Billings County Commission - Regular Meeting

Marshall, what would the uh lamp purchase fall under on here budget wise? Just curious. Um that'll be probably building. So, we don't have a line items. It's just total budget. I just thought that when I was breathing through, you're going to be first up. Sure. I got plenty of time.

I think as long as done by 9:45.

I forgot the sign here. Thank you.

I need that. So I just Oh, did you already sign? Morning. Smith left.

That was ahead, huh? I don't know. I suppose sometimes behind too. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Hey, sorry. Let me get that. Sure.

Okay. Good morning. We'll call the meeting to order and we'll stand and recite the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Worship.

Y everyone. Welcome to the April Commission meeting. Um, we don't have anyone signed up to do public comment. So, we'll move into um Has everyone read the minutes? Is there uh any additions or corrections to the minutes? If not, do we have a motion to accept them? So, move. I'll second. Motion in a second. All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion carries. We'll move into the agenda. We have several things to add. Small items but need to be added. Um uh we have a skoreio lease that's going to be presented. We're going to have a um federal highway request and then um court funding agreement. And what else? Marsha, the bros authorization.

Oh, okay. Yeah, bro. Rose is going to Okay. Anything else? Any other additions to the agenda? Um, we need a motion to ex accept that agenda then as presented. I'd move to accept the agenda with the additions. Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Second. Second. All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion carries. We'll move to uh um engineering reports. um and um department head reports and so whoever wants to go first. Uh okay. Well, thanks chairman commission. Um first update let's provide on East River Road the shared use path. Those will go up for bid in the month of May and those will be opened at the end towards the end of May and hopefully tenatively will be coming forward in June with those bid results and acceptance from you guys. So um next agenda item I have is on the uh Buffalo Gap extension project. Thank you for selecting us to proceed with that project. We greatly appreciate it. Um, one of the things that we're aware of is that you guys and Golden Valley County would really wish to have this project constructed in 2027. Um, we're in order to proceed with that. U, we'd like to proceed with authorization from both commissions to proceed on that project. There's a couple items that we really need to start going on if we're wanting to complete that construction in 2027. The first one would be the coordination with the forest service. Then also the joint powers agreement that would need to be done between both counties, whatever. So, um, we're not anticipating that that's going to cost more than $20,000 right now, but as part of that joint powers process, we need to identify a point of contact and then who those bills or invoices and all

those items are going to go to, which county at that point in time. But those are some of those items that we'd like to wish to start going on and coordinate with Forest Service to see the extent of those environmental surveys that we need to complete on this project. So that would be my request for that project. Okay. Joint powers. So then we would draw that up and then and then we would uh look at it and then sign it or

Yeah, we've recently done one for both McKenzie County and Dun County. So if we need a template to go off of, we certainly have that already set up. Um there just need to be some key things identified on that. you know, point of contact, um what the percentages are, um and who the invoices go or how those invoices are reimbursed at that point in time. And so those are those things that we certainly work with the attorneys or if they want to handle it too, that's something that um we can be standoffish on that too. So um I don't do you have any input on that? I can talk with Christina Winko and see um if she has a preference otherwise uh as a starting point the the McKenzie and done template just to figure out the scope of what you're looking for.

Yep. Um and then you know go from there and and get it circulated. Okay. Certainly. Yeah. We can bring it back to next meeting then and we can approve it. Sure. Yeah.

Okay. And and that would be our goal is that the next meeting would be really clearly identifying that scope and task order and once that joint powers agreement is approved and that way we can proceed really proceed in do an environmental portion of the project which will be the key component essentially on this project. I got a question for you. So, as you really get going on it, uh, at what point do you think or month would you say that you'll have more or less like an engineers estimate for both counties to be able to really decipher when they can go forward with it?

Yeah, I I think the key thing would probably be the environmental portion and then the hydraulics on there. Um, you know, I think at what point in month I would probably say September, October, I would probably say that and that's once we really identify a route. Um, and the things we can't do from the Forest Service. So, and the route really with the way the creek meanders through there, that's really kind of dictating a lot of the things in there. So that's going to take on the cost

cuz we both counties want to know if this thing is going to be totally out of our realm then then we are you know won't do it maybe or something you know we have to do some decision making and that would be our intent is to complete that environmental portion of that to narrow down our route and then we'll go into estimating what that real cost is. So that way there'd be really no full-on engineering that wouldn't get waste. I wouldn't say that wouldn't get wasted in expenses from each county. So

question sounds good. Thank you. Do we need to do a motion? So that was one of the things that in the letter I didn't know if he wanted a motion to proceed to be able to do the work to do the JPA and do that prior to Sure. We can just to u move forward with a proposal for a a joint powers agreement. Um and then once that is final then then signing it. Okay. So then we is that all right for you to have forest service as well during that time

correct and that' be coordination with forest service doing our preliminary meetings if that's okay

I think so that should be good someone want to make that motion so moved is there a second A second. There's a second. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. That's all I have. I'll be going to Golden Valley County here right after this actually and go talk with them too about the same thing. So, okay. Really appreciate it. Thank you. Pat, do you want to finish your end or you want to go? Yeah, I can go. Sure.

So, just a couple uh updates, commissioner, one active project and hopefully one soon to be active project. Uh 135th uh over by Fryberg area. Um Jensen Brothers uh restarted construction last week. Uh putting in some approach culverts, kind of some real minor grading. Um we'll have a pay estimate at the next meeting for what they've done. We did we didn't prepare one uh for this for this meeting since it was pretty minimal. Um just some uh details on the project. Um over the course of the winter we've coordinated with Ruff Rider Electric. Um we knew we had some utility conflicts. Uh what we were were really surprised at, they said it was about $300,000 to uh relocate some of their facilities. So, what we're able to do is redesign around some of those um to get it well under $300,000. There will be some uh utility relocation costs, but it's nowhere near the $300,000. So, I've worked with Jensen on that, worked with Consolidated on on a little bit of redesign to eliminate some of their uh conflicts, too. So, um I think we got the utilities pretty much straighten around. um for that project. Um I think they're gonna you're going to see a little more activity from Jensen as uh this week and next week progresses. Uh it's going fairly slow this just kind of their nature. Uh we got a guy out there mostly full-time watching them, but I think you'll see a little more activity and and go a little bit faster as as time progresses. Um the other project I guess maybe we should back up. Any questions on 135th? I don't know if you've drove through the project or heard of anything from land owners or anything. We've trying to keep everyone appraised of what's going on,

but I don't hear any questions or concerns unless you guys hear something. Not really. Okay.

Okay. The other project, that's the one we're hoping to get uh active pretty soon. Uh it's that Vessie Bridge or BC Bridge up in north northern part part of the county. Um we have the plans ready. We've had the plans ready since um I want to say mid February, maybe early February. Uh they're through the through the DOT. Uh now the problem is the federal highway has to to essentially put a rubber stamp on it. Uh what they've done is they moved the bid opening date from March to April. Now, it's all already to June is what they're um indicating to us, but we're not locked in on that June bid opening. Um I think we've done everything we can on our side. It's just Federal Highway has to review that. Um I'm not really sure what the holdup is, whether that's a funding uh issue or a staffing issue, but it's just kind of in Federal Highways hands right now. um because right now we're scheduled for the June bid opening, but that has not been secured at this point. So, um that's kind of where we're at with that. It seems like we just cannot get that thing to bid, but we're we're at the 95% percentile. We just can't get there yet.

Okay. So, do we have easement or agreement on that? I forget. It's been talked and gone through. So, we do. It's done. Okay. Yeah.

Yeah. We I mean, I met up with Joe. I'd say I don't even know mid mid January. And at that time he meant I got to reach out to him again. I told him I said we we were secured for the April bid opening. April is going to come and go pretty soon. It's still not going to be bid. One thing I talked to Pat u briefly about before the meeting. There's a there's a potential that we could um get the shop drawings ready for for the box culver because that's always a little bit of a delay. So, if you wait till after it's bid, well, then the contractor has to secure those uh drawings, it could potentially speed the construction process up. You're not going to change the bid opening date. You're not going to accelerate the bid opening date. But if it gets bid in June, you know, now you're down to about four or five months of construction. Well, if you have to wait two or three weeks for shop drawings, we could get that done ahead of time. So, if there's one thing small uh silver lining, I would suggest giving us kind of authorization to produce those shop drawings, work with a supplier on the shop drawings to accelerate at least the construction schedule. Not the bid opening schedule, but at least the construction schedule.

You feel confident in June? No, that's what I'm wondering. or you think it'll get pushed out pushed out because I mean we've been talking on this for Yep. And I was telling Pat uh federal highway um has about two weeks to approve that two weeks from about today. Um but but I I don't know. I was telling Pat earlier if someone would told me two months ago that we're still waiting for federal highway. Um I I've been really really surprised. M. So, at this point, I I've kind of already overpromised and I don't want to promise that it's going to be a June bid opening. If it is June, will it be restricted to be completed by say October?

Mhm. We would still I mean, I think there's a there's an urgency, there's a safety urgency and a landowner uh preference to get it done this year. So, we're still going to plan to get it done this construction season. So, doing your preliminary thing you were talking about, uh, is that going to cost something or I mean, let's say something whatever like you're saying, is it going to happen or will it be good enough for if it happened next year, too? Well, yeah. So, those shop drawings would would be good for whoever gets the the low bid. Okay. Whether it's June or July or

Okay., god forbid, next year even. But yeah, it's it's something that needs to be done regardless of when it gets bid. And typically you guys would do those shop drawings or would that contractor be responsible for that?

Well, so so it's usually in coordination with with the engineer. So usually it's done after bid opening. So so the low bidder uh reaches out to his supplier and says send the shaft drawings to the engineer. What we're trying to do is maybe get ahead of that and saying at the time of bid opening you already have the shop drawing secured. So if potentially the the uh supplier can potentially order the the rebar. That's that's the that's the big thing. But you wouldn't uh order the rebar. You just have everything sized for the for that box golfer. And and there is a little bit of a cost. is probably four or five hours of of our time to review those shop drawings.

So, it's then that would have to get stated on the um bid opening, too, that these shop drawings would be completed. Is that correct? Yes. I mean, I I think you would potentially want to let the the uh the biders know that those shop drawings are are complete. I mean, I can almost make the argument that you'll potentially save that cost because there whether you hire us now or the construction engineer to do that later, you you're still going to have that cost whether you inherit it, you know, now or two months from now. Still has to be done with your speed. But Mhm. Right.

I'm fine with it. I'm fine with it. Yep. Okay. Okay, good. Thank you then. Yep. I think that's all I had. All right.

Thank you. So, the crews have been hauling on 7th, 39th, 131st, 132nd in the stockpile. They've been discing, moving snow, crack sealing, and doing maintenance. The leaking 400 barrel tank in Fairfield was swapped out. Let's see. On the library trail, I visited with Hugh. He plans to start, well, the snow kind of pushed him back, but in the next couple weeks, he's planning to start on that to finish that up. And then there's the equipment quotes that I got for you. You have the You can start with the loaders if you want. If you look at the quotes, they're not much different. difference in price only about $3,000. The only difference in between is the um buyback price in 5 years is 100,000 around $100,000 difference in between the two different companies. Are you thinking that we will be on a buyback with the loaders? I'm all for the blades and moving the trucks up, but you really think the loaders will be on a buyback. put a lot of hours on the loaders. Um, probably more so than the blades. You know, if we're trying to run newer equipment and you can do this buyback and these

prices have been coming back decent from deer, um, I would say we do them. You know, it's going to cut down your overall cost. That's want to know if your intent was to do it or not. My intent is Yo, my intent is as long as it'll I can get everything to fall in place.

Like that is my intent. The other thing I will say is through TN, they don't have a salesman in the area anymore. I'm dealing with a guy out in I believe it's Washington right now to get these quotes. Yeah, we were always in the corner of that lot. I wish it could have got switched over to the bumper side, but we can't. So, so apparently between the difference of these two loaders, probably the biggest difference is the cattle trailer is the joystick one. That'd be a wheel. That'd be a wheel.

Yep. They're both wheel They're both wheel loaders. They're just joysticks. Just making Yep. I think you're better off going with the John Deere with that buy buyback being such $100,000 more if we're going to get on that program. Even though it's $3,000 upfront more, but if the intent is to roll every five, then Mhm. Yeah, I'm fine with the John Deere, too, because of the

price difference is close, but the buyback is way better. So, do we need to We'll need a motion after we're done. I would make a motion on each of them separately. On each of them. Okay. Cuz they're those are tractors, right? These are payloaders. And then the tractor and then the No, that's what I'm talking about. Yeah. Okay. I'd move to approve the uh bid of the John Deere 724P odor. Okay. And that's the John Deere with 289300, right? That price. Yes. Okay.

Oh, yeah. That I just was double checking. Okay. All right. So, we have a motion. Is there a second? I'll second it. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. I. Motion carries. Okay. And then the next item would be the tractor. This would be the same tractor that was purchased last year. They were sister tractors sitting on the lot. They have this one on the lot, so it would be delivered right away. There's no waiting on it. Um, what was the price of the other one we just paid? Same price. It is. Okay.

Yep. He looked I looked at it. It was the same exact price. We're getting a little more for our trade in. Um, bought it another $10,000 more per trade.

Okay. That's not District One, correct? Yes. Yeah. And that tractor there we've had some issues with. It's been in the shop quite a bit. So I'd like to move it down the road if I could. We need a motion on this one. Yes. Okay. I told I'll second it. Motion and a second. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries.

Next one would be a mower for each district. They'd have to flex hitches on them. So they they'd be done shoulder. Yep. Okay. Good. And I tried getting quotes from multiple different distributors in town and this was the only one that got back to me after quite a few attempts. So, basically, our mowers could hook to this hitch or do we got to get the new mowers with the hitch? We're getting new mowers. The mowers, there's two that need to go pretty bad.

Um, two for sure that really need to go and then the other one is getting old. Um, and this would we'd get one for each district and go from there. And this flex hitch would mount directly to this mower. See if we like them. If we do in the future, we would look at them again for the next round. But do we want to get three flex hitches or just try one to see if it the guys like it or if it fits in the our roads or handles? We visited with Dun County and they have these and they like them a lot. Um

think like in the Badlands and some of the different roads would would it work as I well you have all the roads up on top where it would work well know that for sure but then the Badlands would try it and see. So can you simply unhook the hitch and hook your hook up to the the mower? It's nothing special. Yep. From what I understand, it's you buy them separately and then put them together and you can retain the flex hitch and put the another mower on it. I looked at Dun said they highly really like them. Mhm. Y and I think they could be really good for us.

And that's where we kind of come up with the idea is they had tried them already and really liked them. Well, then the safety factor is there too. cuz you're not driving over the edge as much, you know. So, how much is the actual hitch part? You don't know. It just all thrown together. I mean, how much is the actual mower cost? Yeah. I'd have to go back and look the Seems like a lot, doesn't it? For a mower in the hitch. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's a better price than I got last year for

Oh, really? the overall price. I can tell you. So, the mower itself is a little over 40 and the flex hitch is 31. Okay. Well, it makes your 71 minus the rate. The current mowers that we have, like what year or what how long have we had them, do you think? I mean, what's the life potentially of these things then?

There's an 0809. There's like a 13, I think, are the older ones. They're pretty old. Um, okay. You've been lucky on them. I'll say that. Well, and that's there hasn't been

there hasn't been a a decent mower. You know, we haven't really looked at Schulty yet, but there have been other mowers other counties have tried and they said stay away from them. So, until we found out something that worked other than these old John Deere, we were holding off on them. We did have one guy walked across the deck and the deck started caving in on the one mower. So, it's time to time to send them down the road. They are wore out. How that many years do you had on them? I guess that's not so bad then. No. No.

And hopefully these would go the distance also and maybe trade them a little sooner and you'll get a little more out of them. You know, say 10 years, 15 instead of 25 or 15. Yeah, I guess it's been 15. Well, I'm fine with them getting them all three because I checked too with one one of the uh Dun County over there and they really like them. So So I I'll make a motion that we purchase three of them. Second that. We have a second. Any more discussion? All in favor say I.

I. I. Motion carries. And then in the back of your packet, I did give you kind of a two-year plan on equipment. Um, we can go through that at a later date or you can read through it and just Let me know if you have any questions. And then uh next item would be the Canon Creek Road or West River Road. the deal or Fed Highways requesting justification from the Billings County Commission regarding the remainder portion from the interstate up to the cattle guard and that was sent over by highway.

There is an email from Rubad from D It's this one here, right? Is that I did visit with the DOT on this. Um during the transportation conference a little bit, we had talked that by building the gap road, it would tie that other road in. We could move them 2 miles over. He did state that we can add or remove at any time. We don't need to keep them 2 miles right now if we don't want to. Um, it might make it easier than justifying the two mi the two-m stretch from the interstate up to the second cattle guard on West River, but

easier for them. Well, either way, he said it'd be easier to just remove it, forget about it for now, and then we can apply when the gap road gets put in, we can apply that towards our CNC. But that would be up to the commission.

Any idea on those what we get off them financially those miles or do we get So the funds that we discuss in Bismar each year with the DOT those funds can be used on CMC routes. So, it's not so much you get per mile, it's just the county gets a certain amount of dollars. I had it backwards. Yeah. So, removing the two miles wouldn't it hurt us at all.

And the DOT did say if we, you know, get the gap road built, we could add them miles and that would tie it all together better. And it worked for Golden Valley also. Yeah, like the estimated funds that we were supposed to receive in 2026 was 157,546. It's not a whole lot each year that we receive. you can borrow forward four years, but

and then the money what's lined up right now to use out of that is um for the countywide chip seal job this year. So that'll pay for that. So, I think all they're wanting is either a motion to not uh keep the stub routes or a motion to keep the stub routes and give pure justification. Well, I guess um there is no easier or better way really is what you're saying. So if

I think I would rather just leave it there if in case the Buffalo gap does or doesn't get approved then if we deal with it after the road is done then we can still move it then correct if that's what you had said. We can. Yes. just the justification and getting Fed Highway to see the justification. Although stating that we are planning on building the Buffalo Gap Road um in your justification would help with

justifying leaving them 2 miles for now. I like your idea, your point of, you know, until things move along, but yet why would we have it in there in a way those two miles cuz it just dead ends there, right?

And then um um cuz it wouldn't get used after the Buffalo Gap either in a way. So, I mean, it'd be done. I'm hoping Buffalo Gap don't go. I mean, no matter what, I'm hoping it goes, but I as myself, I'm not. And I'm for removing it. I'm remove it now. Just going to help out things better. That's how I feel. And there's been a lot of emails on this back and forth going back months and months. It's, you know, Fed, it goes back and forth. It's been kind of a hassle. If we remove it, it just

makes it easier to leave the rest of it from the where it comes back into Billings County all the way up. Leave that. Yeah. Yeah. And they didn't have a problem with that. It's just them two miles that go to nowhere is what they had a problem with.

Well, that I think is a a major concern for maybe them and us in a way. So, the DOT did feel if you did send over uh justification that you're planning on moving them two miles once the gap Buffalo gap road is built. They said it might they might accept that, but they didn't know for sure. So, do you know exactly how many miles it was? 1.7 or something. I don't know exactly if if you add it up, you mean? Is that what you're asking?

The rest of it to remove just for the motion information to remove it. That would be approximately 2 miles I'm thinking but I don't know the the exact number and maybe just remove the portion in Billings County

from the interstate to yeah motion there one way or the other or any more discuss discussion would that be is that to the valley county line it's not really the county line be the second category I can Google map well

do you have the exact bio on that I I'll find it here cuz we already well we already did the we did up we did the up for the 58 right and Golden Valley did their 1.2 two miles. Also, I think this motion I think that they want is from the interstate to the um junction that was previously second. Yeah, second. Okay. There's one count,

right? And there's one in the middle and one down at the bottom. It's easier to say to the Myers why

think that's okay. I think it's going to say third cattle guard cuz you're counting the one. If you count the one at interstate, two and then one in the middle. That's two and then one down at the bottom. And can the actual mileage be looked up and be added to the motion? I mean, if we're okay with it, the legal if it's 1.2, if it's two, if it's Yeah, it's going to be 2 something. We're right at two. But yeah, I don't care if we add it later when it gets figured out.

Okay, we Yeah, I can go with with Stacy and get the actual mileage. going north. So we have a 2.7 miles 2.7 that's to the third category. Yeah. And then plus the 58 then plus the 1.2 right will be all remove that part. Yeah. You already did that. We already did that. Right. Okay. Right. So, does someone want to make that motion? I'll make that motion.

We have a motion. Is there a second? I'll second it. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. And then the Bobby Kubis scoring lease. I got the original. Oh. Oh, the original's up here. Yeah. Do you have it, too? Or I have a copy of it, but that's the original.

That's the same terms of the 1500 for the year lease and $3 yard. Well, does someone want to make a motion to accept that? I'll make that motion. I'll second it. Motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. What motion? Where are we at with the Western Star? I second it. Um, one is in. They were putting in a wet kit and the other two should be here pretty soon. Okay, just

they're built. They're waiting to be shipped, I think, last I heard. And they may have come in. I checked on them last week one day, but it should be getting close. Do we have plans of milling or grinding any more uh gravel roads like like we did black tail? That was It's really nice road right now. Mhm. Even Frank's Creek from Well, it's not as smooth as Black Tail, but

yeah, it sure helped out a lot. So, been visiting with the foreman. We'd like to do the two miles down on Frank's Creek that didn't get done. Um, do those two miles for sure. And then up north, Blacktail from the second cattle guard down to the schoolhouse. I think it's about 11 miles. Would like to do it there. Try it. See how it works. Um if there's time possibly Fairfield pasture from 85 over to the ten road and then north past O'Brien to the curve that's all river rock. They've ripped that multiple times and there is good material underneath it. It just isn't mixing well with ripping. So would like to try that stretch.

Got enough water lined up for all that. We got frack tanks. So yeah, we'll stockpile water. Oh, that next question. Yeah, we going to start filling some of those tanks. At least half or something. They're insulated. So, yeah, out and about out. Yeah, we can. I was kind of hoping to wait till it quits freezing at night, but yeah. Well, I mean, they're insulated. I mean, if Yeah, there's a little bit of ice in them. So, then they have internal valves if they're insulated. They're external valves. They are. Oh, yeah. But, I mean, at least they'd be half full. So, then you get a warm day. And do we have a truck that can move them around or do we got to hire somebody all the time? We have to hire somebody. Can we put together a truck to move them around? Cuz we a lot better, I think, than always hiring somebody.

We've talked about it. Um, don't we have a truck we sneak together? I would like to do it on a truck that does not have emissions just because if it's sitting, it's going to they go to town way too often. So, I'd like to look at that. I did visit with a guy out of Bellefield that has a couple and he said he might have one for sale already set up ready to go with that doesn't have emissions be an older truck but for the little bit we'd be using it in good shape for that because you look at how many we have and how we're going to move them around and use them on road projects it just be so convenient if we had a used truck put together to do that I don't know what it cost to move them right now but I'm just saying

it still all adds up if you go the next how many years to do all this. Yeah. To move them six from the north location to district two there. Caught I think it's around $1,200 for them to come move them. So much got to have a little bit of experience moving and stacking them, too. You can't just throw anybody like Right. That was one thing he stated also is you got to have someone with experience. Like right now the only guy I'd have with the experience is Dwayne and he's moved him a lot. Um

when he retires at some point you'd be having the train and we don't move them all that often either. We're an archist. So we use one of the western stars we're keeping back to sell. could, but we've been having a lot of issues with them and they've been in town more often than they've been, but I'm just saying. Or do we take and delete one and put a winch on them? That's going to be cost you quite a bit to put a winch on. Right.

Right. That's a possibility. We could look into that. I was kind of looking at the idea of just buying one already put together. There was one on Facebook here a while back the guy showed me. I think it's 30,000 all set up, ready to go. So the money you'd stick into something getting it ready. Yeah. Putting a winch on's going to be a lot of money. Worth it. I don't tail rolling, but I can look into it. There's a winch on that truck and that property we bought. We looked at those. We looked at them. That's a bad until we closed it. He could still come get it. Yeah, that's Well, whatever. I just thought it'd be a good idea. Yeah, I can look into it.

Okay. Anything else? I think we're good. Thank you. Thank you.

Should we move to the 945 and we'll get the rest of the departments. Okay. The next is uh the library beer and liquor license. And so you want to give us your latest? Sure. Good morning everybody. uh believe, excuse me, I sent a map over pull up here in a second, but we've been spending time uh with the sheriff um just understanding the best path forward. I think um I am hopeful that there is a path forward at some point for us to include uh the greater uh boardwalk loop, but we're uh 84 days away from opening and I think we're excited to lock down our liquor license. So, I think favorable about going with uh the path forward that I think everybody feels comfortable with with in and around the library. Um if um I think two things, if we're comfortable continuing to have conversations about what it might take to include the boardwalk in the future, I think I also talked with the sheriff um around, you know, there will be some event style permits that'll be pulled this summer for grand opening and different events. And so assuming that those go well, uh that the commissioners and the sheriff would be open to having future conversations around um the boardwalk. As I've explained to you guys in the past, um Steve, I know you weren't here. It's an important part of what we created. Um we really believe that there is a dining food and beverage operation um or option out there that is really really fun and neat for our guests and and hopeful to have that in the future. But I think in the interim would ask that um the west east building and the perimeter around that area um be approved. Okay.

Any questions? Do you have a how are you going to put the motion then if we do this? I'd move to approve the beer and liquor license for the shaded area of the buildings and the breezeway and cafe p pat patio but the the highlighted area here. The highlighted area. So So if you wanted to walk around, we have a motion though. So we we need to uh Is there a second? Oh, second. Okay. And let's go to discussion. Just a little bit. So there's a sidewalk all the way around kind of on the what would you call it? Northwest there, right?

I'm just asking or out front there too where where you unload. That's all going to be not included. Yeah. So, the cafe patio on the south uh I guess that's the southwest side there that protrudes. We obviously want that. The breezeway in between the two buildings will be a space for us and a bed space and I think one that we feel like we can manage very well. So, it's really important. Um, but I don't think there's there's significant need outside of the breezeway, the cafe patio, and the two buildings at this point. Okay. Well, fine then. Any more discussion on it?

Mhm. Okay. So, we have a motion for that. Is that first? All in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. There you go. Appreciate all your time. Yep. Thank you. And I'll have that at the end of the meeting for you to sign that there and other reasons.

Oh, okay. Well, let's do another uh before tax and zoning. Let's do another uh department head report if someone wants to keep it short. So, proposal in here. No. Did he send it out? I saw it on the Yeah. Okay. Did you print it out? I can print it for you guys. I did. Okay. I have one. Oh, did you get that email? I got the email but didn't print it out.

I'll make a copy of it if you want.

Okay. I can get on my phone. Oh, good morning. Good morning. Um, all the exit signs in the courthouse, all the emergency exit signs have been replaced with ones that work and the backup light in the basement for the electrical room has been replaced. So that's all up to code. Um we I have the official denial letter from the insurance for the water main breakout here. It's not covered. No damages are covered. Um I didn't print that out. It's like 47 pages. They must have printed the whole insurance policy, but if you want certainly forward it to you, but no coverage for the water being break or damaged your thing. So it's all on us. Do we know approximately how much that was?

It was 5600. Okay. For the repair. Yeah. And really damage really wasn't very good. There was nothing worth any value that got damaged. Some boxes and clean up time as well. Yeah. But if you want that all I always like to ask insurance agents or whatever, what aren't we covered for? Yeah. It's kind of like a house from the curb stop to your, you know, you can buy that. I don't know if they allow us to buy that extra, but like for homeowners policy, you can add that can always add things for more money.

Right after this happened, NDIF actually came out with additional insurance that you could purchase for that. I don't think it was because of us,

but it is probably it's available now. So, The renewal for the fire alarm in the courthouse is due for the service contract. That's a yearly contract. They come out and test and maintain. This year it's $3,600 and that seems like it's been down to pull the numbers. It creeps up a couple hundred dollars every year. So that's what it is this year. Um the I do have this deal with the city sent this over. They have a contractor to redo the propane fence out here and it came in right about where we were going to go. So I proposed we pay half of that with this proposal. If you want a copy of this, I've got that. This is our half or this is a total.

That's the total. Oh, okay. Go out here. Okay. Oh, is there three of them here? Is it all the same? Oh, they are. Is there Who's the contractor? Oh, yeah. Who is the contractor for it? Remember who that is? I I it was on the other part of the email. I can't remember the name of

Is it a local contractor or somewhere? from um Dell was going to get a send me the uh quote with all the proper the names on it and the name of the project. So this was the first draft I got, but the price will be the same. But does this include all the hydroacking needed though? This is probably not. It doesn't say on here. I mean that was done. They'll need to hydro know where the holes go, right? Cuz of all the Yeah. go out, you know, in that area. There's two two transformers right there. So, you've got electrical power and gas lines there. So, yeah. Well, I I would say that it is, but

doesn't really say it, right? It doesn't specify that, though. Just a good question to see if because I'm assuming that's a few more grand there for I mean, it's obviously split, but What is the question about hydrovacing the holes for the cuz there's all the electric and everything there. It was proposed before that it would need to be hydrovaced and propane lines. Yeah. And for the post to go in. I would be surprised if that was included. Yeah.

When do they think they're going to do after everybody agrees? Last I heard was probably in a week or two to start. So

we should have the quote. Mhm. Okay. Well, I can go back and ask for better quote. Mhm. Cuz if not, you know, might be able to get that back. break it. You could bring it back at the end of the meeting or Oh, yeah. If you could go get it and have it here before the end of the meeting. Yeah, I'll give him a call. Then we could act on it. That would be right. Cuz if they hired it out extra, I mean, it could couple hours an hour easy. Yeah. It's several hundred an hour. Yeah.

Okay. And then uh my last thing was um asking the commission today to amend the maintenance budget for a salary correction for myself. I've been here a year now. Uh I'm at 67219 right now and I'm asking to go up to 75,000 yearly. I've discussed this with Dale and I feel like I should have uh we should have talked about the budget before when we were doing budgets that for his year raise since we did start him lower when we were hiring and I overlooked and I reached out to him like hey you know we should you know I feel like you you were we've had any problems we've everything comes in good and he's due for a raise I guess. Mhm.

But I do uh apologize for not putting that in the budget as the part uh portfolio holder. I didn't think about it and he him being new I don't think I was ignorant to him the way that Oh, we had to make sure you panned out first. We'll see. We do. It's never over till it's over. I think we do hear a lot of good things.

Yeah, I'm in agreeance too. It It's fine. So So we want to amend the maintenance budget. Someone want to make a motion for that? I make the motion to amend the maintenance budget to increase the salary to 75,000. Okay. Is there a second? I'll second it. Okay, we have a second. Any more discussion?

Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. Move from carries. Thank you. That's all I have. Any other questions? No, we're good. Thank you. Thank you. Stacy, are you ready? I guess

yours will be 10 minutes, too. Huh? Well, you do have a few things. I know you want a lot.

No, I didn't. I

Oh. Okay, so this is the result of March 19th zoning meeting and we had three applications on the agenda. One for Kof Fowler, one for Bill Pollen and one for the Roosevelt Library Foundation. And then we also under um looking at regulations for food trucks and transient merchants and temporary uses. And then there was a four ARW application or three ARW applications. The first application for Cole Fauler, he um is requesting a residential lot split in. It's kind of hard to see, but there's a an outline right around the mobile home spot kind of like in the middle of the circle. There's it's a 1.01 acre tract for um and he's splitting off an existing mobile home site. This is Rodney Crow's property in the northeast corner of the county. And so it's mobile home like where where Rodney's daughter lived at one time. And now this is Rodney's daughter and future son-in-law are purchasing this property from the family. And so it's an existing farmstead and we have allowed variances for our 5 acre minimum when we have this situation where it's like 5 acres would be a hardship on the main um farmstead and it has enough acreage for its own septic and drain field. Right now the

drain field is already existing. Um but it does have if anything happened to that um subject in Dfield, they do have enough acreage to replace it. And so that one was approved um with no conditions. It was just the variance. Variances do have to be signed by So, we got to make a motion for that.

Yeah. Yeah, it was approved. Um, yeah, it's a oneacre site. It has an access ement from the section line road to the parcel. And then it's within existing farmstead. It's less than 5 acres and they approved it. The board approved it with um no condition approve the variance. So this should be a separate motion. Y I'll make that motion.

I'll second it. Motion and second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries the date today.

Okay. Second application is for Bill Pollina.

Yeah, I'll go back. Um, but the board did approve this one with conditions. I'll get this screen up. If you know where Bill Palmer's place, um, he wants to have two RVs, like a small RV campground by a pond on his property. And campgrounds are permitted in the recreational zoning district. Okay. So, this is Bill Polymax and campgrounds. Even if they're just one or two RVs, um they would be permitted in the recreational zoning district. So the first piece would be to reszone the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 8 of 142.99 from egg to recreational which all of his existing uses fall under as permitted uses. So that doesn't affect anything but to have this as a as a campground we need it as recreational zoning. And right now the the RV spots would have electrical hookups and then a couple other things for like campground amenities like picnic tables and fire pits. He had the spots xed out right here and right here by his pond. And then it's like

This is existing photos of the site. And then he's also proposing to have a storm shelter closer. That's the red diamond on the north side of where his shop is. And so we don't have a lot of information on the storm shelter. And so that was part of the conditions that he would need to have a building permit for the storm shelter when that gets built. And then also um anytime you have one or two campsites, they can be permitted at the county level, but anytime you have three or more campsites, that triggers state licensing. And so this is just more like the condition is more of a reminder that you can have two. And then if you do have more than three spots, then you need additional right licensing from from the state. And then we'd also have a building permit for the storm shelter. He said it was going to be underground, but we don't really have any more information on it other than here's where I want to put it. So, it's part of, you know, the safety reasons. Um, and he has acknowledge that if we're um we are in a burn ban that fire pits won't be allowed. So the way the conditions are, is he required to put in the storm shelter or I mean is it if he chooses to that's it or

that's his thing. We don't have any specific regulations for storm shelters. I think in the state regulations there are depending on how many campsites you have. You have to have that like you have to have a playground, you have to have you know restroom facilities, you have to have private storm, you know, secondary storm shelter. We don't have any requirements like that. usually, you know, they have the, you know, he has the house plus he has this shot with living quarters and he chooses to have this storm shelter. I just didn't know the way you the zoning approved it was it required that that you do any or all of it kind of deal. That's I was just asking.

I think once it gets over three, then you got to go by some state rules. Yeah.

And so there we don't have any specific regulations on you need a storm shelter. That's right there. And so there's like at the zoning board, there's two motions for this one. One to reszone the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter from of section 8 to egg to recreational. And then the second one is to have the the two RV campground. How many acres would be recreational then?

Yep. That's how many how many how many would be recreational then? H how how many acres?

It was 40. So northwest corner northwest corner is 40 acres. It's just an easy legal description to like block it off. Like he didn't have this spot surveyed and so he just swear it off. You need a minimum of five acres. But to um to have a legal description of 5 acres with just the basic, you know, quarter quarter descriptions, you have a legal description while long. This just makes it simpler. Okay. Is there any more discussion questions?

You've got it wrote there. We have there's two two motions. Yeah. I guess just one question or point is if you change all 40 acres to recreation, what it can open up to is what I guess just one. That's why I thought maybe it was only a few anything that would be within that recreational zoning district. um permitted uses and conditioning permitted uses, but he would still have to come back for application. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. But if he did want to expand, let's say, from the 2acre campsite to a three, you know, three or more um two acre RV spawn camp

around to like more. He wouldn't have to come back to us for like, you know, expens. Yeah. Yeah. and is existing uses like egg is already a permitted use and recreational and rural residential is already permitted use and recreational too was just okay I move to approve 2026-5 okay yes to reszone here okay we have a motion and a second all those in favor say I I

I motion carried. Then we'll need a motion on two campsite um campground um I'll make that motion on 2026-1.

I'll second it. Motion in a second. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. And then the other application is 26-7. It's for the the Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. These are the conditions cuz they're kind of hard to see, but the library is planning on during the opening weekend to have a glamping campground between the Little Missouri River on the and the existing Madora campground just west of the city. And this is in the city's etc. And it would be used like like between setup using the site for a campground and tear down. It's about 1 month time frame over mid June to mid July for the lodging needs of the grand opening of the of the library. And there's they're proposing to have up to 50 canvas sleeping tents on wooden platforms. There's portable restrooms, hand washing stations, lobby tent, and other accessory um campground amenities. There's a also a generator on site.

And right now the property, it's owned by the Rosora Foundation. And so this is a basic overlay of the property. They would access the site off of um Pacific Avenue west of the door fire hall is over here. And then we have the construction staging area. And they want to use this approach to access the site. And there's a they're planning on like the medic response area would be near there and then parking would be in off by itself and then people would walk to their campsites and then the little white dots on here are the campsites and some are restrooms. There's generator, couple of generators, the lobby t. And if you seen the drapping proposals, this is a company out of either Colorado or Montana. And you know, they're they're fancy but primitive tents. And then there's going to be portable restrooms and shower facilities. They have the timeline for setup and using the site and taking down submitted. There's also emergency operations plan that's going along with it. And since you know this falls under, you know, a campground, they are also um have an application in with the state department of health for a campground.

So this is their application for a campground to the state. And so since it's in the city's ATZ, the city zoning board did approve it at the March 17th, 2026 meeting or March 17th, March 17th meeting. And then the county zoning approved it at the March 19th meeting. And you know if there these are the conditions like if there is any food services like if they have continental breakfast or if they're having any sort of food trucks on the site that any food services would be inspected by the Southwest District Health Unit lighting fixtures. We have the regulations for recreational building that the lighting fixtures would have to be dark sky friendly. sewer service even though they're temporary facilities, you know, if they need approval from Southwest District Health and the state DEQ, that would be a requirement saying, you know, they would submit that documentation to us. And if we are in a burn ban, they have to follow the rules for fire pits. And it might even be where we say no fire pits if it is super dry. Um, and then tents would be numbered for emergency service response. So that we know that if somebody does call, let me know that they're number just like hotel room. And oops, what's going on? He got kicked out. Did he get kicked off? No. Well, I guess

you're still in. That's really I know. That's weird.

Okay, then the next condition is that the applicant would receive permission from the North Dakota DOT for using the approach. I mean it is an existing approach but whether or not the DOT wants that type you know a volume of traffic along their approach that would be um up to the DOT to approve since it's their rightway and then they're they have their application submitted and they'll have to be licensed as CRA by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality and they would this number eight was added at our meeting that They would submit proof of liability insurance with TRMF, the city of Madora and Billings County additionally insured. So those are the conditions that we're putting for this project.

Explain number eight as far as why the liability insurance and what that was something at the meeting. I don't um I'm not really sure Dean. Well, that was just to uh we'd be added to their insurance the three uh I think it was more uh Clarence wanted it so that everybody is uh oh

you know what I mean we're all named as additional insured so to speak if that explains it right. Yeah. Or it's like it has to do with water. It was more like cuz it is a totally contained unit, you know, power, water, sewer. It It's, you know, they they take care of everything. I just didn't know why we were necessarily involved or named on it since it's not our land. That's why I'm asking. Jared, is that any can you explain or give any perspective? I

if that came up at planning and zoning, I Olivia would weigh in on that. I don't recall. I think the only reason it was is it it's in Billings County and then the city has extra territorial. So, thank you question. Sure.

Um to my knowledge the TRMF has not sprayed that location in several decades and the canopy cover we spur there is at least 50% if not more. Is there any way you could add something about treating that? I'm just worried about cars coming in and spreading that throughout the county if they're doing other location.

So, a couple of things that that's very good there to mention that you know that it's on the north side of the burm, the big burm that's down there cuz they they drew that out. And then uh they are going to level the site cuz it's it's terrible. You couldn't even drive in there now. Really? So that's what they indicated they were going to do.

Yeah. And that is a good point cuz like with another application that we have on the agenda for next month, that's basically the only condition that I would put on there that they would have to coordinate with the county we control for a weed control plan. And I didn't think of it for I didn't think they were disturbing the ground at that point. But then yeah, we don't know that they already have a weed problem. Yeah, we didn't know that. So I think we need to have So I would think that would be a good number nine condition to say that they would coordinate with the county we control board for for a weed control. We need to have that. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Anything else? Any more discussion? Do we have a motion then to I guess you're just going to have to put down nine conditions instead of that's what I put here with nine conditions and that you added the weed control plan requirement.

Okay. Do we have a motion for that? Yeah. I'll make that motion on 2026. Okay, we have a motion. Is there a second? I'll second. We have a second. Any more discussion? All in favor say I. I.

I. Motion carries. Okay. And then for announcements, like we have our next month's um zoning meeting is on the 16th and we'll also have a work session um at 10 starting at 10:00 a.m. on that morning to kind of review food truck regulations, temporary uses and transient merchants. And then we also got a an email the other day from Roosevelt Kuster Regional Council for State of Region 8, which will be in Dickinson on April 23rd and it will start at 11:00 a.m. and it'll go until 3. Um, if you go to the Pearlcast Regional Council website, there's a registration button and then it cost 25 bucks to attend because they'll have lunch and stuff, but county officials were encouraged to attend. Oh, and then there was one more thing and I don't know um Marca sent you guys the email or if you got this email from Doug Garing the a

commissioner was at the end of March. She sends a message to the county commissioning and the planning and zoning board members for a reminder that the North Dakota rules for annual feeding operations was updated in 2023. And our like at the state level and the state was supposed to have a task force and give us a new model regulation for updating our ordinance cuz our ordinance is based on the 2000 model that the state prepared for animal feeding operations. And this task force was supposed to develop rules and regulations for counties to use as a guide for this. Well, we haven't updated our ordinance yet because we're waiting on the guide to come out from the state. Well, then Doug had sent the message of like, hey, you guys need to update your ordinance and yes, we know, but we're also waiting for the state

to to give us the

Yes. And I do have like a model regulation cuz like Southwest North Dakota with Roosevelt Plaster Regional Council, they did this study on like best locations or like you know good, better, best locations for feed lots in in in a county. Um and then they gave us like a model regulation, but it was also based on South Dakota rules and regulations. It's not based on North Dakota rules. And so it's one of those things like the response to be like yes we are aware of the rumors but we're waiting on the model to come out which is supposed was supposed to come out but it hasn't been published yet. The only publication that they have for a model ordinance is still that 2000 ordinance. So it's one of those thing that's coming down the pipe. This will be another uh zone ordinance amendment eventually. So, but we haven't had any, you know, animal feeding operation proposals. I mean, there are some in the county that are for their own um farms and ranches, but this would be lot regulations for the commercial lots. And there's a lot of, you know, you need three-phase power, you need water, and we have very limited locations on where you can actually put hay bucks. um in the county. So, it's it's priority, but it's not on the top of the list right now. And then if um you guys are interested, I have think I might start doing this where I give you guys copies of like what's on the zoning agenda cuz we're starting to get longer papers for what we have going on. Well, this is the patients that are on the list. If you want any um copies of them beforehand, just give give me a call and I'll

But this is the April 16th agenda. And then Okay. So, for ARWs, we have one pipeline permit for Ragnar Exploration. They're putting in a a water line, a production water line from it's for a well location that they have kind of southeast of Fryberg, like about one one mile um west of the county line. And so it goes from a a well location in Billings County, crosses a section line road 1303rd Avenue Southwest, and then it crosses 132nd Avenue Southwest, which is the Stark Billings County line, and it's going to a well location in in Stark County. And um Pat reviewed this and pretty sure it was it was reviewed in Stark County as well. And so he approved it with no conditions. That'd be good to take care of their tankers off that section of road because boy, they haul.

Yeah. So, Stacey, what was the um it says pipeline permit 4478? Um yeah, this one the pipeline and I can give you the details on these. I should have emailed them to you. Is it just 4478? 4478. Yep. Okay. I'd move to approve that. ARW for Ragnar Ragnar. I said that

we have a motion and a second. It's Ragnar. I thought you said was a W. Rag. I first did first and Ragnar. Okay. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Any more uh discussion? All in favor?

I I say I. Yep. Motion carries. Second one is for Rough Rider Electric and they are crossing 15th Street Southwest in the northeast corner of the county. um where it's in section 15 of 143.99 and it's for the utilities for the new communication tower north of Fairfield for the for the siren tower. So that one that one's fairly easy and section 15 is it's an unimproved section line road right now but it's still our right away. Hey Pat, while they're putting that in, do we need more power at that um tank site that we're or the freshwater site we're going to we're putting up?

I guess you're heating those tanks or anything? I mean, if they're running just throwing it out there, it's a good idea. See Okay. What's the number on that one? This one is 2604.

Okay. Do we have a motion to accept that ARDFW? I'd make the motion to accept 26-4. I'll second it. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. Too many papers there. Mhm.

And then mechanically electric has a utility crossing for the north um northeast corner of the county. If you remember, we're um there's a new McKenzie electric substation going in on the new um Little Knife Gas plant site. And so this is crossing a street southwest going from section 9 to section 16 in township 14498. And this application is 2605. So, this is an air photo with the existing um

they're just crossing. Yeah. So, yeah. So, we're crossing right away. Um there'll be a new substation. They've already gone through zoning for the new substation. This is just the AR to get the utilities to that spot. Now, I'll make a motion. I'll second it.

Motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. And then the other one is 260 and it's for RTC networks. there at the utility permit for a fiber line and they're crossing East River Road at the intersection of this is East River Road and then you have Bible Camp Road um out to the golf course. So, they're crossing East River Road and then they'll be going along the county's rightway along Buffalo Gap Road or not Buffalo Gap Road, the Bible camp road with the fiber line just paralleling the the rightway. Okay.

And this one was approved for no conditions. Someone want to make a motion to accept that? So move. Is there a second? Oh, second. All in favor? I I the motion carries.

Okay. And then we had one final request. We don't have an actual like application for it yet, but I did receive an email from um company working with the sheriff's office about putting in two um license plate readers and it they're going within the county's rightway. So, it's usually, you know, anything that goes within the county's rightway, you have to have an ARW application and it gets approved by the county commission. Um, and so this is just information for you. I don't know Jared if you want to um talk about it because this would be the first request that we've ever had for for this kind of infrastructure in our right away. It's my understanding that it's for the opening weekend of the library, but like I did a little bit of research on these license plate readers and there was a bill in the House in the 25 session that they wanted to have license plate readers in the North Dakota um DOT right away and that bill was um defeated in the House. And so it's one of those things. It's like they it's like it's I don't know. I don't know what you guys want to do with them. But so I guess first thing do we does this have to be zoned because it's a it's a government uh I guess. Well, it's it's construction in the right of way. There are zoning regulations. Like I've done a little bit of research on this. Like there's some cities out there that have rules and regulations like ordinances for these um

types of equipment within, you know, city right away. But it's like I don't propose like having any sort of like new zoning regulation for them if they're just going to be temporary. But if it is something that is going to be there long term and they are concreted into the ground, I don't know it. But it's construction in the rightway. So it's it goes before you guys. Is it going to be uh concreted in? No,

it's going to be a post and there will be like quickrete put in to study it. So but it can all be removed. It's temporary. It's not just through the event. the agreement would go through well they only do like a year basically. So it'll go through December the 31st since we're already moved in uh you know the time frame that we're at but it is temporary. Um they wouldn't do shortterm lease basically. So and it is for public safety. I mean, that's why we're putting it there. And I know I did discuss it with the city as well and they, you know, talking to the mayor and they were going to require us to go through zoning for the city,

but all in all, I remember we talked or someone else there's more. Yeah, there's more than just two foundations. A total of six. Yeah. On other people's BS right away. Uh I think we got uh let's see here four on basically within the city on private property and then two would be within uh right away Chateau Road and East Road basically. So they'd basically run through December of 27. Yeah. End of the year basically or December of this year. Which one are you saying

this year? It's only like 6 months or whatever time. Okay. But they would only do a year agreement. It didn't matter. They don't prorrate it, in other words. But they wouldn't do just like a two week rental. Gotcha. And the rightway is okay with you staying away from the road far enough and whatever. Well, the one they're want to put in may interfere with the sidewalk going in on the shared use path itself. So, they got to check which road is on that. Is that on the south? That'd be on the west side of this where the path was going or the east side. I guess

they had to switch sides recently due to some rightway issues. So I'd have to check because if it's on the it's on the east side is what we're proposing. We had to move it to the other side. I suppose we could do that as well. But we have to be make sure it's out of the way so it's not in the way of that. So, are we asking for a a motion or an okay or we just um cuz you're saying this is related to zoning, but we didn't act on it yet.

Well, and ARWs don't go to the zoning board. They just go they get reviewed by the highway department and then they get approved by you guys. I guess I would just say it's going to cost the county money. Either way, the company is going to charge me, the sheriff's office, if we do require to process the permit and pay for the permit. In the end, the countyy's going to pay for that. Mhm. It'll just charge, you know, the additional monies. Why should we pay for our own permit then? Yeah.

That was my take on it, too, just looking at it. I um other municipalities and counties don't permit themselves, you know, especially if this is a temporary thing. Okay. And there is a bill in there too for signature for the um BNSF permit application fee.

Yeah, I should probably clarify that. So dealing with BNSF has been an interesting uh journey actually. They have like one agreement for major big large projects and then small minor projects which this is but it's one process. They have uh for the permit application it's $2,000 to process it. It's a,000 and basically they can wave to $3,000 but what I have to pay basically is insurance which they require. It's $633 for the year basically to allow that to go in there right away. So that's what in the railroad money, right? Yep.

Okay. And that's just coming out of your budget.

Yeah. Okay. Okay. Anything else on this matter then? Any more questions or so? Are we going to do a motion or not? I don't think we need to. Well, there's no application from Flock, which was what Stacy was requesting for the permit, ARW permit, construction right away. So, there's no application to make a motion on,

but it probably would be a good idea. I mean, if you did want to wave the ARW process for construction in the rightway for this purpose, then I can send a message back to that flat guy saying, "Hey, can we wave it?"

Okay. Okay. Well, does everyone agree to that? Yeah. Well, then we should get a motion for that then, I guess, cuz we're we're going to this is ongoing going to happen. So, okay. How do we want to wave? I want to say LPR readers, but it's

it's a camera, too. It's LPR, I think. Camera is what they call it. It has a solar deal, so you don't have to run power to it all. Okay. Okay. Does that sound good? Does anyone want to make that motion? I'll make that motion. Is there a second? I'll second. We have a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. But I'm not looking at you guys. I can't hear which one. Second. Okay. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. I think we better take a break. Is that all right, Larry? We're going to take a 10-minute break or you want to hurry up with your thing? I'll send you a bill for the time. Okay. No, breaks are a good thing. Okay.

Is there any coffee to be had? Absolutely. All right, we'll uh call call the meeting back to order. Um Larry Johnson, would you like to go next? Thank you, sir. Couple of preliminary matters. I see you went from one bargain basement states attorney to another.

Hi, Larry. Nice to see you, too. The other thing is last time I was here, I was really surprised to see the sheriff and a couple deputies here cuz that was the day Billings County got designated a sanctuary county. And I thought they'd all be out scouring the bad lands looking for those illegal aliens, you know. Hope you look real hard. They know how to hide. Absolutely.

A little over a month ago, Bill Palmer uh tried to boot up information about the Billings County Veterans Memorial. Nothing. So, he came to me. I was hoping he'd be here today, so I'm going to have to steal some of his thunder. But he felt that Billings County's veterans, and Billings County has a very proud veterans history. Uh I see two commissioners here who had relatives on the on the memorial. Uh so what he suggested was uh writing up a short history of Billings Countyy's veteran history and the memorial itself. Uh to give a little bit of history, when we had the committee meetings at my house in Bellefield in 1994, I think uh we decided there was only two reasons, two things you needed to get on the memorial. One was you had to be a resident of Billings County when you went on active duty, and the other one was you had to get an honorable discharge. We disqualified two in World War I. Uh, one guy slugged an officer down at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and got a dishonorable discharge. And the other one was an Austrian native. Um, and the problem with that was we just happened to be at war with the Austrohungarian Empire at that time. So, he was an enemy alien. And the one that really hurt was Maynard Fritz. Uh Maynard was born out there in northeast Billings County where close to where uh Justin Stegan lives now. But during the dry 30s, Elmer and Rose pulled up stakes and moved to Washington State. They took

their son Guile Maynard and Howard with them. And Maynard went on active duty as a resident of Washington State. His younger brother Howard was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. and we have Howard listed every Memorial Day. So, what we're not asking anything from you as a board of commissioners or Billings County. Now, this is just a for your information type of thing, but what we want to do is write up a brief history of Billings County's Veteran Service, little bit on the on the memorial itself. And one thing Bill suggested was putting a QR code on there somehow. And I thought getting it etched into the granite would good. But then this illustrious county auditor you have so graciously pointed out, don't do anything permanent on there because technology keeps changing. Thank you very much. Sure. So basically that's where uh it think that I can't speak for the Legion post itself but I think if there's any cost involved it can't be much and I think I can talk the Legion membership into putting the okay on it. Any questions? Anything from the gallery?

So this is going to go on our web page. Is that so we That's just so we know and so we can make a place for it, a separate page on our website um and post something on the Facebook page for the day that they designate whichever day. Mhm. Great idea. Nothing's written in stone yet. It's still in the works. Uh if anybody's got a better idea or an additional idea, talk to us about it. Sure, please.

All right, that sounds real good. Well, I'm sure everybody's in on favor with that and uh we'll try and get it going and any any words you want to add or something if your legion comes up with something, you know. So, for the first time all morning, sir, you don't need a motion. Okay, that would be good. Thanks, Larry. Thank you for your service. You're welcome. Okay. Thanks for um right here. You want to do broken loss late? Insurance.

Sure. We'll just do

Oh, it is 11:00. All right, Dan, you're up. Do I go to the podium or do I up there? You hand more formal than I last time. Um, I guess I just I'm just here because it's time for your annual renewal of the the liability, the auto and inland marine policy that you have with North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund. Um, and then I also so I brought copies of your declaration pages. You guys should have all of those. Um, and then I also included the property policy which shows all the buildings also insured through the North Dakota fire and tornado fund which is that's the top one as the building one. Um, that one actually the building part of it comes due July 1st cuz everybody in the state when uh North Dakota fire and tornado got taken over or is now administered through by NDIF that changed like six five six years ago. um everybody in the whole state has the same annual effective date of July 1st. So that's why that one is July 1. The uh everything else that you have your auto home or the not home auto general liability and inland marine those are all April 7th which happens to be today but um the bill isn't actually due until um next month. The that's just how they are good enough to let you do that. So the uh one thing I know like the you guys have been increasing your fleet your vehicle fleet and your um uh a lot of your build your inland marines some of your greater motor graders and things like that. So that is when you increase those up that is causes the the premiums to increase. Um but um essentially the the rates pretty much have stayed the same other than the fact

that you've been increasing um the amount of things that are being insured. Uh one thing I guess if you wanted to when you look at the the vehicle schedule which is the one that is uh if you look at the tops where it has memorandum says BA that's your business auto uh like right here. Oh yeah, I think it's the back one up on top.

I mean, there would be some spots where if you because you have full coverage on all lot the majority of these vehicles. Um I mean, some of the older ones we you probably we could just take full coverage off in my opinion. I would suggest maybe we drop them down to just liability on a lot of those because if something ever happened to them, would you actually fix them or replace them? or you could probably, you know, absorb that internally if you had anything happen to it. Um, same thing maybe with some of the inland marine items too, which is that's the one that starts, if you look up there on top, it has IM. Uh, that's your machine basically all your machinery and uh things that leave leave the property, your your motor graders, your um mowers, that sort of thing. and the values for each. And then there the last thing on there is I I printed a copy of the loss report which shows all of the losses from uh 2020 on. So like the last seven years. So you can see all of the all of the claims that Billings County has had, you know, big or small, every one of them are in there. That would be through all the policies. Mr. Chairman, can I ask a question?

So, we received a notification that there was an additional insurance for uh like the issue that we had with the water um draining into the basement. Y is that an additional that we can add on through the fire and tornado? Through the water draining into the not through the fire and tornado. That would have to be a flood policy that we'd have because that would be overnight flooding. NDF just came out with something though. So maybe we want to talk about before the next meeting. Yeah. Yeah. If we can get that information together between the two so that and then you can see. Yep.

I could definitely take a look at that on this inland marine stuff. I don't know. It says a 48 in tractor. I mean, some of this stuff is is this this is up to date or that's what you have as as far as what what we are told. Yes. I mean, that's I think going to have to go over it cuz it looks like even as a snowball every time we do they have the sheriff's permit and the emergency safety management.

So, everybody's looking their things over, right? Yeah. every time something's traded off or they they get rid of something or whatever, um we send notification to Dan at at the insurance company and he removes it from the policy. So it comes off, you know, through that year and then same with any additions that you guys have. But if there is something that's listed on there and maybe we can give it out to all the departments, if there's something listed there that you guys aren't using or that you want to get rid of um or that you got rid of and we weren't notified, then let us know. Well, I kind of think that would be something that we should do cuz they they know mostly what their vehicles or pieces of equipment or whatever is more so than

Yeah. And they're supposed to go through Yeah. We don't have to have full coverage on the other one. Do I have Do we need insurance on frack tanks? Just a question that just caught my eye. Well, one thing about insurance is it can nick and diamond to death. That's that should almost be a slogan under the insurance companies. Um, everybody complains about the premium until they have till the windstorm comes through and wipes everything out and then you got to reby everything.

And that's what happened with the frack tanks. That's why they were insured because they were the new fract tanks that were put up and they were, you know, some work was done to insulate them and whatever else. I believe.

Yeah. And when you look at each individual item, you think, well, that's that one's not bad. That one's only, you know, that would probably only be like $50 here, $50 there. But yeah, it it all adds up when you guys are talking minimum premiums that build pays for everything. which I forgot to mention. Thank you for your your business. But yeah, I can definitely check into the the the overland water coming from the into the basement if that is something with that new endorsement that they could add if we could add that on to the policy if that would be something that would uh

if you guys are interested in that. I mean, I don't know with all the construction that they're doing out here now what's going on, but So, right now, we're covered for if there's a water break in the building. Yes. Then we're covered by then it would be covered under the building policy. That's under this here. Yep. And then if we're um if it's a act after God or something that sent the water in then are we covered or not? I mean this was something I'm talking about a big rainstorm or something. You're talking like an overnight like a flood like if it

a flood uh flood would not be insured under this policy. Under these policies. Yeah. flood, you have to have a in order for there to be flooding coverage for overland water to come into your that gets into your building. That would have to be through the National Flood Insurance Program or they do have some private insurance, but usually if you qualify the National Flood is a better policy, but then there's limits of how much they cover too because those ones only have a limit of 250,000 per structure, which would cover a whole lot in a building like this one. Okay. So then you'd have to go to a private policy to get any more be more expensive. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. And then it all depends on what flood plane you're build each building sits in and um how how expensive it is and the updates of the building and Yeah. Any more questions from anyone? And I will point out the uh the calendars that I brought are uh the pictures all the pictures of those that are taken are all taken by Bobby Olstead who you know born and raised in Madora her and lives in Seth Muse. Okay. Anything else? Anyone?

Thank you, Dan. Thank you. Update. Sorry, Dan. Would you rather have us pay this and then add on the additional in the future or? Yes, cuz I don't have that much money in my account to float it when it comes to Okay. So, we'll pay this bill and then I'll bring back something for the next meeting. This is the total or what?

Yes. Okay. So, I'm going to have you want to do a grazing or do you want to do a couple of departments? Les is here. Less is here. He went out and

Well, let's do the let's do the um mador grazing um air strip issue. Go ahead. I guess I think I sent you guys a we sent you a letter that the grazing association wrote in opposed to the airirst strip going in up on the old Donald place. Uh I guess uh I think the letter explains itself. I I've talked to Beth I Beth Idol the regional ranger forest service ranger. Right now they're they're uh on a standill with it. They're going to not move forward with it at all. um until at least after the 4th of July, then they'll do some review on it. That's kind of the update with it. Uh I do recommend that the county does write a supporting letter if you guys want to see their that airirst strip be established out there.

Supporting your letter, not a supporting Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Just wanted to make sure it was clear. Do you guys got any questions for for us? I think one of the big things on this deal is it's a private entity that's trying to come in and establish their airirst strip. Again, my opinion, that's really not public use. It's a private entity. If everybody was going to use it, so be it, you know. But it's private entity that would be using it.

So we have to have our comments in by what date would you say somewhere? I spoke with um yeah, you had a date and Rob and they stated that they would take public comment or um an email from the county in support or if you wanted to mirror a letter reflecting what they have in their letter um if you wanted to do that. So they because it was um April 3rd was the deadline

originally, right? Okay. Well, I'm all for uh sending this uh letter of uh opposition of this airport, I guess, however you want to word it. And and I really like the the uh letter that the Madora grazing wrote. And um maybe we can with your permission can we use the same or absolutely and then just change some things in there.

Yeah. If you got any questions or need any more information feel free to get a hold of myself or Patty. Mhm. I'm good with that. I'm good with it. Okay. Do we need to do a motion or not? Just leave it that way. Is that good? I think you probably want to make a motion in opposition. Correct.

If the board is is unanimous against it in in support of the grazing association's letter in opposition to the airport. Um just a motion and then we'll figure out a a template to use. Okay. I'd make that motion. Okay. We have a motion. I'll second it. And we have a second. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Motion carries. I moved in and uh second. Yeah. Okay. Was there any more department head reports? Um let's go with some of those.

Go ahead. Yeah. Should we start saying Clint moves? Would that be easier? Yeah. Cuz if I'm typing while you guys are talking, I can't tell the difference between your voices. I'll say Clen moves. Sorry. So she can understand who it is. That's fine. Who's making the motions?

Morning, commissioners. I wrote myself a note that says speak slow, but I'll try to speak fast so we get back on time. How about that? So ahead of you, you have your March report. Um, we are up again this March. Uh, but we are down from last year for total numbers, but we are for this second year in a row looking at all time numbers. Again, we're at, if you look at your second page, there's a typing on it. On the way bottom, it should say 70 for 2025 instead of 61. We're at 61 right now. So, uh, CPR courses, we've done quite a few. We have quite a few more scheduled here in the next couple of weeks with Bible camp and some of the other ones that we do every year. So, we'll be doing those. I talked to Mr. Heg yesterday. 6117 went to the shop yesterday. A death fault light came on. So, God only knows how much that's going to come back at to us, but we'll get that when it's fixed. We had a pediatric emergency preparedness course. We had 20 providers go through that. The state provided that for free uh two weeks ago. So, state conference for the EMS association is this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There's 10 of us going to that. Um I talked about the real health transformation project at the last meeting. We have a committee meeting on April 20th and hopefully we'll have the applications and stuff at that point. So, and then we talk about the new truck quite often. Uh looking like November instead of September instead of July instead of

So other than that, any questions, concerns? Where's your convention at? Bismar. State conference is at the event center every year in Bismar. Okay, sounds good. Thank you. Juliana, Katie, sorry, with Juliana's, I would do the clerk of court funding agreement. She probably didn't get a copy of it, so we'll do it after the funding agreement came through. They just need to make a motion for it. It just came through the other. Go ahead.

Nothing major for the weed board. Um, we are fully staffed for this season. We got a lot of local employees this year. That's first time in a long time. Three of the new hires are from Billings County. So, that's kind of neat. Um, you'll get some invoices today for that new spray truck that we bought and we're we purchased a bed for it along with like strobes and it's at pump systems now getting the tank and pump put on it. So, and then all of our equipment. We've been going through it with this nice weather. Every we're far ahead of schedule. So, when the weeds start growing here shortly, I think we'll be ready to go. Any questions for me? How many is there total of you guys this year? Uh, with Jod and I, there's like 11. 11. Okay. Thank you.

We have lots of weeds, so it takes lots of points. Thank you, Juliana. So, I don't know anything

and she doesn't need to pres present it. It's just the the clerk of court funding agreement that you guys had discussed last meeting. Um it just the state pays the county for clerk of court services for Billings County. So now that we have the actual funding agreement uh presented, you have it in your packets. Um we just need to make a motion to approve the funding agreement for 2026 bienium. Did you see this head or Julian?

I know. I know what it is.

And it's redone every bianium. So, it's not anything new that we've done. It's just to keep the county uh having clerk services that aren't provided by the state. And they just pay they don't pay right

all of it. That goes off of case numbers. I think they run a statistics and that's how they come up with that number. Okay. Well, does anyone want to make a motion then to accept this? Is that what we got to do? Approve it or accept? Um, enter into the funding agreement with the state of North Dakota. All right.

Or sorry, the Supreme Court of Northakota. State moves that I enter in the agreement. That easier for you. I'll second it. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries.

Okay. Um K. I guess I turned mine in. Any questions? for your danger. What is it right now? Like today, moderate. Moderate. Okay. The tabletop exercise. What's it going to go over? Um, pretty much basically response plans and what we have set for the week of the event. Okay. And that's on the 20th.

23rd, 10 a.m. and 6:00 p. you know, having two of them just to accommodate your 8 to fivers and then and then you know your true responders after five.

So the idea of this 6x6 would is it emergency management? Is it fire or what what where does it fit into or it' probably be emergency management. So obviously we've been using the tracked polaris for the last six years. Um had some issues with the tracks. Um they're going in today to be rebuilt and and looked at and just kind of thinking of an option to have a 6x6 to complement that. Um is kind of what we're looking at. So just an idea. Look at some prices. Not sure what direction to go yet, but

Okay. Would you have that 6x6 with tracks also or not? Probably keep that wheeled. That way we got a wheel in a tracked one cuz like now like races and those weekend events, we usually take the fire departments and bring down here and use that one also. Which budget do you think that would come out of? Probably unless you got other ideas. I'm game.

Okay. So, you're not asking for that today. You're just No, just information. Yep. Okay. That's all.

Anything else, you guys? Okay. Thank you. Um, oh, thanks. So, we're up about 50 calls from last March. March of 2025. Um, if anybody has any questions regarding the report I do have a few things or whatever too like to mention, but if you have any questions, we can address those any time. But um we're continuing to work on the planning and logistics related to the upcoming uh grand opening of the library and the America 250th. Um I think we're we're coming along quite well. Uh Kyle mentioned the the uh tabletop exercises which you know we have a lot of players that'll be coming in from the outside too that we sent this to. So we should have good attendance I'm thinking at both times there. Um, last week, uh, April 30th and the

31st, we met with, excuse me, March 30th and 31st, we met with, uh, the MOSS Agency and we had representatives from the city and the county and the foundation there, uh, too, just about the event and some of the planning that's going into it. And I thought we, uh, we come a long way or whatever um, at the end of those two days. Um, we also met with the governor's office uh last week and uh Dean Rodney, Kyle Shockley, myself and Pat Rom went down and I think that was a very productive meeting. Uh the governor is very supportive and made it clear that uh state agencies will be uh assisting uh at all levels and he gave assurances that any overtime, lodging, things like that that uh you know come up related to state agencies are going to cover that. Um I thought overall it went really well. Um he uh he made it clear too that uh you just like all of us have been saying we can't fail at this. We need to get through it and we need to have a good safe event for the public and for the community. So I think we've got uh we've got their support. So I thought overall the whole meeting was positive. So, um, last year I got approved by the commission to purchase a new pickup through, uh, Road and Bridge, and I've been working on that. So, I did purchase a pickup GMC through Charbano, and it's over at Minnesota right now to, uh, to get outfitted. I'm looking at trying to find some used scales actually. Uh, they're very expensive. It's about 50,000 for a set of brand new scales. So, I'm trying to find some used ones out there. Um, it'll be probably a month

or so before we get that pickup set up anyway. So, so I'll be working on that. Um, we already talked about flock safety. Um, also like at the conclusion of our our meeting or whatever with uh the governor's office or actually we had a call I guess it would have been on Thursday after that related to the state and uh the different agencies but um the governor's policy adviser Alan Dorman was on the call basically and he said that they were putting the emergency declaration in front of the the governor this week for the event. So I think that hopefully will help some of the state agencies for the planning and purchasing like DOT for example. They have to purchase a bunch of signage and whatever else and this will streamline that process for them. They're going to do it actually related to or for the event in support of that. So um other than that I guess that's about all I have today. Do I have any questions? Are we doing the parking lot issue?

I think right now I I don't think a decision has has been made uh by the Forest Service yet. Okay.

But I can just tell you that all of our planning and everything that's gone into it um that's been a key component of that. So, I think all of our uh unified command uh folks that are involved in the planning, we're hopeful that that's approved because it's going to create uh I mean, just with all the extra uh logistics that would have to go into it, the signing for the motoring public coming, you know, on the interstate, it would be difficult to have a hodgepodge of like different areas to park and Uh, I know they've looked at alternatives if there's any water or I should say like a rain event or whatever else. They're looking at getting parking set up in uh Dickinson and beach as well or whatever to make sure that they wouldn't tear it up or whatever if that becomes an issue. But so they're looking at those things. But I would assume that a decision will be made here soon, I hope, so we can move forward with it. But it it ties right in with their traffic management with uh the DOT. Exit 27 is going to be set up for like shuttle buses and emergency responders coming in there. So general public will have to use exit 24. But what that does is basically creates a stream streamlined process for the shuttles to get from the large lot through Madora and get back up there to pick up uh people or whatever cuz we know that I mean it's going to be congested and really if we don't want gridlock or if we don't want uh issues in town here, we have to have a large remote area. So I don't know what else how else we can really deal with it to be honest with you. We've looked at options and there's just

not a lot of options to to make it work. So, any other questions? Thank you. Thank you. So, that's uh 11:30. Marsha, do you want to start with whichever way you want to go? You got a Yeah, I've got a few things on top of it.

Um, one of the items that needs to be done procedurally um would be to appoint the election inspectors for the June 9th primary uh election. Uh, currently we have volunteers of Karen Putnham and Mary Armstru uh for the Madora polling place and the Indian Springs polling place and then Teresa Roberts for the absentee board. So, if you guys are okay with those appointments, I would just ask you to make a motion. Okay. Um, need a motion then as soon as you get it up there. There's no H in Teresa's name, right?

You got it right. Okay. So, want to make that motion? I'll make that motion. Motion. Is there a second? Steve seconds. All right. All in favor say I. I. The motion carries.

Um, the ballot rotation. Well, I'll go through. I've been asked to present who had turned in petitions for the county positions for this year. So, on the June primary election, share my window here. I'm losing my voice. So for the Billings County Commissioner at large by district, district 2, Steven Clem, Rodney, Rudy Simino, and Kyle Shockley have have proper candidacy paperwork turned in um for Billings County auditor treasurer, myself and Patrick Ruml, County Recorder, Clerk of District Court, Juliana Hammerstrom, County Sheriff, Travis Collins. And then the petition measure question. Shall Billings County increase the number of its county commissioners to five? So those are the five um sorry those are the positions for the county that are going to be on the ballot for 2026.

On the petition question, that's how it's stated then on the ballot.

Yeah. And that's according to sentry code. That's the required question that they had on there. So, I'll show you the petition here. It's not allowing me to share this. Well, let me share my Adobe or the PDF version. Um, so I can just go through this with you here. I can pass this down. This is the original petition. So, I don't want um if you can all set your pens aside. Um, the petition has been reviewed by my office. Um they have turned in they turned in 175 signatures. There was only 130 that were required. We threw out um quite a few of them for you no zip codes or duplicates or um issues with it. So um those are not copies. So uh they're all different. Um so 152 signatures were valid signatures for the petition um which they meet the threshold of the 130 that were required. It's 20% of the total number of people who voted for the governor in the last uh general election.

This is public information. So any anybody can look at these or

they can I'll make copies if somebody requests them or I'll email it to them. And then Jared, if you had anything you wanted to add, since you can't pull it up on the screen, could you just please read the the front page like just how they so that we can hear what they're

Yeah. So it says this question pursuant to NDCC 1112 changing the number of county commissioners is asking that the number of commissioners in Billings County be increased from 3 to 5. This change will if passed take effect immediately following the 2026 primary election in which the question is placed on the ballot. The full text of the question is, shallings county increase the number of its county commissioners to five. And that goes on the primary ballot. So, it still has to um be voted in the affirmative um in the primary election for it to take effect. Can I see that one?

A bunch of there. That's why I seen a bunch of red. And those were mostly because they didn't have zip codes on them. There was a few duplicates. Not a few. There was I think three duplicates. No physical address. Yeah. And a PO box is not allowed either. Okay. And then the city and the school board will have an election.

The city and the school board will have an election. they aren't required to certify to my office until tomorrow. Um they have given me, you know, just the name so far. So, uh for the city of Madora, there's four um four candidates for two positions. It's Jody Johnson, Tracy Ston, Derek Tester, and um Jaden Oor. And then for the school district, um there are three positions. So, it's Rebecca Cassian, um, Jessie Evanuk, and who was the third? I can't remember.

Oh, um, Kinley.

Kinley Slaughter, right? And so on the front of it, Jared, if you notice, it has a spot down there for um a sponsoring committee. However, that's for a statewide election. So they don't need to have a sponsoring committee for a county petition. Let me see cuz you didn't see it yet.

Hold this one. Anything else on election?

Um, no. The the ballot rotation drawing. So, we're required to hold a drawing for positions on the ballot placement. Um, so since everybody that's on the ballot uh for the county is in the room, I'll just announce it here except for Rudy and I'll let him know. Um, tomorrow, uh, we will do the ballot rotation drawing in the county auditor's office at I'm just checking here at 1:00 p.m. And all it does is it sets you in a place um according to this state by um population of the the the precincts. So if you're number one then you're number one on the Indian Springs and number two on the Madora and Fryberg. If you're number two you're first on the Madora and Fryberg and second on the Indian Springs.

Not the same throughout. It's not the same throughout the city. Nope. No. And it's just so mostly so each, you know, each person has and it's more so if you have three people on the ballot. So there's an equal rotation chance of being first of being first.

Okay. Okay. So, these signatures that are on here, um, you know, some of them were dated in 2024, early 2025. So, they've been gathering them for that long.

I asked the Secretary of State's office about that. They said since this century code doesn't have a petition like date, it's not like a statewide petition where they have a year. Was there any clarification about who went and added the years to so many of these? Added

because a lot of them are written differently. Yeah, there's no no year on on quite a few of them and then somebody came through and wrote it in a different pen. that doesn't have a year and they just came back and added 2025 on

I guess Ann and I both looked at those and did not see an issue with that. And so, you know, I've got this is from the Secretary of State's office. As far as um dates are concerned, even if it was a blank date, even if it was a blank date on there, as long as the date before and after were valid, then within Okay. Okay. So, I'll give this to you. I think I've seen this one. Get him out of here. They're down here. Okay. So then as far as what the the commissioners need to do, I don't speaking with Marsha earlier, I don't think a vote is necessary. It's just acknowledging that it will be, you know, presented to the electors. Um I yeah as far as a written resolution or or vote I don't think that's necessary other than that you've seen it and that it shall be shall be submitted you know to the to the June primary

according to century code. Yes. Yes. Okay. All right. Any more discussion on anything on voting? I do not have anything.

Okay. So, 11:45 we have Ruff Rider State Park Access Road. So, when we were down with the governor, they uh and then Cody uh Schultz is in charge of the Ruff Rider State Park. And I guess they are going to close. We can the park to only state uh or federal or Billings County uh emergency management from and so um there won't be any visitors in there from the 23rd of June till about the 15th of July. And um so they're going to have that as a staging area for all those folks. And then um the uh um road going down there was discussed and it's in very uh um not very good shape. And so I I I was asked or volunteered to say I would look into it. And so Stacy and uh and I and uh Clarence and I see Clarence isn't here yet, but he he was okay with it when talking to Stacy and I yesterday, right? We talked to him.

Yeah. Yeah. And the state had asked, this was a couple months ago about like, well, who who owns road? Who maintains it? It was Can you stand? Oh, sure. You're very quiet. very soft.

That's it's a um Okay, so the the history on this road cuz like at first the state was state park um officials were well they had questions on like who owns the road, who maintains the road and so I mean there is history with the county and the state cooperating on maintaining the road but I don't think that's happened in quite a few years. But like the park was built in 1970 and the access road is close to the section line, but it wasn't ever there wasn't ever any dedicated um extra ement for the road right away when it was built. And so it was kind of a muddy area on who has ement and it's just 33 ft of section line easement. But we know that the road wasn't built perfectly on the section line. And so we looked at the history and there there's things that probably could have been done better back in 1970 that would have cleaned a lot of this up, but we don't have that. And I looked in the basement. I looked everywhere. We have minutes. Um, and the only easements that we have on the property um is when Sully Creek subdivision was platted in 2013. We have the um the road dips where the creek is and we have the 33 ft on the north side of the section line, but we don't have anything else. And so we do have ement that was on the plat itself, but we don't have like an actual road project or surveyed right away for for that piece. And so yeah, it's up to you guys on whether or not you want to do maintenance on, you know, within

33 ft on the north side of the rideway and the the platted area on where the road exists right now. So is what it boils down to is they just we just I think everyone involved wants to get this road just up to the par and then when I visited with Cody Schultz yesterday they are going to next year apply for a grant of he said the grant and I can't remember sorry about that but uh he's doing it with other roads going state parks in North Dakota. We got two of them granted this year and then we're going to pave the road from the pavement all the way down. And so they're they're going to do all that, pay for it. But they said they would allow up to u 15,000 to repair it this year. They would pay for it. And so um but he would like the county to do it as cheap as we can. And uh so I think uh I go down and kind of pull it. I drove down there the other day again, you know, and

it's washing in the middle of the road. It it's just a bad road. Do they just want it bladed or do they do they want material? He said if we could get a little bit of material this line also he'd pay for that. But just up to the 15,000 and kind of get it so that it's usable for the ne round it off and get it usable for uh this year into next year until they pay it cuz he said it is going to get paid. You know that's it. They increased their camping sites to 100 now. So that's going to get well used. So,

so basically they're asking the county to blade it up, put gravel on up to 15,000, right? So, do we want to do a motion on that so that we he wants it fixed? Um, is that all right with everyone or we just want to leave it as a we agree to it? I'm I'm fine with either way. Have they asked contractors to do it? I mean, are we allowed to kind of do business in that sense? You know, always talk about taking away from contractors and, you know,

it ain't like we didn't do stuff before like that. I don't see a problem in doing it for what's coming in. Question is if we can do it for 15 or not or whatever and I got millings I can use but cheapen it up but then that's the washboard also side of it but if it's only a few here and there just to patch some holes it won't be bad.

Well give them that score is close by then. Well, I can score. That's it's at the same pit. I can score you, but I'm sure they don't want scoring in the dust for a year. I'm guessing gravel and the cost on the gravel would be expensive to get it in there cuz the closest stuff would be probably the Clyde pit. And we won't be able to touch anything on that road until spring frost restrictions are up. So, so we'll have to load light them buildings. Could we use them? We still have some left, don't we? Yeah, we have a bunch down at the hill pit. We can use those. I think that would work. I do. Don't you?

We might get a little walk 40, but if they're planning on paving it next year just to get by to summer, it would be the best option, the closest and the cheapest, honestly. Okay. I don't know if we want to do a motion or not. What does everyone feel? So, who has the easement, Stacy?

Well, it's basically we only have 33 ft of section ement, but we wouldn't have had any easement in addition if Sully Creek subdivision hadn't have been plotted. We have dedicated easement along the south side of the road within that, you know, northern area of the section. But we don't have anything additional like if like if you wanted to like build up the county road to spec, you know, to county specifications, I mean, you would need a plan right away and probably more easement than your 33.

Cody mentioned that that they would to get all that to lined up, they have to have it all. So, yeah. And back in the day, like I was looking through like like the documents that I was trying to find didn't exist in this county. But for another state park in Logan County, they did everything by the book. Here's the DOT. The DOT went out and surveyed it, platted it out, counted out the rightway, and everything was good. You don't have that here. So we're basically starting with we would have to do that whole procedure for the 36 street project if it wasn't improved or or if the improvements would require additional rightway

and Clarence we started already so but they are the property owner on right up to the line. and he yesterday indicated that that they would be willing to let this happen basically speaking unless you got some questions. We so far Clarence are um just when I talked to Cody afternoon he said up to 15,000 he would allow to fix the road this year so it be and then pave it next year.

Okay. And it might not happen till 28th if they got all the paperwork done. But yeah, and then they would get easements and then and then get a grant and then pay and Stacy was explaining what we had talked about yesterday. Yeah. So just to make sure I'm kind of sorry for all

if you want to stand up so we can hear you. Just even just stand. Fine. That's okay. Um, so just making sure TRMF is willing to provide an easement or whatever is needed to improve that road. Um, can you clarify who or what the process would be and then who's going to be responsible for the ongoing maintenance? None of that was brought up. Not there yet. Haven't gotten there yet. Okay. Sorry. So, you're in time. But, uh, so they are good questions. Um I think that um as long as we have permission and it can become a county road then then you know then we will cuz it's on a sectional

right then we will after it's all done you know keep it up but if it's going to go to pavement it's not going to be you know I mean TF is more than willing to help accommodate making it a county road if that's the desire of the commission here and and the property owners around. So,

so I guess our question really has been that Kobe said he would spend up to 15,000 to get, you know, and he was hoping that the county could do the work rather than um just get it drivable for this summer mostly and into next summer. Can I ask who would we be billing? Is it the parks and wreck or the dot? Okay, it's parks and Cody is from parks and

we were talking just to mount it a little bit, throw some stuff on the top of it and get it by this year, you know. Yeah. I mean, no objection from TRF on that. We have a new blade operator. I always wanted to learn anyway. Right out the back door. Can I ride along? You don't want to. Oh, look who's talking.

Okay. Well, I think if everyone is in agreeance with it, I think we'll just move forward with it. So, if that's where everything Okay, I'll let you take the lead on it and get it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Don't need too much time on it. Make sure you stay at the 15. Okay. So I think it was just the three things on the miscellaneous there that was left.

I think we should alcohol or you want to come back after lunch.

I I don't have anything really to add. Um, we've had department head discussions um the last couple months about amending the policy. Um, I guess perhaps it would be good to just get some concrete language for presentation unless there's anyone Juliana or otherwise you know wants to inform the board on the whole you know what the desire of the department heads would be. You want to talk on that just a minute, Juliana? Or I guess anyone

anyone else that had thoughts? So, I believe it was February that we had a pretty big discussion about the drug and alcohol policy and we had the sheriff's department and EMS had wanted to put their employees onto random drug and alcohol testing. They are not currently on it. The only ones that are are the road and bridge department and they have to be per the federal motor carrier like rules. And so at one time all of Billings County was on it. We went away from that because the the department or the association of counties have given a recommendation that um nonsafety sensitive employees should not be randomly tested and uh there was also you know some Stacy had given us some League of Cities literature on that and so they we just had some discussion back and forth sort of about having what what entails random testing for everybody and we really didn't make any decisions. So, um, any questions?

So, where is this going or is this going someplace? I'm confused. Then we we we haven't made any decisions as as department heads as far as where to go with it. Um, I mean, is that sort of the consensus I feel with the department heads? So, just the fact that we've had several discussions about it, but as far as really drawing up a policy, I don't feel that we're there yet. So, you indicated that the sheriff and the ambulance uh employees would all join in voluntarily, whatever. put put them on the list along with the county road crews

potentially. That was it was it was brought up why that's why it was brought up because they were questioning that perhaps if you're driving county vehicles and everything. The other question at hand is when you go into random testing and what we had in in the past was that pool is very small. So you're drawing the same people over and over and over again. And so that discussion was brought up of can we have testing say once a year once once a year which at that time of the discussion we thought that we could we cannot it would be quarterly so you're going to run into that issue again. So again we're kind of back at the drawing board.

So we can't join in with another consortium or whatever like with Dickinson or or start count. We are we're in what's the association of counties pool. Okay. And so that's where you still get drawn four times a year. 10% of our of who's in our pool gets drawn every quarter. Correct. So 10% might be one or two people per quarter. Correct. Yeah. But out of well now it's well how many would there be? Yeah,

it it just depends on if we decide to go with all employees see you know include those office positions all of that. So that's where we're at. We're not at any point of decision making and that would ultimately be the decision of the commission. So, and then I also brought just as food for thought, if is this is something that the commission wants to go forward with, we have to include human services because they are Billings County employees. So, that opens a whole another cost. Um, also just a lot more a lot more to do with that. So just putting that out there.

So they aren't no on it cuz they're themselves. No, they still have to all of us still have to follow like post accident testing. So it's pre-employment post accident um and reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion. So no matter what they have to be added. Yes. No matter what. Yes. If you did all county employees, it's a cost of the county. Yes. They can't reimburse us back. No. No. Because that's state money.

I I'll just voice my opinion. I did it at that meeting. I'm for everybody and they always call me to do it. You said elected officials don't have to. That's that's fine. I was even going to put my name in, but you said it just doesn't pay. I just past experience it just goes a long ways when everybody's in it and there's no conflict of No, that's my opinion.

I definitely think we just need to discuss it further. I think today was a little bit premature to even be discussing. Yeah, I just thought he had had something for the It's well, I was still aware of it and I think that maybe um unless you want to say something, Steve, I think maybe the department heads need to get together again and and maybe bring it up again and get uh maybe more of a consensus, I guess, and and then present it, I guess. Yep.

Okay. All right. Thank you. As commissioner, are we are we rotating to the department head meetings or are we doing them or you just happen to be there? I went to the last one. I was I didn't I didn't know we were going to them or not. Yeah, they didn't for a while and then Ken, if you want to, I guess, but I guess I'm just asking if I missing out on something or what happened. I didn't go either. So, so let's go to the YouTube. Let's just get this done and then we can be done for the day. Uh what you're what did you change? So

so there was a discussion excuse me I'm losing my voice today after last meeting or during the last meeting I should say about uh using YouTube to um post our recordings of the commission meetings so that I can get them out to the public. Um, so they've been posted pre previously on YouTube and don't know if I can show that here. Does that come up? No, you have it. There we go.

Okay. So, if you look at the website, and Jared and I had both looked at this. Um, so if you look at our channel is what they call it on YouTube right now. What I've done is I've unlisted all of the uh recordings that are listed on YouTube. They're just unlisted. So they aren't published on YouTube or anything like that, but we've connected them now to this is the Billings County website. So when you click on the agenda and minutes for the county, the agenda center here on the right hand side, when there are minutes available, um when there's an agenda available, you can click on this link right underneath the agenda and it'll pull up each meeting agenda. When you click on this link right here with a little green check mark, it pulls up the approved minutes of the Billings County Commission meetings. And then the link for the recording uh is the next it's a little TV button. It's not a a video recording, but you have to create a something for it to sit on. So that's why it looks like a video. Um but this is just how it's presented. So, it takes you it still takes you to YouTube, but you have to use that specific link to get to it. So, I could send out a copy of this link to somebody. It would still take them to YouTube or they can go to the agenda center, click on that that link, if that makes sense. Well, that's kind of what I

sort of proposed more or less last meeting because I didn't like it out there on YouTube so that anybody from anywhere this way they have to come to Billings County website, but they can do that from anywhere if they and anybody could do that. But but but this way it's mostly local and whatever. So that is going to be looking at. So I I'm okay with this.

So that was just a just an update. And then I don't know that's done already. The easement, right? Nope. That is the easement. So Stacy went over the ARW permit. Um this is the easement for that same location. Okay. The ARW permit for the tower, the Rough Rider ement.

Yeah. For the for the tank site. Yeah. paper. Yeah. So, we have to make a motion to approve this. Approve that easement. Okay. You want a number? Is there a number on? There is no number. This is the easement that they presented to us. It's not with the just a road ement. Everybody's okay with this easement or Well, it's crossing. It's for that um for the electrical line. It

it starts on the south side of the county parcel and it cuts through the county parcel to that tower site. So, that's Did you see the picture of it? I mean, is it going to affect your on the east water tank setup or There is a picture there. that one or a different one. Yeah. Isn't it right where the frack tanks work? Yeah, it goes around. It does go around. It goes around them in the back side of them. It looks like the east side. I'm just wondering if you knew about it. Yeah.

I mean, seen the picture, actual picture. I'm if everybody is uh okay on this um I don't know how to read all this stuff but Jared is that one I have not seen yet

over in the Well, it appears to be just a standard easement 99 year term. Someone want to make a motion then? Is there a second? There is a second on the rough rider. All in favor say I.

I. I. Motion carries in this one. Okay. Is that it? Except for the short ranch application and unless Dale had anything if he had gotten anything. But um just for the hydro backing it was going to it was going to be handled. He was just going to get it located and handed. Okay. So that's acceptable. But um we'll have a better quote. But it looks like the price will be. Okay. And you're okay with that? Y.

Okay. All right. Well, that sounds good. Okay. So, a short ranch for the national um historic or state historic society. Um, the short ranch is going to be uh I guess I don't know how to say it exactly, but they're going to be uh put in as a historic ranch as being overundred years old. And um I don't know what else. So, it's being uh reviewed by uh the state historical preservation um office. And so they're just sending a notification that um two owners of private properties um in the area um and that you can either attend the review board meeting um or if you wish to comment on the property to be nominated to the National Register, send your comments to the state historical preservation officer

by April 24th. Mhm. And that's when the the meeting is down the the the review board is down in at the Heritage Center on the 24th. So, we as a board want to um write a letter of of recommendation to be nominated. In my opinion, if we could remain neutral, you know, there is some uh provisions that could come about with whether it's grazing or tax credits or things that could, you know, it doesn't get grazed for how much fire risk that is or if it there's uh property tax loss for the county or other park things that could come about could be more costing the county for it's comes like a site or some tourist site is what I guess I'm Okay. So, I like to remain neutral. Okay. Well, I'm I'm for any entity that would be nominated for being 100 years old and and being uh on these uh national registries, state registries, whatever. And so I I'm your your point was, you know, well taken, but they get whether they'll get uh you know, they'll

get addressed when they come up, I feel, but uh it's Jim any comment any I don't have a problem in writing a support letter to it is there any other places in county on historical like this other places that are on the historic registry or like St. church. There's no ranches on that one.

That's the only one that you know. Guess I should I should nominate my buster ranch cuz he's over 100 years old, too. The Peaceful Valley Ranch is is on the National Register in the park. In the park. Yeah.

Okay, that's a good question. Yeah. They've been after this for a while to do it. I guess I look at it. It's our answer is no different. We're 122 years old. I mean, if I wanted to put that up for something, I guess it should be my privilege that I can do it. I don't think it's just as commissioners to say no or not send it. I think it'd be good to send a support letter down to it. I think it's going to hurt. So, all I'm saying is my vote is send them a letter. That's how I

Is that a motion? Is that a motion? Oh, well. Yes. I make a motion to move to you. Stop. North send a support letter to the preservation or whatever you call it, whatever it's called there. State historical. State historical. It's a preservation office. Oh, it is. Okay. In the second page. Yeah. Okay.

They're separate entities. So, okay. I'll second it. Is there any more discussion on it? All those in favor say I. I. I. All those opposed say I. I. Motion carries. Okay. I think we are. Anything else? Just bills. Hm. Just bills. Just bills. Okay.