COMMISSIONERS’S MEETING

This is to certify the following is a true and correct copy of the Broadwater County Commissioner Minutes approved by the Commissioners on March 06, 2006. Judy R. Gillespie, Clerk

FEBRUARY 6, 2006

Vice Chairman Elaine M. Mann called the meeting of the Broadwater County Commissioners to order. Present was Commissioner James V. Hohn and Chairman Steven R. McCullough was absent.

Bob Masolo, County Road Supervisor, right now the crew is hauling gravel and will do some grading depending on the weather. Bob explained that a Mr. Bruce Robert of Price road asked him about putting a fence in. Bob told Mr. Robert that as long as the fence is 30ft from the centerline you are legal.

Commissioner Mann asked Bob about the gavel pit on Mr. Lambotts land and how many acres it is. Bob said he would get Elaine a list of all the county’s gravel pits and their acres.

Pam Converse, County Weed Coordinator, met with the Commissioners to discuss the Cooperative Noxious Weed Management Agreement between the Broadwater County Commission, Broadwater County Weed Board and the City of Townsend.

Commissioner Mann asked if the County Attorney, John Flynn had seen this agreement and given his written comments. Miss Converse said she had asked him to review the agreement and provide her with written comments by 02/02/2006. However, as of today he had not got back to her.

Commissioners Hohn recommended that Miss Converse have the County Attorney John Flynn and the City of Townsend review this agreement before they make a motion. The Commissioners asked Natalie Tomeo to put Miss Converse on the next agenda. (See Attachment)

Debra Hayden and Brian Orbert, Gateway Economic Development District, Ms. Hayden told the Commissioners that she was not going to ask them at this point for a letter of support regarding the Congressional Appropriation. However, she received communications from Senator Burns Office regarding appropriation requests and whether or not we would like to ask for another appropriation requests like last year. Ms. Hayden said she’ll write up another request first and then she will asks for a letter from the County Commissioners. Our projects have to match their requirements. These grant projects help existing businesses but do not help create business. Ms. Hayden wrote to Senator Burns Office however she has not gotten a response as of yet.

Commissioner Mann asked Ms. Hayden if it would help if the Commissioners sent a letter also to Senator Burns Office stating their concerns regarding this issue. Ms. Hayden said yes and she would draft the letter for the Commissioners.

Commissioner Mann opened discussions for the Proposed Subdivision Review Fees Public Hearing (See Attachment). The following are some of the comments made by those attending the public hearing.

Mr. Leonard Lambott, County Resident, feels that the amounts of the fees being proposed are too high however, he can not support caps on the fees because of all the new developments coming into our county and the cost generated by these new developments to bring in additional police officers, fire stations, paved roads, water, sewer, etc.

Mr. Jerry Bodmer, County Planning Board member, stated he is against having caps on the proposed new subdivision review fees. These subdivisions fees will have to cover services that the County will have to provide for 10, 15, 20 years from now.

Mr. Virgil Binkley, county resident, asked the Commissioners if these are up front fees and if there will be a separate account that the fees will go into so that the money is not used inappropriately. Mr. Binkley also suggested that the Commissioners look into 2 questions. First, what is the absorption rate for the county, and second what is the revenue that comes from new construction?

Commissioner Hohn stated that these fees would go to the Planning Board to fund their budget and may have to fund their budget when no fees come in 2 years from now.

Steve Cavanaugh, Rolling Glenn Ranch Developer, stated he would like to see a cap on the proposed new subdivision fees. Steve feels that without caps on the fees the county maybe limited on the types of Subdivisions that will come into our county.

Brad Campbell, County Planning Board member, stated these are not fees, but cost recovery by statute. In 10, 15, or 20 years changes to the subdivision may occur and if there are caps then there will be no money and the county will have to absorb the costs of these changes. Mr. Campbell also stated that there is a discount for volume, for example for a minor subdivision with 5 lots will cost $550.00 per lot, 20 lots would cost $300.00 per lot and 2500 lots would cost $150.00 per lot. If caps on fees a 2500 lot subdivision would only cost $17.00 per lot.

Melissa Tuemmler, county resident and developer, Subdivision reviews are limited by statute. There is a maximum of 3 years from a preliminary review to the final review.

Commissioner Mann asked if there were any more comments from the public. With no further comments Commissioner Mann closed the public hearing on the new subdivision review fees. Commissioner Mann stated the Commission will take everything under advisement and no decision will be made at this time.

The Commissioner meeting was adjourned for Lunch

Julie Lethert, County Sanitarian & Planner, cancelled her original agenda discussion on the Dunbar Road Petition request. However, she wanted to discuss the Rolling Glenn Ranch Phase II final approval. Steve Cavanaugh and Shanna Schaibel were present for this discussion.

The Commissioners told Julie to go ahead and schedule a meeting for the next agenda regarding the Rolling Glenn Ranch Phase II final approval plat.

Mail/Items for discussion

January 30, 2006 Commissioner’s meeting minutes were not approved due to the absences of Commissioner McCullough.

Natalie gave Commissioner Hohn and Mann a draft of a letter from Commissioner McCullough regarding the Fair/Rodeo Lease Agreement. Commissioner McCullough asked Natalie to get their input on the letter.

Brad Campbell, Broadwater County Planning Board member, sent a letter to Commissioner McCullough, regarding a discussion held during public comments on January 30, 2006. The discussion was over the proposed new subdivision fees. (See Attachment)

The Commissioners received a Nursing Facilities Intergovernmental Transfer Program letter from the Department of Public Health and Human Services as a result of all their questionnaires that they had sent out.

The Commissioners received a written request for use of Broadwater County equipment and operators for 2006 North Front Street phase II Storm Water Drainage and Beautification Project (See Attachment)

Letter from Undersheriff Ben Knaff, regarding a complaint against the County Road Department.

Mail/Items for action or signatures

Claims for 02/03/2006 in the amount of $77,361.76 were presented for approval. Commissioner Hohn made a motion to accept the claims for 02/03/2006, Commissioner Mann seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

Payroll for pay period end 01/23/2006 and payday 01/31/2006 in the amount of $85,195.25 was presented for approval. Commissioner Hohn made a motion to accept payroll for 01/31/2006, Commissioner Mann seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

Natalie Tomeo, County Finance Officer, presented the Commissioners with a bill from MACO for the deductible regarding George Collins, resident of Broadwater County, in the amount of $3,000.00. Natalie asked the Commissioners for direction on which fund she should use to pay this bill. The Commissioners asked if there were funds available in the Insurance fund account. Natalie told the Commissioners that there are no funds available in the Insurance fund account however; there are funds available in the Finance Professional Service fund account.

Commissioner Hohn made a motion to pay the MACO bill in the amount of $3,000.00 out of the Finance Professional Service fund account. Commissioner Mann seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

The Commissioners Mann signed Brooke Dolan’s Victim/Witness Advocate Grant.

The Broadwater County Trust Board sent a final draft of the request proposal to the Commissioners regarding a Floating Dock System. Commissioner Hohn made a motion to approve the Trust Board’s request. Commissioner Mann seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments:

Shanna Schaible questioned the new subdivision review fees proposed by the Planning Board and after the public hearing thinks the discussion sounds like the money is for more than just a new position for the Planning Office.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 pm, the next Commissioners meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2006 at 10:00am in the Commissioners room located in the basement of the Courthouse.

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Steven R. McCullough, Chairman

ATTESTED:

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Melissa Gilster, Deputy Clerk