Paddy Trusler, Lake County Commissioner called the meeting to order at 10:00 A.M.
Present were: Paddy Trusler, Chuck Whitson, Lake County Commissioners; Joe Brenneman, Flathead County Commissioner, Paula Robinson, Flathead County Clerk & Recorder, Coleen Baars, Flathead County Sr. Financial Supervisor, Mike Pence, Flathead County Administrator; Alan Thompson, Greg Chilcott, Betty Lund, Ravalli County Commissioners; Marianne Roose, Rita Windom, John Konzen, Lincoln County Commissioners; Doug Kaercher, Hill County Commissioner and MACO 1st Vice President; Bill Kennedy, Yellowstone County Commissioner and MACO President; Carol A. Brooker, Harold “Hank” Laws, Gail Patton, Sanders County Commissioners, Pat Ingraham, Sanders County Clerk & Recorder; B.J. McComb, Mineral County Commissioner; Bill Carey, Missoula County Commissioner.
MACO Staff present were: Gordon Morris, MACO Executive Director, and Harold Blattie, MACO Assistant Director.
Dwane Kailey, District Administrator; Gary Larson, Project Analysis Engineer- Secondary Roads; and Wayne Noem, Planner for Project Analysis- Secondary Roads represented the Montana Department of Transportation. Sue Mohr from the Montana Job Training Program and Dore Schwinden, Deputy Commissioner represented the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. Forrest Sanderson, Principle Planner, and Norman Kuennen, Right-of-Way Specialist represented the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Others present were: Tony Harwood, CS&K Tribes; and Dave Poukish and Pat Cross, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Paddy began the meeting with a thank you to all who worked hard with the legislature. Introductions were made.
Paddy said a District 10 Chairman would need to be elected by a mail ballot through MACO if fall district meetings are not held. Nominations were accepted. John Konzen nominated Marianne Roose and B.J. McComb nominated Paddy Trusler.
The current 2nd Vice President is John Prinke. Rita Windom nominated Jean Curtiss.
There were no nominations for the two-year term of Fiscal Officer.
Paddy turned the meeting over to Gordon Morris and Harold Blattie. Gordon presented the proposed MACO FY 06 budget. See handout. The Board of Directors will meet June 8, 2005 to adopt a budget.
We are obligated to NACO to be a full member state. Bill Kennedy, Doug Kaercher, Carol Brooker and Alan Thompson are currently in NACO positions. The NACO dues as presented on the MACO proposed budget handout are incorrect. They will be corrected.
Bill Kennedy reported on the following topics:
CDBG will stay funded.
Meth lab clean up costs, jail costs, mental health costs.
Medicare/Medicaid services will have drastic reductions in coming years.
Montana passed a resolution on not opening Canadian Borders to beef import, but the Secretary of Agriculture is wavering.
Doug Kaercher reported on:
the Tanf (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) mark up and that Montana has a powerful voice in NACO.
Alan Thompson reported on:
the Forest Coalition. Reauthorization of Secured Rural Schools Act looks good at the moment. Proposal is approximately 200 to 235 million.
PILT ESA and Secured Rural Schools are big issues.
Carol Brooker reported on:
the Labor and Employment Committee. Our two votes make the west heard. Twelve to fourteen people go to conventions and fight for Montana.
Gordon Morris said the MACO Annual meeting is September 25-28, 2005 at the Billings Convention Center. The Mid-Winter meeting will be early February 2006 in Great Falls.
Gordon and Harold talked about different bills that were passed or killed during this session of the Montana Legislature. See handout. This session was a far different session than any in the last 10 years; this one was a cakewalk.
Bills mentioned were HB 218, SB 208 (October 1 not October 8), HB 743 (October 1) Home rule in contrast to Dillon rule which is followed by all counties in Montana, SB 301 (very broad authority in finances and tax levies), SB 146. It was noted that Montana gave $25 million to district court assumption.
Some of the MACO sponsored legislation noted were SB 342, HB 700, SB 48, SB 643, HB 60, HB 361, SB 116, SB 290, SJ 11, SB 185.
The growth bill SB 195 didn’t pass but will be back, also the river and stream setback bill didn’t pass but will be back. Counties need to weigh in on these and have strong input.
Building regulations bill will not go away. Land use will be a big issue in the future.
Myra will re-write the blue book – land use statutes quick reference.
Carol said there is a MAP meeting June 3, 2005 in Missoula.
There is a JPIA –County Attorney’s meeting May 6, 2005 in the MACO office.
HB 395 passed – pre-commitments to hospital.
Bill Kennedy said HB 499 – Mental Health was a crappy bill. It will come back next session with a bill we all can live with.
Gordon Morris announced his retirement as Executive Director of MACO. Harold Blattie, Assistant Executive Director will assume the Executive Director position on July 1, 2005. Gordon will be working with Workers’ Comp to do claims in-house. A new building will be built to house claims administration and legal services. They foresee a 30% reduction in medical costs by doing claims in-house.
Bill Kennedy thanked Gordon for his years of service. Gordon was given a round of applause.
The Board will meet June 8, 2005 in Helena. JPA-JPIA trustees meeting will be in the
afternoon. Doug or Carol or Bill will
attend. Please respond about claims
in-house before the meeting.
Sue Mohr of the Montana Job Training Partnership gave a Workforce Development update. See handout. Nominations forms are available for board representation. The board meets 3 times a year, May, October, and January. Carol Brooker and Judy Stang represent District 10 & 11. Application can be submitted on-line in the Governor’s office for State Workforce Investment Board. Private sector people are needed.
Adjourned for lunch at 12:00.
Reconvened at 12:38.
Harold handed out the Weed Management Plan to each county.
Harold said there is a tentative planning public lands meeting June 14, 2005 in Lewistown.
There was mention of HB 2, successful county attorney salary funded at true 50%. Counties have to get resolutions in as soon as compensation board meets.
There will be a Highway Commission meeting in Pablo on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.
Local officials are being invited to bring issues for discussion during the 10:00-10:30 time slot on the agenda. Bill Kennedy was appointed chair by Governor Schweitzer. Kevin Howlett is on the commission from this area, also.
Paddy introduced Wayne Noem, Planner for Project Analysis for Secondary Roads for the Montana Department of Transportation. Wayne handed out the Status of Projects form. Projects shaded in gray have been let. See handout. It is very important for counties to turn in their new secondary road priority list to the Department of Transportation. Projects on those lists could be completed “very definitely possibly maybe 5-10 years out”.
The secondary roads portion of the agenda turned into quite a lively exchange between District 10 & 11 representatives and Montana Department of Transportation representatives Dwaine Kailey, Gary Larson, and Wayne Noem.
Some comments made were:
Gary answered Paddy’s comment on Lake County’s project taking so long. The project basically started over when it was expanded from the original 2 miles to 7 miles.
Hank Laws asked about Blue Slide Road. Dwane said the MDOT Geotech section was not up to par and this caused problems with Blue Slide Road and the Lincoln County project but changes have been made.
MDOT will pay 75% of cost to relocate fiber optics. Contact Nancy Edwards or Dwane Kailey.
Wayne told Gail that off-system bridges are prioritized.
Deer Creek Rd – Missoula County is an odd request. It may be delayed.
Moiese Valley Road – Lake County can’t be funded with secondary funds.
East Side Hwy 203 – Ravalli County. Alan said do intersection instead. Priority was flip-flopped. Gary said signals in Hamilton were never a priority, that’s not secondary roads funds.
Gary said send communication, complaints to him, glarson@mt.gov or 444-6110 or Attn Gary
Larson, Rail and Transit Planning Division, Montana Department of
Transportation, 2701 Prospect Avenue, Helena MT 59620-1001. Please
review the Non-Metropolitan Local Official Consultation Process handout. Deadline for comments is 8/31/05.
The final Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) 2004-2006 can be viewed from the Montana Department of Transportation Home Page, click on Departments, click on Rail Transit & Planning, click on Programs, click on STIP, click on 2004-2006 Final STIP.
There was discussion about the lack of public involvement by the MDOT when a project spans many years. Dwane would like to fill a PIO position unique to Lake County Hwy 93.
Pat Cross talked about wildfire control. He handed out a Quick Facts on Wildfire Restrictions and Closures in Montana. See handout. We are part of the northwest section and our coordinator is Dan Cassidy in Kalispell. Communication with the public is a big issue. Northern Rockies is the only zone in the nation that has a work in process with all concerned.
Counties are the enabling authority for the valley and valley bottom. DNRC relies on the county to enforce laws for them. If DNRC needs to be called, call Dan Cassidy, Area Coordinator first and Pat Cross second.
Forrest Sanderson, Principle Planner for DNRC said the programmatic E.I.S. is pending.
DNRC owns a lot of land and will involve the commissioners in the implementation of the E.I.S. DNRC is on the cusp of a new approach to manage its land. During the next 20-25 years DNRC will be diversifying its portfolio. Last year DNRC paid fifty-two million dollars to K-12 school trust.
Norman Kuennen gave a presentation on Historic
Right-of-Way. DNRC will work with
counties to identify those lands. We have an opportunity to fix problems until
this HB 114 statute sunsets. There is a
huge difference between trust lands and state lands. See handouts titled Managing Montana’s Trust Lands &
Trusts Other Than the Common School Trust.
If we do not have a district meeting in August, we will be conducting a district meeting at the annual meeting in Billings. Remember the mail ballot in District 10 if fall meetings are not held. The day before the annual meeting Bill Kennedy is putting on a barbeque.
Meeting adjourned.