May 25, 2021

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
May 25, 2021

Commissioners Scott Blain, Bill Bullock and Scott Miller; Administrative Officer Angela Newell; and Commissioners’ Secretary Barbara Krizek were present.

8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.

Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) Coordinator Cyrina Allen joined during Public Comment period to ask for renewal of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Memorandum of Agreement; agreement approved and signed.

9:00 Clerk and Recorder Preliminary Budget joined by Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall and Deputy Clerk and Recorder Macque Bohleen. Stovall plans to retire at the close of FY 21-22; therefore, her largest budget change would be allocating for succession planning in hiring another staff-person for departmental overlap and training. She would like to retain three deputies and hire/train an Accounts Payable position; if the Detention Facility measure passes in August, she would like to hire for Human Resources/Payroll position. She would like to increase pay for Deputy Clerk and Recorder Crystal Roascio to 85% July 1st and 90% on her employment anniversary date of elected official base salary. The number of recorded documents have risen dramatically due to the increase in land recordings.

9:30 Elections Preliminary Budget joined by Bohleen and Roascio. Increased printing and postage budgeted due to the number and nature of elections expected (Detention Facility, municipal, Federal Primary, Fire District). Bohleen would like to purchase a back-up ExpressVotes machine and associated hardened laptop. Discussion regarding Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant and Capital Improvement Plans for future equipment replacements.

10:00 Extension Preliminary Budget joined by Extension Agent Nikki Bailey. Newell recommended building the Capital Improvement Fund for a future vehicle replacement.

Commissioner Miller moved to approve Employee Time as presented; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried.

10:50 Commissioner Blain departed for a meeting at the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation.

11:00 Detention Facility discussion joined by committee Vice-President Jane Swanson-Webb. Public information meeting in Roscoe tomorrow evening.

11:15 Commissioners Bullock and Miller departed to assist at the Rock Creek Tower radio site. Adjourned.

1:00 Commissioners Preliminary Budget with all Commissioners, Newell, and Krizek. Commissioners salary line item will increase due to having a full three-commissioner Board for a full fiscal year. Newell proposed a $20k transfer to the Capital Fund for a replacement Bridger Commissioner vehicle which would be purchased FY 22-23 and eventually be passed onto a Foreman; Newell recounted a previous vehicle replacement cycle correlating to the beginning of a Commissioner’s term; goal will be to get back on-cycle. Commissioner Blain asked to budget for a grille-guard to protect his truck. Commissioners discussed increasing Krizek’s wages to 72.5% or 75% of elected official base salary depending on the steps of the final clerk pay scale.

Discussion regarding the option of creating a Finance department and whether it would fall under Clerk and Recorder or as a stand-alone. Commissioners agreed that hiring a Human Resources / Payroll position would be necessary should the Detention Facility measure pass in August.

Commissioners approved Newell’s work-hours change to four ten-hour work days, Monday through Thursday, beginning in June.

1:30 Adjourned