COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
October 11, 2018
Commissioners Robert ‘Pits’ DeArmond, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock, and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
8:30 Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioners attended the Red Lodge City Council Meeting October 9, 2018.
Commissioners attended a meeting with Yellowstone County and the Montana Department of Transportation on October 10, 2018 to discuss naming the old 212/310 highway between Rockvale and Laurel when the new highway alignment opens.
Commissioner Blain moved to accept the Justice Court End of Period Disbursements for September 2018; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
9:00 Treasurer Lori Lynde met with Commissioners for the quarterly collateral report noting a total cash balance of $12,651,159.49. Commissioner Blain moved to accept the Treasurer’s collateral report as presented for September 2018; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried. Cash was up about $226,000 from this time last year.
10:00 County Attorney Alex Nixon met with Commissioners. The discussed the contract with Codan Communications; it has been finalized and is ready for both parties to sign. Commissioners also discussed COS 665, Lot 4 which is a road tract owned by the County but is not a County Road and does not connect to a county road. Alex is not sure the County wants to do anything with the lot; it is deeded as an access easement and there would likely be costs involved to determine the lot’s value and to go through auction process if the County chose to sell it. Commissioners agreed there is no benefit to selling the lot at this time.
Red Lodge City Council President Glory Mahan joined the meeting. She will be attending meetings on a regular basis as the City Council liaison to help increase communication between the City and County.
10:30 Sheriff Josh McQuillan and Betsy Scanlin joined the meeting for the first reading of the Ordinance to Control Litter and Community Decay and Establishing Procedures for its Enforcement. Sheriff McQuillan asked about businesses that sell second hand items, Alex believes the definitions of litter and community decay would exclude those businesses. Alex also confirmed the Ordinance does not address organic material like weeds or piles of dirt. Sheriff McQuillan asked about the ordinance with regard to junk vehicles, he does not believe officers have the authority to make owners prove a vehicle runs. Commissioners noted under statute 4 or more vehicles constitute a junk vehicle wrecking yard and compliance with those statutes would be a DEQ enforcement issue. The Ordinance language was adjusted to more clearly define a junk vehicle as “a motor vehicle, including component parts, that are discarded, ruined, wrecked, or dismantled, that is not lawfully and validly licensed, and that remains inoperative or incapable of being driven. If a vehicle is permanently registered under 61-3-562 MCA and meets the other criteria for a junk vehicle under subsection, the vehicle is a junk vehicle.” Sheriff McQuillan asked how the abatement process would work; Alex would like abatement undertaken by the County to be court ordered. Commissioners confirmed that abatement process will need to be determined on a case by case basis; the County may contract or use county employees to remove items. Commissioner Blain moved to approve the first reading of the Ordinance to Control Litter and Community Decay and Establishing Procedures for its Enforcement; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner Blain moved to approve September 20, 2018 Commissioners Proceedings; Commissioner Bullock seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner Blain noted the Joliet Shop may look at purchasing a new tractor for the existing mower rather than replacing the mower. Commissioner Bullock requested they consider a change in how the mower is mounted for better ergonomics.
12:00 Adjourned
Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer