GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING

November 16th, 2006 (Thursday)

Glacier County Commissioners
Regular Meeting
November 16, 2006

The Board of Glacier County Commissioners met at their regular meeting at 8:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 16, 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.

Road Supervisor Bill Bandel met with the Board with an update on the Road Department and current work within the County.

The Commissioners met with Hillside Colony representatives John Wurz and Mike Wurz for a road right-of-way to the new Horizon Colony that is being built in Glacier County. Present also were JC Seewald, Guy and Heather Miewald, and Mel Fugle. The description where the road would is at the beginning at the half point of Section 2 going south through Section 2 and Section 11 to the Krueger Road in Township 34N, Range 5 West. Commissioner John Ray and Michael DesRosier went out to view the location of the road and will consider the request on November 20th.

The Commissioners met with Port Authority Board members who requested the Commissioners provide 2 mills as allowed by code. Present were Steve Barcus, JW Eaton, Jason Bronec, and Johnel Barcus. JW stated they are asking the County to give some funding for the authority. The purpose of the authority is to help businesses in the County to grow economically. Johnel stated in Title 16 it stated they could have the mills levied. They would like to get a grant writer and have the mills levied for operations. The Board (Commissioners) stated they would have to take the 2 mills from someone else and they will look at it next year as this year’s mills are set. They have agreed to give $2,000 from the GAIN support for this year. The group stated they have only time to operate on for next year. They stated they need the 2 mills to operate. If they finance someone for a business the Board can decide who to loan to. Jason explained what Glacier Electric has on grant information for loans for new businesses. Willie Morris of Browning joined the discussion. Jason asked what it would be for Glacier County. Commissioner DesRosier explained they decided to have a pot of money that would have to go around. The Port Authority is to work together with everyone stated Johnel. Commissioner DesRosier stated the County wants to help with economic development. Willie Morris stated we need to be effective and do some things for economic development. We need to worry about what is here and not worry about what is in the big world. Commissioner DesRosier stated the money we give is to make more money not just to spend. Sweetgrass Development is a regional economic development one. Commissioner Ray asked how long it would take to make 2 mills make money--a year or 2 years or what? Willie stated it is working in Toole County so it should work here. Commissioner DesRosier stated they will wait for next budget year to determine if the 2 mills can be given. Commissioner DesRosier mentioned the idea of having a refinery and having someone like a port authority available to sell it and have it in Glacier County. He stated we need to pull the entities together that the County spends the money on to get the best bang for the bucks. The development should provide opportunities for jobs and tax relief. Commissioner Ray stated trying to levy the gas tax money again may be a way to get more revenue. Willie stated we also need to market. Commissioner DesRosier said the Legislature wants to look at the gas tax revenue again because it was restricted to roads and streets. Perhaps they will change it to go to economic development. Other counties are talking about looking into it. It would be nice to see the money somewhere it can roll over and help more and more people. Steve Barcus stated we need to work together on this. What ever we do in the County it helps everybody. Commissioner DesRosier stated it is a way to pull the entities together being a mechanism to do so. The Board of Commissioners proclaimed their support to the capacity of the Port Authority, the lead organization of economic development and having the Port Authority to be the lead. Maybe the other economic development organizations will work themselves away if this is successful Commissioner DesRosier stated. He stated we need some criteria to gage what they are doing. We will need to look at the Growth Policy. They are putting it together now by compiling the information. Commissioner Ray stated it will be good to get all the pots together for the one cause. For now the Port Authority is staying in City Hall of Browning.

The Commissioners met with Librarian Della Dubbe regarding the purchase of a parcel of land for the library. The Buy Sell Agreement was prepared by Dick Shors. There are judgments against the property. Debbie needs to have until the 30th to get all the paper work ready. They are ready to go on it if the judgments are cleared up. The Board did sign the purchase agreement for the lift totaling $37,862.00 with Limestone Detailers, Inc.

Commissioner Ray stated he will be out of state on November 30th.

The Commissioner meeting in Browning for November 22, 2006, was cancelled due to lack of any agenda items.

The Commissioners met with L’Heureux Page Werner Architect firm from Great Falls. Architect Steve L’Heureux; and Joe Murphy from Neil Consultants, a civil engineer, were

present to negotiate a contract with Glacier County for the jail construction. Wayne Dusterhoff, Jeff Fauque, Noel Duram, Byron Beley, and Merle Cowell were present for the discussion. Steve thanked the Board for being chosen to be the jail project architect. Steve stated there is a big issue to talk about as it is still open where to put it. Wayne asked about getting the prisoners up to the third floor. If there is a way to come into the third floor and need to address both district and justice courts. They discussed the location and also the sewer pipe that is 12 feet down. They can relocate
the building and from building over the sewer. The only utility is the sewer and the power line and it should be ok. The main gas line is in upper parking lot. They went out to physically view the area. Leanne Kavanagh of the press joined the discussion. They discussed the dispatch center area and work involved there. Steve stressed the dispatch job is a complete different job in this new facility. They are always in a secure area so they can move. It is a whole new job for dispatch. They discussed that the amount available for construction is limited to less than $1,000,000 of the $1.7 million that will be raised by the 10 year mill levy. They need to know what kind of group to include to decide what they want for the plans. It was agreed to have the officers look at the plans and have their perspective. Also maintenance should be involved in what should be planned. There have been 4 scenarios on how it will work. There are questions of laundry and food how to plan for them. Steve stated they have to have 50 prisoners to cook their own meals. Regarding the boiler for this building he suggested doing a modulate boiler set up with another budget. Commissioner DesRosier stated we should look at the whole system right now. Steve stated it should be taken out of a different budget. We need to get the plan to work. Commissioner Ray asked to negotiate the contract. Steve stated he charges 8.5 to 8.75% by square foot on the scope of services. He needs to get the project set and see how much money we have and will charge hourly now and then will set the fee. Commissioner Ray stated we would like one person to go to, probably being the architect. He will break it all down and will do a schedule every month. It will be a projected progress schedule. Commissioner Ray stated they will keep the Jail Committee as a group. Steve works off a percentage of the cost of the project--probably 8.75%.

The Commissioners approved County payroll and claims today in the amount of $220,322.72.

There being no further business for the day, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 P.M. with a motion by Commissioner DesRosier and a second by Commissioner Ray. The motion passed by Board vote.

BOARD OF GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

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Raymond D. Salois, Chairman
ATTEST:

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Glacier County Clerk and Recorder