REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday August 25, 2026

 

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

            PLEDGE:  MOMENT OF SILENCE, Held.

            MINUTES – July 6, 2026, July 7, 2026, July 9, 2026.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve the Minutes, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.

            Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to move Items 2A and 2B after Recognition and before Public Comments on Regular, Consent and Filed Agenda Items because these items are Public Hearings, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.

            9:00 a.m. RECOGNITION – LynnDee Schmidt – Human Resources – 29 Years of Service – Retirement, Mark English – County Attorney – 35 Years of Service; Jason Snyder – Road – 20 Years of Service, Brandon Goers – Metra – 15 Years of Service.

            9:00 a.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS – A.)  Resolution 26-47 to Amend FY26 Regular Budget and Amend FY26 Final and FY27 Initial Grant Budgets.  Ms. Jennifer Jones, Finance Director stated you have two resolutions and two public hearings so we will keep them separate.  The first one amends your fiscal 26 previous year budget, your previous year grant budget, and your current fiscal 27 initial grant budget based on all of those awards.  Commissioner Morse opened the Public Hearing.  Hearing no comments Commissioner Morse closed the Public Hearing.  Commissioner Morse noted that this resolution will be voted on at the September 1, 2026, Board Meeting.  B.)  Resolution 26-48 Adopting Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget and Setting Special District Levies.  Ms. Jennifer Jones, Finance Director stated this resolution will adopt your fiscal year 26-27 budget.  Commissioner Morse opened the Public Hearing.  Five people spoke in favor of restoring the Yellowstone Art Museum funding and one person spoke in favor of funding the Downtown Billings Alliance.  Hearing no other comments Commissioner Morse closed the Public Hearing.  Commissioner Morse noted that this resolution will be voted on at the September 1, 2026 Board Meeting. 

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

            EMERGENCY AND GENERAL SERVICES – Resolution 26-102 of Intent to Annex Property into Blue Creek Fire Service Area and Setting the Public Hearing for Tuesday October 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 309 of the John V. Ostlund Building.  Mr. Derek Yeager, DES Director stated that before the Commissioner today is a bit of housekeeping.  A couple weeks ago, I brought a one resident’s request to include two properties he’s responsible for into the Blue Creek Fire Service Area.  Again, it was one resident with two properties.  By Montana Code Annotated, we’re required to have a public hearing.  This resolution schedules and sets the public hearing.  No opposition is expected.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolution 26-102, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

            FINANCE – A.)  Resolution 26-47 to Amend FY26 Regular Budget and Amend FY26 Final and FY27 Initial Grant Budgets.  Moved to Public Hearings. – Moved up on the agenda.   B.)  Resolution 26-48 Adopting Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget and Setting Special District Levies.  Moved to Public Hearings. – Moved up on the agenda.  C.)  Notice of Proposed FY27 RSID Assessments – Tax Year 2026.  Mr. Russell Burton, Comptroller stated that mainly this is to follow statutory compliance procedures and give public notice for the RSID assessment.  These were on discussion last week.  They’ve been posted to the website, which is stated on the public notice, and the resolution for adopting the actual assessments will be on next week.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve the notice, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

            CLAIMS – Batches 26-198, 27-014, 27-015 & 27-016.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve the Claims, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.

            CONSENT AGENDA – 1.  COMMISSIONERS – Board Openings – Consolidated Zoning Commission.  2.  FINANCE – A.)  Lease Agreement with the City of Billings for a Portion of the 3rd Floor of City Hall Due to Courthouse Flooding.  B.)  Bond for Lost Warrant.  C.)  YCSO Mastercard Request for Sgt. Shane Gibbs.  D.)  Therapeutic Mentoring Contract #PIF-25-04.  E.)  Contract for the Weed Department with Caudill Forestry Services.  3.  PLANNING DEPARTMENT – Billings MPO Redesignation Request to the Governor.  4.  PUBLIC WORKS – A.)  Notice of Award & Contract – HDR Engineering, Inc. MS4 Compliance.  B.)  Final Resolution 26-104 to Abandon a Portion of the Roads and Alleys in Magnus Subdivision 2nd Filing.  5.  SHERIFF – Lockwood Schools SRO Agreement for 2026-2027.  6.  HUMAN RESOURCES – A.)  MACo Health Care Trust – Vision Rates for 2027.  B.)  PERSONNEL ACTION REPORTS – Detention Facility- 4 Appointments; Clerk and Recorder – 1 Appointment; Finance – 1 Appointment; Treasurer – 1 Appointment; Sheriff’s Office – 1 Termination; Motor Vehicle – 1 Termination; County Attorney – 1 Salary & Other.

            FILE ITEMS – 1.  CLERK AND RECORDER – A.)  2026 Certified Taxable Valuation.  B.)  Board Minutes – Lockwood Irrigation District Board Minutes.  2.  FINANCE – MDT 2026-27 Noxious Weed Control Agreement between the State of Montana, Department of Transportation (MDT), and Yellowstone County Weed District.  3.  PUBLIC WORKS – Contract with Swoboda Services.  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 – Hearing no comments Commissioner Morse adjourned the meeting at 9:26 a.m.

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