COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
May 14, 2018
Commissioners Robert ‘Pits’ DeArmond, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock, and Administrative Assistant Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
Tammy and Jim Helsper, who live in Western Ranch Estates Subdivision, met with Commissioners regarding a bridge in their subdivision that needs to be replaced. The Home Owners Association has discussed creating a Residential Special Improvement District (RSID). Commissioners clarified that if a RSID was created the bond will not be funded by the County; the County would levy and collect taxes on behalf of the district. Commissioners recommended the Subdivision secure legal counsel to help navigate the statutes related to creating an RSID. Also discussed bank stabilization issues. 8:40 Gordon Sirrine joined the meeting.
9:00 Pam Hellerud met with Commissioners to discuss the Youth Court preliminary budget. Pam kept her budget request at the historic level of $90,000; she noted she rarely comes close to the appropriated amount.
10:00 Floodplain Administrator Annie Gillespie met with Commissioners for her preliminary budget. Annie noted State DNRC is gathering information to restudy the Rock Creek Floodplain with grant funds. Commissioners would like Floodplain separated out into own account within the budget rather than keeping it under the Planning budget.
Commissioners asked Annie if she would like additional hours and would be open to expanding her position. Commissioners are considering expanding her position to assist the Disaster and Emergency Services Department. Commissioners emphasized they do not want any other duties to take away from floodplain administration. Commissioners asked Annie to meet with DES Coord. / GIS Mgr. Tom Kohley to discuss shared budget items and possibly increasing Annie’s hours to assist Tom.
10:15 DES Coord. / GIS Mgr. Tom Kohley joined meeting. Commissioners noted the possible crossover between the two departments’ budgets and duties. Tom noted he could use assistance with rural addressing, emergency notification registrations, and would like to have a deputy/backup DES Coordinator.
Tom also discussed the meeting the Town of Fromberg has called regarding flooding on the Clarks Fork River. He would like the County to have a bigger role in facilitating the meeting. Also discussed bank erosion issues for Fromberg resident; Commissioner Bullock emphasized it is not the County’s responsibility to stabilize the bank on private property.
11:00 DES Coord. / GIS Mgr. Tom Kohley, Sheriff Josh McQuillan, Deputy Kelly Carrington, and Tom Dunne met with Commissioners to discuss Radio System
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COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
May 14, 2018 (cont.)
evaluation. Dunne is waiting on coverage maps from CODAN before he can move forward. Dunne noted the surplus QUANTAR repeaters are in good working order; the County should do a cost evaluation of down grading system and having them reprogramed to meet that configuration. Not sure about firmware in simulcast, but possible replacement for roads. Kohley noted the dispatch office is continuing to gather quality feedback on daily test pages; Industrial Communication is continuing to reset system multiple times a week to address paging issues. Commissioner Bullock asked what the timeline for installing a new system would be once coverage maps are complete. Dunne estimated it would be 30-60 days depending on equipment delivery time. Dunne noted the final design will determine the final costs and that a full engineering study will be needed. Kohley noted the Homeland Security Grant funds only cover hardware and installation costs; the County will need to pay for engineering study. Kelly noted Law enforcement needs P25 capabilities and requested that any newly designed system incorporates is P25 capable; Sheriff McQuillan agreed. Kohley asked about what benefits of P25 are; Dunne noted is digital standard allows “narrowing of channels” that provides for error corrections and security at greater distances. Currently the system is on a simplex option. Kelly noted in a chase incident, the suspect had scanner and was able to hear radio traffic reporting how close backup was. Dunne noted P25 law channel was factored into quote for Attorneys. Dunne will get a quote for the engineering costs. Noted CODAN is under the WSCA contract for equipment so the County does not need to go through a separate bid process.
Commissioner DeArmond moved to enter into contract with CODAN Communications for the engineering design of a radio system; Commissioner Blain seconded; motion carried. Tom Kohley recommended reconvene Radio Communications group to discuss today’s meeting.
Commissioner Blain moved to approve employee time April 29 – May 12 pending Jerrid Burgum’s changes to include overtime hours; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
12:00 Adjourned
Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Assistant