REGULAR OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday September 8, 2026

 

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

                PLEDGE:  MOMENT OF SILENCE, Held.

                MINUTES – July 14, 2026, July 21, 2206, July 28, 2026, August 4, 2026, August 11, 2026, August 18, 2026, August 25, 2026, and September 1, 2026.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve the Minutes, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.

                Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to move Item 3 A and 3 B from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

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

                METRAPARK – Food and Beverage Update.  Mr. Stoney Field, General Manager stated that on July 11^th the first barrel racing futurity was held with 400 horses entered for overt 3 days.  We moved quickly into back-to-back concerts.  Then we had our regular slate of concerts, and an additional concert held during the middle of fair week.  We had three nights of rodeo and backed it up with a bucking bull futurity, which is the first one of those we have ever had on grounds.  There was approximately 1000 people there.  So, in that short span of time we did six concerts, three nights of rodeo, nine days of fair and two events, equine and bowl events that we’ve never had on ground.  The Wrangle Team Roping Championships are coming up.  We have Chicago playing at the end of the month and then we move into NILE.  Stoney introduced Mike Groscop, Food and Beverage Manager.  Mr. Groscop gave a Montana Fair 2026 update.  He stated that this year we had gross sales of $1,189,841.28 with a commission of $237,868.26 coming back to MetraPark.  That is slightly down from 2025.  Our commissioner for 2025 was $242,580.12.  Mr. Groscop stated he was pleased with how 2026 Montana Fair turned out considering the heat and the smoky haze.  We finished interviewing 5 candidates for the food service assistant position.  We had a decent number of applicants for the job.  In the end, we offered the job to Alyssa Brown.  Alyssa has extensive management experience from the time as manager at Fuddruckers, as well as a bachelor’s degree in business management that will translate well for the requirements of the food service assistant position.  During the airshow this year we partnered with Todd Feely with Yellowstone Kelly’s to do popcorn for the VIP tent for the air show.  We popped 130 giant bags, which equated to 5,200 servings.  We have had a couple of events now to utilize the preferred caterer method.  We currently have two caterers on that list, Yellowstone Kelly’s and Timber and Tyme.  Timber and Tyme catered for the Goo Goo Dolls and Shinedown and they will be catering for Chicago later this month.  They’ve already sent a proposal to be our catered for next year’s 2027 MontanaFair. 

                COMMISSIONERS – A.)  Resolution 26-108 to Cancel the Regular Board Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday September 29, 2026.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolution 26-108, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  B.)  Resolution 26-109 to Cancel the Thursday Discussion Scheduled for October 1, 2026.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolution 26-109, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous. 

                These items were moved up from the Consent Agenda -   Ms. Melissa Williams, Chief Deputy County Attorney stated that these two resolutions will approve the public safety mill levy and the bonds for jail expansion.  These are the resolutions that add the ballot language.  The original resolutions that approve the election are resolution 26-41 and 26-42.  You find both of those resolutions also published on the agenda today.  This is the ballot language that was worked up with the county attorney’s office and Bond Council, Dorsey, we went through many revisions.  Commissioner Waters stated that we want to make sure to clarify for the public.  Commissioner Waters stated that this is not a must levy the entire 20 million.  It is related to jail expansion, and it is a ceiling, not a floor.  Ms. Williams stated that is correct. Ms. Williams noted that the levy language contemplates a $20 million dollar levy.  Obviously, as we move toward jail expansion, there will be a few years, the first several years, we will not have the ability to levy the full 20 million because the facility would not yet be expanded.  So that operates as a ceiling.  The board must work within their operating budget and can only appropriate levied funds for the purposes stated in the resolutions.    A.)  Resolutions 26-106/107 Ballot Resolutions for Mill Levy/Bond Issuance.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolutions 26-106/107, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  B.)  Resolutions 26-41/42 – Reference Exhibit for 26-106/107.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve Resolutions 26-41/42, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.    

                CLAIMS – Batches 27-019, 27,020, 27-021 and 27-022.  Commissioner White made a MOTION to approve the Claims, Commissioner Waters seconded.  Passed Unanimous.

                CONSENT AGENDA - 1.  CLERK AND RECORDER – Plat of Lazy JX Subdivision and the SIA.  2.  COMMISSIONERS – Alternatives – Request for Public Safety Mill Levy Funds.  3.  COUNTY ATTORNEY - A.)  Resolutions 26-106/107 Ballot Resolutions for Mill Levy/Bond Issuance.  B.)  Resolution 26-41/42 – Reference Exhibit for 26-106/107.  4.  ELECTIONS – Request for Record Retention Destruction of Materials.  5.  EXTENSION SERVICES – FY2027 Extension Services Agreement between Montana State University Extension and Yellowstone County, Montana.  6.  FINANCE – A.)  YC Courthouse Remodel Amendment with A&E Design, Inc.  B.)  Bond for Lost Warrant.  C.)  Metra Gate Booth Agreement with Little Buildings, Inc.  7.  METRAPARK – A.)  MetraPark – Republic Services Contract Pricing Year 3, 7/1/26-/6/30/27.  B.)  MetraPark Trust Check Log August 2026.  8.  PUBLIC WORKS – Peterbilt – Order and Purchase Agreement.  9.  TREASURER- Amendment to Sundown Security Contract.  10.  HUMAN RESOURCES – A.)  Unum Renewal.  B.)  PERSONNEL ACTION REPORTS – IT – 1 Appointment; Sheriff’s Office – 1 Appointment; Detention Facility – 1 Appointment; Justice Court – 1 Appointment; Elections – 1 Salary & Other.

                FILE ITEMS – 1.  CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT – Checks and Disbursements for August 2026.  2.  COMMISSIONERS – Board Minutes – DUI Task Fore August 2026.  3.  FINANCE – A.)  Budget Transfer to Correct and Error in the FY27 Budget.  B.)  Semi-Annual Bond Review.  4.  PUBLIC WORKS – A.)  Contract with All Tree Works, LLC.  B.)  Contract with Good Earth Works.  Commissioner Waters made a MOTION to approve the Amended Consent Agenda and place the File Items to file, Commissioner White seconded.  Passed Unanimous.

                PUBLIC COMMENTS ON COUNT BUSINESS – One citizen addressed the follow-up on interim zoning.  Hearing no other comments Commissioner Morse adjourned the meeting at 9:22 a.m.

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