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COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
August 24, 2021
Commissioners Scott Miller, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock; and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
9:00 Public Health Coordinator Erin Cross; Beartooth Billings Clinic Kelley Evans, Bridget Chartier, and Brandi Mains; DES Coordinator Cyrina Allen; Dick Nolan; SLC Health Jeffry Fry, Jessica Kinzley, and Erica Garcia; Roberta Cady and Sheila Boggio with Beartooth Billings Clinic Public Health; Mike Creeden; Jessica Schwend. Evans reviewed the transition plan prepared by Beartooth. They would like to donate office furnishings; the fridge, freezer, and exam table are already County owned. Beartooth anticipates keeping school nursing contracts. Review of Information Technology, utilities, patient records, medical supplies, vaccination distributions, bulk vaccine storage, and lab services access and testing. With regard to vaccine storage and lab services Beartooth agrees to continue with past processes. Newell and Mains will coordinate paperwork and vendors to transfer other items as agreed. Make sure reporting process on communicable diseases get back to Erin. Discussion regarding the Health Alert Network (HAN) and the required updates. Beartooth is happy to continue to man the initial HAN call since they have 24/7 staffing. Discussed medical supervision going forward and options to contract or bring in house; discussion as to whether medical supervision could be accomplished by a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. Bullock clarified the request for medical supervision is separate from Public Health Officer duties. Discussion regarding contact tracing and potential man power resources. 9:30 Jason Mahoney joined meeting. Allen has a public notice drafted regarding the public health transition. Discussion regarding schools; Commissioners requested some guidance be prepared for what schools should expect for contact tracing. Discussion regarding hiring staff or contracting for contact tracing; Cross would prefer local control.
Miller moved to provide an annual stipend of $6,000 to Allen effective for the current pay period for additional duties related to her appointment as interim Public health Officer.
Miller moved to accept the District Court Receipts report for August 2021; Blain seconded; motion carried.
Discussed bridge naming in memory of Pits DeArmond for the bridge over Bridger Cr.
11:00 Superintendent of School Lori Lynde and assistant Lori Kane met with Commissioners regarding Dan martin’s agreement for Superintendent of Schools Services. Blain moved to renew the contract; Miller seconded; motion carried.
11:30 Blain moved Resolution 2021-24 participation in the State Short Term Investment Pool; Bullock seconded; motion carried.
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Joe Holzwarth DNRC met with commissioners to discuss the State Historic Right of Way Program. County Attorney Alex Nixon, Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall, and Deputy Clerk and Recorder Lola Ashby were in attendance. Program will be sunsetting in October; if there are applications received by the deadline there is a 10-year time limit to finalize agreements. Stovall asked about the date in which the road had to be established; if Road was not in existence at the time of state ownership an easement would be required, if there is not record of an easement the County would need to purchase an easement. Blain asked what happens if the County doesn’t do anything, concerned about the precedent that purchasing easements would set for legal access to other county roads that may not have recorded easements; Blain is not in favor of paying for the easements. Bullock noted Papez and Quarry Roads are not County Roads and can be removed from the State’s list; Stovall noted some of other roads have recorded easements. Commissioners expressed concerns that the fair market value is not calculated on the value of the land that is an existing road. Program eliminates environmental review, and need for survey. Stovall asked if there is documentation to establish the road’s existence, is there a fee and application required to substantiate the legal access with the State? School patent was recorded in April 1944.
Discussion regarding court facilities and options for rearranging offices or establishing an new building to vacate space to make offices more ADA accessible.
Adjourned.
Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer