner Bullock moved to approve the Clerk and Recorder Monthly Deposit Reconciliation for December 2019; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
10:00 Sanitarian Cortney Lynde met with Commissioners for her monthly update. Licensed Establishment inspections were completed for 2019; Carbon County will receive full reimbursement under the contract with the Department of Health and Human Services. Cortney and Travis will be hosting septic installer and land site preparer trainings on February 7th and 14th. Cortney and Commissioners discussed the waivers that were granted for Collins Acreage Tracts by the Board of Health. The waivers were not honored by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Cortney may visit DEQ in person with the Home Owners Association President to figure out a way forward.
Commissioner Blain moved to approve employee time; Commissioner Bullock seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner Bullock and Commissioner Blain responded to emails from Dave Vickery from Joliet and Allan Huso from Joliet regarding placing the detention facility in Red Lodge north of the Airport. Both Commissioners noted the City land north of the Airport is in the path of the cross-wind runway and cannot be built on. It was also noted that workforce availability makes a site closer to the northern end of the County more desirable.
10:30 DES Coord. / Fire Warden Tom Kohley met with Commissioners for his monthly update (report attached). Carbon County News reporter Eleanor Guerrero was present. Tom discussed potential Homeland Security Grant projects including a flood control trailer to house sand bags or the purchase of drone for to have at the County’s disposal rather than contracting drone use. Commissioner Bullock noted right now don’t have good accountability for sand bags when they have been made available to the public; Commissioner Blain and Commissioner DeArmond agreed a flood control trailer is the preferred project for an application. Commissioner Blain noted he is applying for grain tube rescue grant. Tom also discussed recent inspections of smoke detector systems in the Court House and Administration Buildings. Tom noted the system in Dispatch and the Sally Port system is not tied into main Court House system. Commissioners requested new County Road maps be printed for each district. Tom will prioritize, noted BLM has not yet finalized travel mgmt. plan and he was hoping to have that finalized before reprinting maps.
11:00 Detention Facility Planning Discussion. Sheriff Josh McQuillan, Jane Swanson-Webb, Elane Osmun, Vince Ames, Carbon County News reporter Eleanor Guerrero, Brent Moore, Tom Kohley, and Deputy Clerk and Recorder Lola Ashby were present. Discussed touring the Gallatin County Detention Facility at 1:00 on January, 23 2020. Beartooth RC&d working to schedule a citizen committee meeting in Bridger towards the end of January. Commissioners discussed detention contracts with other counties and the possibility of having something in writing showing their commitment to the Detention Facility.
Commissioners received a detention facility land proposal from Julie Jones, three lots totaling 20-acres in the Rimrock View Subdivision in Fromberg, $550,000.
11:10 Steve Thuesen joined the meeting. Commissioner Blain noted he has put together preliminary numbers regarding the efficiencies of a larger facility. He noted by cutting in half the square footage of the housing unit, there may be a savings on initial construction of $2.5 Million. Would have to cut construction to $14M to break even on 50 bed facility. Commissioner Blain noted the operating cost to Carbon County would increase due to the reduced income of a smaller facility.
Commissioners discussed land site proposals and confirmed that Fromberg is proposing donating the land for their site. Commissioner Blain noted Commissioners are now considering putting the bond issue on a standalone mail ballot before the November general election. Vince asked about status of the Yellowstone Dog Sports site; Brent noted they are reviewing the Certificate of Subdivision Approval and what would be required to update the existing system to accommodate a 100-bed facility if it can be upgraded. He noted DEQ would need to re-permit the system.
Commissioner Bullock moved to approve minutes from December 18, 2019; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
12:00 Lunch
Melvin Haisler met with Commissioner DeArmond and Commissioner Blain regarding detention facility planning and the citizen committee. He discussed staffing concerns if the facility is located closer to Red Lodge.
Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer