GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING

October 3rd, 2006

Glacier County Commissioners
Regular Meeting
October 3, 2006

The Board of Glacier County Commissioners met at their regular meeting at 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday, October 3, 2006. Commissioners Ray Salois, John Ray, and Michael DesRosier were present. Chairman Ray Salois called the meeting to order. Clerk and Recorder Sylvia Berkram recorded the proceedings.

The Commissioners signed the Babb Fire Dept replacement warrant for a grant that had been paid to the Babb Emergency Medical Service in error. The warrant was for $6,000.

The Commissioners met with Road Supervisor Bill Bandel regarding water usage for road work on the reservation. The Tribe is requesting payment for using water on the reservation and Bill is asking the Commissioners request the charges be waived. Commissioners DesRosier and Ray will meet with Tribal officials to request a waiver on the permit charges.

The Commissioners met with County Attorney Larry Epstein regarding subdivision regulations. Deputy Clerk Loretta Torgerson and County Planner Jim Yeagley joined the discussion. Larry discussed the remainders regulations on page 53 that are shadowed. It is how Flathead County handles it in that it gets down to land remainders that are left. Jim Yeagley and Ron Andersen do not think here it is often an issue. Flathead County allows one remainder if it is one parcel and if it is transferred later they have to survey it. Myra Schultz knows that the eastern Montana counties have different needs. Larry recommends Glacier County goes with the Flathead County one and delete what is written there. The Board may still say no if the remainder is to avoid a subdivision. Another thing to deal with is on page 74 where there is a part about high fire hazards. MACo recommends including language on high fire hazards. There was discussion on whether to leave it in by the Board. On page 75, below fire hazards, there is a part on noxious weeds and it makes a nod to the Weed Boards that there is a weed mitigation plan; a weed control plan for each subdivision with the Weed Board. Page 85-assigns fees to various things that they do such as a fee for minor subdivision, major, exemption, consulting and engineering expenses. A surety bond made in advance may be required. The County does incur some expense. Bigger counties pass on costs to the subdivider. Jim Yeagley stated he has worked on old laws and presently we used the Montana Model. Remainders were the most troublesome part of the regulations. In regards to fees, Larry asked if they do want to charge. We can differentiate between a developer and a person selling a lot and just charge for subdivisions not for a small parcels. Larry recommends one to five lots in a minor subdivision would be $250, $500 for Major ones plus $100 for each lot, $250 for a second minor subdivision. Myra helped draft the Custer County ones for eastern laws. After an application comes in we have to write a letter listing everything that is required stated Jim. In 15 days we have to write a letter that everything is sufficient in the application when it is completed. Commissioner DesRosier asked about working with the Tribe and suggested that we send it to them when finished. Larry stated the State was ready to sign off on the reservations but Larry asked them to have the Tribe have something. He has consulted with Mark McGee. In past times there were tracts of record that were recorded and were not surveyed. Larry stated that having these regulations will clean it all up. He will return with the updated regulations to adopt on October 16, 2006, at 10:00 A.M.

The Commissioners reviewed the Certificate of Survey for the land swap with Mike Evans and Goldricks with the Airport Commission as presented by County Attorney Larry Epstein. The City of Cut Bank will also be required to sign off on the plat. Commissioner Ray moved to approve signing the survey. Commissioner DesRosier seconded the motion that passed by Board vote.

The Commissioners reviewed the Joyce Turvey First Minor Subdivision Plat for the East Glacier area that was presented by Planner Jim Yeagley. The plat has been reviewed by the Glacier County City-County Planning Board. The easement is on Joyce’s land and the road nips Pat Schildt’s. There will probably be 3 or 4 more lots. The surveyor will take one lot for his work. Commissioner Ray moved to approve the signing of the plat. Commissioner DesRosier seconded the motion that passed by Board vote.

The Commissioners met with Northern Rockies Medical Center officials CEO Cheri Taylor and Board President Jerry Ebelt. Cheri inquired about the County providing funds for a new phone system for the hospital facilities. She stated they had met with the Hospital Board and they have no funds available for the project. Cheri stated they have spent $269,000 on equipment in the past year. Commissioner Ray, who was absent when NRMC first approached the Board, asked what they were asking for in a phone system. They stated they were looking at a Communicate system such as the Courthouse recently installed. They stated the old system is 2 upgrades behind what the Courthouse had. There are no parts for it and only 5 or 6 such systems left in the state with none in hospitals. It is at the point where it can not be fixed. The new one would be the same one as the Courthouse had installed costing $29,500. They understand for $4,000 more if one system goes down (the Courthouse or Hospital) then each could play off the other one. Jerry stated they have no money for the phone system. Cheri stated they plan to put a quarter million dollars into the CCT room. The question was again brought up whether it is part of the building or a maintenance problem for NRMC. Commissioner Ray stated they will look at what the County can pay and Cheri will return on October 16th at 1:00 P.M. They also asked about the repair to the parking lot at the Hospital and if the Road Department had plans to repair it soon. The Board will remind Bill about the lot and see what he has scheduled for the repair and maintenance of the lot.

The Commissioners approved the minutes of September 5, 7, 11, 18, and 21, 2006, as presented by Clerk and Recorder Sylvia Berkram. Commissioner DesRosier moved to approve them. Commissioner Ray seconded the motion that passed by Board vote.

The August 2006 Cash report was presented by Treasurer Kate Salois with a cash total of $27,936,963.93 for all County funds. Bank balances were as follows:

Revolving -- $ 2,672.00
A101 -- $ 2,588,893.82
Motor Vehicle -- $ 101,423.96
Taxes -- $ 46,976.06
Co Tax Sale -- $ -0-
Warrant Correction -- $ -0-
MSR -- $ -0-
Warrants Paid -- $ 3,316,569.12
Treasurers Disbursements -- $ 108,555.88
Warrant no gl county -- $ -0-
State General School Ele -- $ -0-

TOTAL CASH -- $27,936,963.93

The total cash was derived by the beginning balance of $26,969,325.83 plus receipts and charges of $1,909,186.42 less payments and credits of $941,548.32 to equal the month end total of $27,936,963.93.

Blackfeet National Bank -- $ 68,766.51
First Interstate Investments -- $ 96,352.72
Bank of Glacier County -- $ 1,086,996.32
Stockman Bank -- $ 832,426.85
Merrill Lynch -- $ -0-
Marquette -- $ -0-
Smith Barney -- $10,890,097.28
STIPP -- $ 52,901.67
WACHOVIA -- $ 8,380,550.01
Stockmans Repurchase -- $ -0-
DAD -- $ 6,527,522.57
Cash in Safe -- $ 1,350.00

TOTAL -- $27,936,963.93

The Commissioners approved Resolution 2006-31 for a budget adjustment for the Extension Office budget. The grant appropriation was moved from their General Fund budget and put into a Special Fund No. 2290 for the $2,000. The resolution reads as follows:

GLACIER COUNTY RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION 2006-31

WHEREAS, the Glacier County Extension Service has received funds for participation in a wheat stem sawfly parasitoid redistribution and outreach experiment through the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee that may be used by the department as deemed necessary by the extension agent; and,

WHEREAS, the Board of Glacier County Commissioners deem it appropriate to disperse these grant funds received in the amount of $2,000.00 this fiscal year for the Glacier County Extension department in a special fund No. 2290, Extension Service,.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED that the Extension Service Fund No.2290 is hereby established with a budget of $2,000.00 to expend the funds received from the participations experiment. Accounts No. 2290-450400-200 for appropriations and 2290-360000 for revenues, and;

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the budget will be transferred from the General Fund where it was previously budgeted in the Glacier County Extension budget for the grant proceeds.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that all Extension Service Grant funds collected for the Glacier County Extension Service Fund (No. 2290) are utilized by and under the control of Glacier County Extension Agent with the approval of the Glacier County Board of Commissioners.

ADOPTED this 3rd day of October, 2006.

BOARD OF GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

/s/Raymond D. Salois_____
Raymond D. Salois, Chairman

/s/John w. Ray
John W. Ray, Commissioner

/s/M. DesRosier__________
M. DesRosier, Commissioner
ATTEST:

/s/Sylvia Berkram___________
Glacier County Clerk & Recorder

The Commissioners approved signing the Bill Powell letter for abatement of taxes on Parcel No. 33307 for Part 40-04-3307 for improvements that were on Tribal land. Commissioner Ray moved to approve the abatement. Commissioner Salois seconded the motion that passed by Board vote.

The Commissioners met with WIC Director Michelle Harrell regarding her position for the County WIC service in Cut Bank. Michelle was doing a follow up on Lora Wier’s visit to the Board last week. She presented a copy of the State’s monitoring that was compiled in March and what they found was wrong. Michelle reported she has been doing the on-line training which is fine with the State. As to the expensive formula she does get approval as fast as she can with the State office. Some findings were with the WIC Aides which has been completed to date. The broken confidentiality was when she was on maternity leave. Michelle stated that she was upset that Lora did not come to her first. She believes that a lot of the problem was that she did not go to the training in Billings and she had no one to care for her children for the three days. The March findings were minor things that she did not really know before and they are all corrected. They found some things were not filed in the right place. They only run clinics three days a month and only have one computer for both she and the aide to use. Michelle further explained the voucher system with the special formula and getting them out to the clients. She stated she will be monitored again in December and will update the Board on the results. Lora is the lead agency director for WIC in our area. She wants this Board to know she is following through on the things that were of concern. She will be starting the new fiscal year on October 1st. Commissioner Ray stated we (the Board) have never had any complaints. He stated Lora did have concerns when she came. Michelle asked if they did have questions to let her know.

The Commissioners met with the Jail Committee to review the architect responses to construct the jail addition to the Courthouse. There were four responses that were reviewed by the group. Present were Byron Beley and Diane Anderson and LeAnne Kavanagh of the press. Commissioner Ray asked if we could narrow it to two and have those two come in to present their capabilities and then choose one architect from that. County Attorney Larry Epstein was also present for the discussion. After we choose the architect and then they will put it together for a contractor to build it. We need someone with experience in building a jail. We need to build to code for the facility. Commissioner Ray explained the architect, after chosen, will propose their fees to design it and oversee construction. They are the administrator of the money. Again, Commissioner Ray stated he would like to interview two firms. It was decided to interview L’Heureux Page Werner and Architect Design Group. The two firms will be notified and interviews scheduled for possibly the same day. The other two firms will be notified of not being chosen for interview.

The Commissioners met with Guy and Heather Miewald and boys. They presented a letter to the Commissioners addressing the County Health Board expressing their concerns of the new Horizon Colony that is proposed being built close to their home site north of Cut Bank. Heather explained who she has contacted for the problems they propose will occur for them from the construction of a colony so close to their place. She has contacted the Hillside Colony by letter twice and she has the third one ready to send. After the second letter the Colony stopped by to visit with them about the matter. They had never heard from them after the first letter. She talked about the nuisance laws as possibly their only avenue they have by Montana State law. The County Sanitarian and County Attorney have said there is nothing that they can do. The Commissioners said this Board could show they have concerns and maybe have both sides meet to discuss it. The Board could write a letter of the Commissioners’ concerns without a commitment. They will bring County Attorney Epstein into it to see what they can and can not do about it. Commissioner DesRosier stated we should look into it and maybe have some county laws. Heather shared information she has collected from the State and other states in the USA.

There being no further business for the day, the meeting adjourned at 5:10 P.M. motion by Commissioner DesRosier and a second by Commissioner Ray. The motion passed by Board vote.

BOARD OF GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

____________________________
Raymond D. Salois, Chairman
ATTEST:

_________________________________
Glacier County Clerk and Recorder