July 25, 2023

154
COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
July 25, 2023
Commissioners Scott Miller, Scott Blain; and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
9:00 Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) Coordinator / Public Health Officer Cyrina Allen and Public Health Director Erin Cross met for the renewal of the Cities Readiness Initiative Task order. Cross noted exercise this year will be a cooperative effort with Riverstone to put on a mass influenza clinic which will take place in Laurel. Cross discussed other deliverables required for the grant. Blain moved to approve DPHHS Task Order for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cities Readiness Initiative; Miller seconded; motion carried.

9:30 Blain moved to approve the Bearcreek Interlocal Agreement for Cooperative Infrastructure Projects; Miller seconded; Commissioners noted the County has similar agreements with other municipalities; motion carried.

Geospatial Information Systems Coordinator / Fire Warden Tom Kohley met to discuss open burning. Kohley noted a number of factors are putting the County into what is essentially Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Yellowstone and Sweet Grass counties have both closed their burn permit systems. Kohley noted the first fire restrictions call will be Monday; Commissioners would like to close the system and revisit next Tuesday. Kohley reviewed the process to obtain an exemption to allow for burning if there is a need.

10:00 Treasurer Lori Lynde met with Commissioners to discuss the County’s election of Secure Rural Schools funding vs the 1908 25% Forest Reserve payments. Newell noted in conversations with MACo that although changing the election to SRS would significantly increase the payment, that dollar amount would be deducted from the County’s PILT allocation in the subsequent fiscal year. Blain moved to approve the election of Forest Reserve payments; Miller seconded; motion carried.

11:00 Geospatial Information Systems Coordinator / Fire Warden Tom Kohley met with Commissioners regarding the DNRC Option 3 Agreement for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Kohley presented a list of equipment and their reimbursement rates that could be used in fire response, Option 3 agreement for reimbursement of personnel wage and fringe, and the wage rate form. Blain moved to approve the Option 3 Agreement with DNRC and associated schedules; Miller seconded; motion carried.

12:00 Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer