GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING

December 14th, 2006 (Thursday)

Glacier County Commissioners
Regular Meeting
December 14, 2006

The Board of Glacier County Commissioners met at their regular meeting at 8:00 A.M. on Thursday, December 14, 2006. Commissioners Ray Salois and John Ray were present. Commissioner Michael DesRosier was attending MACo meetings in Helena. Chairman Ray Salois called the meeting to order. Clerk and Recorder Sylvia Berkram recorded the proceedings.

The Commissioners met with Sheriff Wayne Dusterhoff for a presentation and update on the Northern Tier Interoperability Project. Project participants were reviewed and activities in progress were discussed and their tracking. Wayne stated they are trying to get the State Legislature to approve maintenance costs and such on the projects. They are looking for local contractors to install them. Glacier Park will put in money for the Divide Mountain Project. He explained how the progress is going in the various sites and updated the Board on the other projects within the State. He also gave an update on the players of the project. The group reviewed the project’s overall budget. He stated that funding is short of $269,910 of the total budget authority of $12,845,663. All expense goes to the State DES to pay. The Santa Rita project was $595,000+ for equipment. DES takes care of all of that. Bills come here but the State pays them. The County needs to sign the pre-award letters. It will transfer the ownership of the equipment to Glacier County. They will maintain the equipment and we cannot put private equipment on the sites. He has explained to them that we get revenue from these. They are working to get an administrative change on that. Private ones cannot come into the building as it is for public safety. They will tell us where they can put private buildings.

The Commissioners met with Steve L’Heureux and Jim Page for the Jail Construction Project. Also present were Bob Yunck, Bonnie Martin, Wayne Dusterhoff, Noel Duram, Diane Anderson, Larry Epstein and Merle Cowell. LeeAnne Kavanaugh of the press was also present. Steve explained the possibilities there are for the construction. The biggest issue is where it is going to go and tie into the sight. Steve stated the parking lot is not flat by about 3 feet. He is working to see how to tie into the sheriff’s office as there will be not office space in the new part. There are problems with office location and moving prisoners in the public area and also for JP court. Wayne is considering building east to connect to the building and adding an elevator to go up in the back. An elevator would be $40,000 or $18,000 for each stop. The building would still be in the lower lot. It would be cheaper to go east. Steve stated it would go 90 feet east. Merle asked about the capacity of the generator. It is now 80K. County Attorney Larry Epstein reported Mae Nan Ellingson, bond counsel for financing, is out until after the first of the year. The finalized plans will now be drafted by Mr. L’Heureux.

The Commissioners approved the resolution to budget for the hospital building maintenance of $20,000.00 a year. Commissioner Ray moved to approve the resolution. Commissioner Salois seconded the motion that passed by Board vote. The resolution reads as follows:

GLACIER COUNTY RESOLTUION
RESOLUTION 2006-37

WHEREAS, the Glacier County Board of Commissioners are charged with the responsibility of maintaining the county hospital building that is presently leased by Northern Rockies Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, the Board has committed to covering capital improvement expenditures of $5,000.00 and more for maintenance of this building; and

WHEREAS, the Board has agreed to fund a budget of a total sum of $20,000.00 per year to be applied for capital improvement and maintenance expenses for the county owned hospital building.

THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that as of this Fiscal Year (2007) the Board of Commissioners does hereby agreed to fund the $20,000.00 commitment beginning now in the former hospital fund of 5110. The funds will be provided from the Agency (7900) or PILT (2900) funds each fiscal year. Expenditures will be made through account 5110-410499-920. The Board of Glacier County Commissioners prior approval of expenditures will be required.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any un-appropriated budget of the $20,000.00 may be added to the next fiscal year’s new $20,000.00 budget.

ADOPTED this 14th day of December, 2006.

EFFECTIVE the 14th day of December, 2006.

BOARD OF GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

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

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

_________________________________________
M. DesRosier, Commissioner
ATTEST:

/s/Sylvia Berkram___________________
Glacier County Clerk & Recorder

The Commissioners met with Roy Nollkamper and Bob Jacoby regarding their work to have the Airport placed on the Montana Historical Register. Roy stated they have been working on preservation of the airport and submitted the application in April for historical preservation. They needed approval from the City and the County Commissioners and are now meeting with the County. Roy stated the Glacier County Museum actually started the project. It is not true that you can not change anything after you put them on. It will open things up for grants after it is put on. Roy said Bob has done a lot of the work to compile the information. They actually submitted the application in September and will be on the January meeting agenda to be considered by the Board. Roy and Bob will go to the meeting when it is being considered. They would like to have a letter of support from the Commissioners for putting it on the historical register. After it is approved for the State they will pursue the national register. The Commissioners agreed to provide the letter of support.

The Commissioners met with Browning Mayor Willie Morris regarding the letter he is requested for 10 years budgeting for the Browning Fire Department. He reported he had talked to Larry Epstein for a letter stating they will budget $10,000.00 for 10 years.
The Board will visit with Larry about the matter.

There being no further business for the day, the meeting adjourned at 3:00 P.M. with a motion by Commissioner Ray and a second by Commissioner Salois. The motion passed by Board vote.

BOARD OF GLACIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

____________________________
Raymond D. Salois, Chairman
ATTEST:

_________________________________
Glacier County Clerk and Recorder