July 9, 2018

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
July 9, 2018
Commissioners Robert ‘Pits’ DeArmond, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock, and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
Betsy Scanlin met with Commissioners to discuss the Windmill Farms Subdivision recommend approval by the Planning Board; she noted she had some concerns regarding water.
9:00 Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) representatives Stephan Streeter, Rod Nelson, Kurt Schnieber, and Tom Tilzey, and DES Coord. / GIS Mgr. Tom Kohley met with Commissioners for a general update on district highway projects. Ron Bray who lives on White Horse N. was also present. Stephan noted the State expects the new Highway 310/212 route to open in November 2018 at the earliest. Commissioner Bullock also asked about maintenance of the old highway, which will be named Bundy Ferry Road. Stephan noted it will be designated a State Secondary Route and will continue to be maintained by MDT. Stephan believes the State intends to leave the mile markers the same; for rural addressing purposes only the road name on addresses will change not house numbers. Tom noted there are about 40 landowners addresses that will be affected by the change. Stephan suggested MDT hold another meeting with Yellowstone and Carbon counties to discuss logistics of the switch when the new highway alignment is opened.
The final right-of-way parcel has been secured for the Roberts Highway 212 project; it is ready to be schedule for a bid let date. MDT is now focusing on the reconstruction of Highway 212 from Roberts to Boyd and Roberts to Red Lodge. The engineering on both sections is complete, but there are still right-of-way easements that need to be secured. The Roberts project may start as early as next summer; Roberts to Boyd would most likely be in the 2020 construction season. Commissioners asked the status of the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the replacement of the Chance Rd. Bridge project on 5-mile Creek; State Secondary Highways funding is providing the match for the Treasure State Endowment Program grant which is funding the bridge replacement. Commissioner Bullock will contact the new staff member to get status. Stephan noted the E. Rosebud Bridge south of Absarokee will be replaced in 2019.
It was noted that replacement of the Homestead Rd Bridge near Edgar should be starting soon. The detour route has some sharp turns that may require the placement of additional gravel to accommodate the truck traffic. The Highway 212 Red Lodge south chip seal project bid letting will be this fall; construction is projected to be in 2019. The chip seal will only be on the driving lanes and not the shoulders to accommodate bicycle traffic. The Roberts Rest area bid will also hopefully be let this fall for reconstruction next year.

Highway 212 from Robinson Drive to 2-Mile Bridge is slated to be funded in 2022. Other anticipated projects that have not yet had funding allocated include Highway 212 Rockvale to Laurel, Red Lodge to Roberts, and Roberts to Boyd. All Highway 212 projects will widen the road, flatten slopes and improve drainage. The Highway 78 Red Lodge NW project is waiting on Federal funding confirmation. Commissioner Blain asked about the installation of a crosswalk or sidewalk for the north side of the highway to access the Joliet Community Center in Joliet. MDT will have their traffic engineer look at the location to see if a crosswalk if feasible.
Ron Bray asked about portion of White Horse N that runs through his property and if it had been abandoned. Commissioner Blain noted it has not been abandoned. Stephan noted asphalt needed to be taken out because of the angle of approach; MDT views a road easement as 95% of the ownership for asphalt. It is MDT’s standard process to revert the land to as natural a state as possible when asphalt is removed. Stephan noted the contractor should not be going outside of the County’s road easement. Ron Brey asked how he is supposed to access his fences with the area in the condition it is in. Stephan will check why the contractor has not continued the restoration process.
10:15 Sanitarian Josh Juarez met with Commissioners for a department update. Josh confirmed for Commissioner Blain that sanitary restrictions for pet cemeteries are covered under solid waste statutes. Commissioners discussed if the county would like more strict regulations; they did not believe it was necessary at this time. Josh has performed 61 licensed establishment inspections to date which puts him about 11 behind. All schools were included in inspections. His has issued 22 septic permits, conducted 13 septic inspections, and performed 20 plat reviews since the end of April. He has started seasonal pool inspections but is not sure if or when the City of Red Lodge pool will open. Josh noted he had a site visit with DEQ regarding he RV park at Cooney that was not properly permitted; DEQ will address the violations and work with the landowner to bring the property into sanitary compliance. Josh noted he has received quite a few complaints in the recent months. He is focusing on the issues that have happened more recently especially those where he had a conversation with the owner of the property that is the subject of the complaint and they have done something out of compliance. Josh noted he has also received some complaints regarding very old issues that are hard for him to address at this time.
Josh noted he has received a call from a Belfry resident regarding a notice from the Belfry Sewer District to disconnect from their system. Josh noted because of the parcel’s proximity to the sewer system it must connect. The property used to receive free sewer service because they had a water system well on their property. They are now being charged to connect to the system and don’t want to pay. Josh noted he has advised the landowner that this is a civil issue between them and the Sewer District.
Josh noted there are parcels in the Robinson Draw area that are below the 20-acre threshold for local sanitary review because of road easements. This information is not being communicated to new buyers. Commissioner Blain requested lots approved in the subdivision process meet the threshold for local sanitary review when a road easement will make the difference. Josh would like to look at an FDA grant so he can obtain a Standardization Certification for licensed establishment inspections. Josh noted there were about 50 septic inspections per year when he started in 2013; that has increased closer to 80 per yr. He expressed concerns about current staff levels if growth continues. Josh noted food inspections have increased with new establishments and existing restaurants relocating. Has also had requests to process Kombucha and Kieffer. Josh has worked with the City of Red Lodge to make sure vendors have a food permit before they are issued a business permit. Commissioner Bullock noted has received phone calls with positive feedback for Josh’s Office.
11:00 Kraig Pester Tractor and Equipment Co. and Ryan Hutchinson from RDO Equipment Co. met with Commissioners for the Motor Grader bid opening. Bids received as follows:
T&E’s bid was for a 2018 Caterpillar160M3AWD at $335,598, less trade of $65,000, for a total of $270,598. The rear ripper is included in the purchase price; postless snow wing $25,100; and Little Falls V-90 v-plow $9,000.
RDO’s bid was for a 2018 John Deere 872GP at $328,000, less the trade of $70,000, for a total of $258,000. The rear ripper $15,045; postless snow wing $13,978; Little Falls MFG V-plow $6,865.
Commissioners will review bids and award on Thursday.
11:40 Commissioner Blain moved to approve Court report for June; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner DeArmond moved to approve Commissioner Proceedings for June 18th and 21st; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner DeArmond moved to approve employee time for June 24 – July 7, 2018; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.
12:00 Adjourned

Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer