COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
July 18, 2019
Commissioners Robert ‘Pits’ DeArmond, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock, and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
9:30 Garrett Johnson from DIS Technologies met with Commissioners to discuss Information Technology (IT) Services. Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall was present. The proposed contract is $2,050/mo not including backups or the Sheriff’s Office; to include the Sheriff’s Office would be an additional $800/mo. 9:40 Undersheriff Jeff Schmalz joined the meeting. There was a discussion regarding backup solutions; DIS recommends a local backup for fast restores as well as cloud option should there be a catastrophic loss. Garrett noted DIS has the ability to do a spear fishing campaign as component of employee training and education on dangerous emails. There was a discussion regarding the County email system and a possible migration to Office 365 email to allow some email filtering; Garrett noted there is no way to “filter” links contained in emails. Commissioner Bullock moved to approve the DIS Technologies Network Monitoring & Helpdesk Support Agreement without the Carbon County Sheriff’s office included; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; there was some discussion regarding notification making sure employees are aware of the change and that DIS will contact employees before getting into their computers; motion carried. Commissioners approved a letter giving 30-days’ notice to Morrison-Maierle Systems Corp. regarding the termination of their IT Services Agreement.
10:00 Contract Civil Attorney Jacque Papez, Undersheriff Jeff Schmalz, and Deputy County Attorney Shannon Foley met with Commissioners for a conference call with Montana Association of Counties (MACo) Executive Director Eric Bryson and Attorney McKenzie McCarthy regarding electioneering. Eric noted that employees have a right to participate and advocate for a bond issue as a private citizen but not in their official capacity unless the County registeres as a lobbying committee with Commissioner of Political Practices. All employee and elected official time spent on promoting the bond measure and any incidental expenses are reportable to the Commissioner of Political Practices. Eric stressed that elected officials need to make the distinction that they are in favor of the bond as a private citizen not in their official capacity as an elected official. He also noted that a private citizen group could be formed to promote the bond measure; such a group would also have to register with the Commissioner of Political Practices for lobbying activity.
10:23 The meeting was closed to discuss litigation strategy in the Burgen case with Jacque and Shannon.
10:30 The meeting was reopened. Shannon noted Judge Wald will be appointing her as Public Administrator on a probate case that has been going on for quite some time.
10:40 Clerk and Recorder Christine Stovall met with Commissioners regarding abandoned road/alley tracts that the county owns in the City of Red Lodge. The Commissioners would like to get rid of them as long as there isn’t a cost.
12:00 Board of Health. Dr. Bill George, Tobacco Prevention Specialist Jean Atherly, Public Health Nurse Roberta Cady, Sanitarian in Training Cortney Lynde, Contract Sanitarian Travis West, Dick Nolan, County Attorney Alex Nixon, Undersheriff Jeff Schmalz and DES Coord. / GIS Mgr. Tom Kohley were present. Red Lodge Community Foundation representative Therese Picasso-Edwards was also present.
1:30 Adjourned
Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer