REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday March 24, 2026

          PRESENT:  Commissioner Morse, Chair; Commissioner Waters and White; Board Clerk Teri Reitz; Clerk and Recorder Jeff Martin.

          PLEDGE: MOMENT OF SILENCE, Held.

MINUTES – March 10, 2026, and March 17, 2026.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve the Minutes, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

          Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to extend the Bid Opening until April 7, 2026, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.

9:00 a.m. PRESENTATION – Detention Facility Promotions – Detention Officer Matthew Basner to Corporal; Detention Office Jeremiah Hoellein to Corporal; Detention Office Julia Spint to Corporal.

9:00 a.m. RECOGNITION – William Chander – Detention Center – 25 Years of Service; Debora Rindahl-Harvilak – Detention Center – 20 Years of Service; Henry Richards – Youth Services Center – 20 Years of Service; Linnea Forseth – County Attorney – 15 Years of Service.

9:00 a.m. BID OPENING – Open and Acknowledge RFP for MetraPark Arena East Rock Stabilization.  Bid Opening has been extended to April 7, 2026.

9:00 a.m. PUBLIC HEARING – Resolution 26-25 to Grant Tax Abatement to CHS on Class Eight Property.  Ms. Dianne Lehm, Big Sky Economic Development gave an overview of the Class 8 Property Tax Abatement program.  Ms. Lehm stated that it’s a 10-year tax abatement program for manufacturing equipment, this includes agricultural implements, mining manufacturing, oil and gas productions equipment and processing equipment.  The Commissioners review the application, notice and holds the public hearing and determines the percentage of the tax abatement on the newly purchased equipment at 80, 90 or 100% on the first five years.  The taxes gradually increase to being paid in full by year 10 and that is only on the new investment in equipment and today you’ve got 3 of those requests today for public hearing.   Commissioner Morse stated that this is a way for the state to recognize big industrial or big AG and maybe they do pollution control and once they’ve expended the money and get all the expenses turned in and whatever qualifies then the commissioner decides whether they get an 80, 90 or 100% tax break.  Commissioner Waters stated it is mandated by MCA 15-6-138 that we give the businesses an 80, 90 or 100% tax break.  Ms. Lehm stated that the Commissioners are the final decision makers on these tax abatements.  Commissioner Morse opened the Public Hearing.  One person spoke in favor of the CHS tax abatement.  One person spoke in opposition of all the proposed Class Eight Tax Abatements on the agenda today.  Hearing no other comments Commissioner Morse closed the Public Hearing.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolution 26-25 to Grant Tax Abatement to CHS on Class Eight Property at 80%, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  B.)  Resolution 26-26 to Grant Tax Abatement to Phillips 66 on Class Eight Property.  Commissioner Morse opened the Public Hearing.  Hearing no comments Commissioner Morse closed the Public Hearing.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolution 26-26 to Grant Tax Abatement to Phillips 66 on Class Eight Property at 80%, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  C.)  Resolution 26-27 to Grant Tax Abatement to Par Montana on Class Eight Property.  Commissioner Morse opened the Public Hearing.  One person spoke in favor of the Tax Abatement.  Hearing no other comments Commissioner Morse closed the Public Hearing.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolution 26-27 to Grant Tax Abatement to Par Montana on Class Eight Property at 80%, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.   

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON REGULAR CONSENT AND FILED AGENDA ITEMS – Hearing no comments Commissioner Morse continued the Board Meeting. 

ELECTIONS – Resolution 26-24 Polling Place Relocation – Laurel.  Ms. Dayna Causby, Elections Administrator stated this is a resolution to change the polling location in Laurel, Montana.  We talked about this at the discussion meeting that the school district is asking us to move to their new administration building, which is formally the South Elementary School.  The board has asked us to move from the high school to the gym area in the newly created administration building.  This would allow elections to be conducted away from students and keeping in mind public safety around polling places and protection for our students and our assets in those areas.  Notice will be given to all the polling place voters by the end of the month that this change is being made as well as there will directional signage.  We are working with the school district to make sure that information is easily accessible for the voters.  The new location in ADA compatible.  The parking lot is easily accessible for voters to park and get in to vote.  There will be no competition with students.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolution 26-24, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

CLAIMS – Batches 26-123 & 26-124.  Commissioner White made a MOTION to approve the Claims, Commissioner Waters seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

CONSENT AGENDA – 1.  CLERK AND RECORDER – A.)  Plat of White Buffalo Subdivision and the S.I.A.  B.)  Amended S.I.A. Platinum Commercial Park Subdivision.  2.  COMMISSIONERS – Board Openings – Updated List.  3.  FINANCE – A.)  Bonds for Lost Warrants.  B.)  Change Order #3 – Bauer Construction – Metra Skybox Reno.  4.  METRAPARK – TMS MontanaFair Production Contract.  5.  PUBLIC WORKS – A.)  2026 RSID Chip Seal, Change Order #1 with Hardrives Construction.  B.)  Warranty Deed Conveying Utility Lot 7, Block 3, Corrected Plat of Platinum Commercial Park Subdivision.  C.)  Yellowstone County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Annual Report for Calendar Year 2025.  D.)  Yearly Fuel Tax Certification of Roadway Mileage – SFY2027.  6.  HUMAN RESOURCES – PERSONNEL ACTION REPORTS – Youth Services Center – 1 Appointment; Detention Facility – 1 Appointment; Finance – 1 Salary & Other; Sheriff’s Office – 1 Appointment.

FILE ITEMS – 1.  CLERK AND RECORDER – Board Minutes – Yellowstone Conservation District Board Minutes, MetraPark Advisory Board Minutes.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve the Consent Agenda and place the File Items to file, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON COUNTY BUSINESS – One citizen spoke about the City Council passing an aggressive driving ordinance and suggested that the County do the same thing.  One citizen spoke about concerns about immigration enforcement.  Hearing no other comments Commissioner Morse adjourned the meeting 9:27 a.m.

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