[0:05] No, because of the celebration. There's been conversations where where we

[0:09] couldn't have

[0:23] There's reasons for it.

[0:26] » Morning, Travis.

[0:32] » I have I'm printing you some soap box Derby

[0:36] flyers.

[0:42] Yes, but you were going to hand them out or have give them to Katie to hand out.

[0:52] » We're going. All right. Let's call this meeting to

[0:55] order. Um is there any uh additions or

[0:58] corrections to the agenda? Seeing none, that will stand. Um

[1:04] July 9th, 2026 meeting minutes. Any additions or corrections?

[1:09] Seeing none, those will be on file in the clerk's office and on website.

[1:14] Public comment on any agenda item. Thank you.

[1:18] » Offer one that you advertise Maiden Road is 90% in the ground or something. Of

[1:23] course, that's what I've always paid in the area, and I guess they won't go

[1:27] paving the ground. >> That's counting the gun club road.

[1:34] » Oh, I don't know. We're doing good that way.

[1:37] » Oh, really? Ah, interesting. Thank you.

[1:42] » And Is there any public comment?

[1:46] Now, it's public hearing, annexation of real property into Moore Fire District.

[1:52] Bringing that up. Must be Jerry. >> I will.

[1:56] Um

[1:58] For the record, Mr. Chairman, members of the commission, my name is Jerry

[2:02] Simpson. I am here representing my daughter, Karen Colip.

[2:07] Um you need me to spell that for you? And and Heather and Teresa Best.

[2:13] This property, one one parcel of this property up on the mountain when fire

[2:17] district was formed in the late '90s, for some reason did not get included. Um

[2:24] my uncle at that time owned it. He asked me about it and I said,

[2:29] "Well, talk to the county commissioners."

[2:31] Well, he and Joe Speaker were good old buddies.

[2:34] And um they had a conversation down there and and he told me that, "Yep, it

[2:38] all got taken care of." But then

[2:42] the property got transferred into Karen and Teresa's name.

[2:46] And Karen is a uh CPA, accountant, auditor.

[2:52] And she's like, "Dad, why is the taxes on that 40 so much higher than

[2:57] the 120?" And it's because it's being assessed a

[3:01] forest fire fee versus more rural fire fee.

[3:06] And when I asked the Department of Revenue about that, she said it's

[3:10] unprotected, it's not in fire district. This is a DNR C fee because it's

[3:14] unprotected. I guess are there

[3:17] unprotected areas being assessed this fee?

[3:21] » I don't know. So, the DNR C's making money?

[3:24] » Yep. It's a dollar 44 an acre. I would think people would be uh

[3:28] versus 9 cents. I would think people would be asking. So,

[3:31] so we took it to the fire board. And as you know, I am a member, past

[3:38] chief of the board. So, no conflict of interest here, you know. I'm not

[3:42] representing more rural, I'm representing

[3:45] property owners. Um we wanted be annexed in the fire

[3:51] district, please. Thank you.

[3:55] » Yeah. You there?

[4:01] Comments? Hearing?

[4:05] Seeing none, we'll close the public hearing.

[4:09] Bid openings, Main Road chip seal.

[4:13] » Thank you. We just have the one. That's all I know.

[4:15] » That's all I know. >> Yeah.

[4:48] » We have a bid from uh Century.

[4:54] Total construction cost $557,818.

[5:06] See.

[5:10] » All right. We're all

[5:14] Uh Have the attorneys look at it.

[5:16] » Have the state look at it. >> Daily look at it with the attorney.

[5:20] » Good to do that. >> That's your area. Good idea.

[5:22] » Check the certified person.

[5:28] » Okay.

[5:32] Um We'll uh

[5:39] » Um it was probably [laughter] >> Yeah, it was it was down.

[5:43] » I didn't even look at it. >> All right. So, we will uh

[5:49] We'll then under advisement of our engineers and attorneys

[5:53] determine whether we accept the bid or not one.

[5:58] Either Deb? >> Yep.

[6:00] » All right, we're already in.

[6:04] Okay. And now there's no other bid openings,

[6:07] so we'll close the bid openings.

[6:10] Personnel announcements, um,

[6:13] still looking for a detention officer, still looking for a public health,

[6:17] uh, director and district court office clerk.

[6:22] Anything else? Is that what you said in the three?

[6:27] Announcements and reports. Fair's going good?

[6:31] » Fair's going good. Record turnout for the rodeo Wednesday night.

[6:35] Last night was a zoo, sold out, packed, midway was crazy, but it cooled off at

[6:41] 8:00. Um, so

[6:45] very good. I do know that they're going to, if their temperatures remain saying

[6:50] it's going to be 104, they're going to release the animals early Saturday

[6:54] morning. So they can get them out of there before

[6:57] it gets too hot. Um,

[7:00] other than that, I think everything's going really well.

[7:06] » Um, Steve told me from, you know, Steve

[7:10] Fanning, DES, said they are going to open up

[7:13] the senior center, I think, this Saturday as a cooling shelter. So.

[7:19] You have that. Any other announcements?

[7:23] » And they are looking for water for that and I think going to

[7:28] purchase some water for the cooling for the senior center.

[7:36] » All right, there's nothing else on the discussion action items July 24th, 2026

[7:41] claims overview by We review the accept.

[7:45] » the July 24th, 2026 claims.

[7:48] » Been moved. >> Second.

[7:49] » And second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor?

[7:53] » Aye. >> Opposed?

[7:57] On to resolution 202026, annexing real property into the Moore Rural Fire

[8:02] District. What would be your pleasure? >> I move to approve the annexation of the

[8:08] property into the Moore Rural Fire District resolution 202026.

[8:14] » Been moved. >> I second.

[8:15] » And second. Any discussion? Um

[8:21] Yeah, and we'll bring Moore's on board. We've already gotten that information.

[8:26] So. Seems like a smart thing to do.

[8:32] Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor?

[8:35] » Aye. >> Aye.

[8:36] » Opposed? All right.

[8:39] And next 10. Green Minor Subdivision. To come back to

[8:42] you, Amber. >> All right.

[8:44] So, on [clears throat]

[8:46] July, I don't know when that meeting was in Paris. July 16th, the City-County

[8:51] Planning Commission met in regular session to review the application for

[8:55] the Green Minor Subdivision. This is an 8-acre lot

[8:59] intended for commercial use, which is off of Highway 87, directly across from

[9:04] the existing Thorgerson's and Speeca facilities out there.

[9:09] Um since this subdivision is within 2 miles of the

[9:13] a municipality, we were required by law to send a notification to the city,

[9:17] which we did on June 12th. We received no response from them.

[9:21] And that the application was deemed sufficient on June 10th. The county has

[9:25] 35 working days to complete the review, which puts the end date at July 29th.

[9:30] This project complies with our existing growth plan.

[9:34] Uh these lots do not have soils that are considered the prime farmland or a

[9:37] farmland of statewide importance. There may be some clashes between

[9:41] commercial development and existing agricultural use. Right now, it's uh

[9:45] least hay field of Jim Simax. There were not any irrigation facilities

[9:50] on the property during the time of the onsite visit. Jury, I'm trying to speak

[9:54] slowly just for you. On the This proposed lot will utilize an

[9:58] individual well. The information that the engineers put together

[10:02] um is in the packets of information that I

[10:05] brought up to you guys so that you can see where the well location is, the

[10:09] drain field replacement, all of that information.

[10:12] Since this lot is under 20 acres in size, it will also require DEQ approval

[10:16] before filing of the final plat. The lot is proposing to utilize two new

[10:21] approaches off Cottonwood Creek Road, uh which John has already looked at and

[10:25] approved. And there is also an existing approach

[10:28] off US Highway 87 as shown on the plat. The Sheriff's Department was notified on

[10:33] June 12th as well, and the Planning Office received no response.

[10:37] Ambulance service is available from the Lewistown Ambulance, and medical

[10:40] services can be provided by the Central Montana Medical Center. This also falls

[10:44] within the Lewistown Rural Fire District. All those agencies were

[10:48] notified and they received no response. The schools always welcome additional

[10:53] students in. Trash removal will be provided to the individual site by the

[10:57] local private sanitation company. The developer must contact the Lewistown

[11:01] Post Office to have the mailbox area reviewed and approved. And since this is

[11:05] a minor subdivision, it is not subject to front line requirements.

[11:09] Fergus Electric, Northwestern Energy, Triangle Communications, and Mid Rivers

[11:12] were all notified of the development. Fergus Electric contacted the Planning

[11:16] Office and stated they would have no issue providing utilities to the

[11:19] development. As I stated before, there's no limiting

[11:23] factors on the development out there. It's It's pretty flat. Uh there's no

[11:27] steep slopes or highly corrosive soils out there to

[11:31] concrete or steel. All surface water and storm drainage

[11:34] issues must comply with the Fergus County Health Department and DEQ

[11:37] approvals. You guys were uh given the local health district

[11:41] approval from Eva in your packets of information. Again, since this is under

[11:45] 20 acres, there will also need to be that DEQ approval before final plat is

[11:49] filed. This proposed subdivision is not within

[11:52] a special flood hazard area. Uh the planning office was not aware of

[11:56] any protected or endangered species of plants or animals. We notified Fish,

[12:00] Wildlife, and Parks and we didn't receive any response.

[12:03] This development also does not fall anywhere close to the Montana sage

[12:06] grouse habitat program and the map there.

[12:10] Uh the planning office is not aware of any protected or endangered species of

[12:13] plants. We did not do a fire hazard analysis as

[12:16] there's no timber cover on the property, no slopes. But as always, we're

[12:20] recommending following fire wise guidelines whenever possible.

[12:24] Uh there's very small possibility for snow avalanches or landslides.

[12:29] Um given the proximity of this uh development to the Lewistown Municipal

[12:34] Airport, we also notified the airport on June 12th of the of the proposed

[12:40] development. It falls within the regulated airport affected area, so all

[12:44] requirements of the AAA regulations must be followed. That kicks in when

[12:49] buildings are of a certain height um and most type of things. The planning office

[12:52] received no comment from the airport manager on the proposed development.

[12:57] This site is also located within 1 mile of a military site, so we like people to

[13:01] be aware of that as well. Legal and physical access is provided to

[13:05] the lot from Cottonwood Creek Road. All approaches must be approved, which John

[13:09] has already done. The historical society had no record of

[13:13] historic or archaeological features on this property and no covenants were

[13:18] submitted for this. Based on that, the recommended approval from the

[13:22] City-County Planning Commission are one, pets are not permitted to roam

[13:26] at large. Condition two, the developer must obtain and follow the abatement

[13:30] plan. Three, all Fergus County Health Department and Montana DEQ requirements

[13:34] for water, waste water, and storm drainage must be followed.

[13:38] Four, all post office and county requirements for mail delivery must be

[13:41] met. Five, access and utility easements must be shown on the final plat. Six,

[13:46] development permits and addresses must be obtained from the county planning

[13:49] office for each structure before construction begins. New addresses must

[13:53] be posted and visible from the road. Seven, best management practices for

[13:57] rangeland must be followed. Eight, future landowners must be notified of

[14:01] neighboring agricultural use and the right to farm.

[14:04] Nine, landowners must be notified of the appropriate septic tank maintenance. 10,

[14:08] wildland firewise guidelines must be followed.

[14:11] 11, approaches must be installed by the developer and approved by the county

[14:15] road supervisor prior to filing of the final plat.

[14:18] 12, landowners must be notified of the approved subdivision lot layouts. 13,

[14:23] landowners must be notified that Cottonwood Creek it will be maintained

[14:26] at the current level if funding is available.

[14:29] 14, landowners must be notified that Fergus County will not be responsible

[14:32] for dust suppression on Cottonwood Creek Road.

[14:35] 15, the developer must obtain a notice of intent to appropriate or DNRC's 602 I

[14:40] form for the individual well in the subdivision. And 16, landowners must be

[14:45] notified this lot is within 1 mile of a military site and within 2 miles of the

[14:50] Lewistown Municipal Airport. And I did go back through the old files

[14:54] from Speiker subdivision 1 and Speiker 2 when they split off to do Torgersons to

[14:59] Miss Look and make sure that we coordinated any conditions or any

[15:02] concerns that people had at that time over with this subdivisions as well.

[15:07] And Liam is the gentleman who's purchasing the property and has

[15:11] intentions on moving a portion of his business out there. So, if he has

[15:15] anything he'd like to add or if anybody has any questions for Liam or myself.

[15:23] » Big thing on my end was moving the propane and the fertilizer from where

[15:26] it's at currently out there and then disassembling that old elevator. Um

[15:32] I think everybody's heard about the traffic laws that go along there and

[15:36] the truck traffic I'm trying to get rid of and it's at this point with the water

[15:40] I knew about this was going to be an issue 4 or 5 years ago.

[15:44] Um would like to get it off the waterway. Um but the big thing was is

[15:48] the safety uh concern for everybody going around

[15:51] there. I mean pull in, you can't see around the corners. People don't 45

[15:55] around it. Luckily we haven't had any big issues

[15:58] so. I've had a lot of call-ins but nobody's got hit. And then the big thing

[16:02] to me was the insurance side of it cuz when they come and do their assessment

[16:06] every year, they take into account the waterway and they never used to do that

[16:09] before. And so I was told, you know, I needed if I wanted to be insured by the

[16:14] same company I need to start looking at different options and so

[16:17] um this has been a process. But the town has been very, very good to

[16:21] work with so. You got any questions? Feel free.

[16:28] » I don't. >> If the building's 38 ft tall.

[16:32] So I think they'll fit what's there and it is

[16:34] » 60 ft >> Yeah. And so that it's more of a

[16:38] squatted structure than anything but it's like 128 by 132 with 38 ft tall.

[16:44] Um they're pretty impressive buildings. Um

[16:49] if there's ever any questions on that, anybody wants to be

[16:52] you know, see any more on it. I've got all the all the documentation

[16:57] for it so.

[17:00] My office will stay down there where it is currently.

[17:04] Biggest thing was is getting the propane and the fertilizer out from Sure.

[17:09] » [clears throat] >> Speak is having to complain about room

[17:12] interview. >> [laughter]

[17:16] » Big murals on the side of the new tank. >> [laughter]

[17:19] » What I usually do is we can't paint those tanks where they're at. You can't

[17:23] paint them and you can't sandblast them. What I usually do is I leave it up to

[17:27] the community on if they want to. Like if the school wants to do art projects

[17:32] or something like that, as long as they don't paint them black.

[17:35] You know, that's the only thing. Um so, if there's ever any You guys know of

[17:40] anybody that would be interested in that. I always leave it up to

[17:44] the local community and everybody. So. >> Cool.

[17:48] » I hope you vet what they do a little bit.

[17:51] » [laughter]

[17:55] » Well, there's a mural project going on right now that they're mapping all the

[17:58] murals in the state. And I know there's a couple local artists

[18:04] that are working on a mural downtown and are always looking They're always

[18:08] looking for fun places to do things like that.

[18:11] » Yeah. Yeah, it's it's it's Pam White and then after that

[18:15] um a lot of times it's like I usually it's just the school art programs

[18:19] that'll come and do it. But it's just depending on what if

[18:23] there's something local like that I'd be more than happy to work with them on it.

[18:28] » Cool. Go Cats would always be good.

[18:37] » [clears throat] >> All right.

[18:41] Any comments, questions?

[18:45] All right. Uh there's no more other comments, so

[18:49] I've already made a motion. No, we haven't.

[18:51] All right. I would entertain emotions.

[18:58] Sorry. >> I would

[18:59] » I was looking through there and I lost track. Yeah, so we're on action items.

[19:03] So, I'll entertain a motion. >> Would move to approve the plans for the

[19:08] Brain Minor Subdivision. >> So moved.

[19:12] » I'll second it. >> And second it. Any further discussion?

[19:15] » as listed? >> With the conditions as listed. Thanks,

[19:18] Pam.

[19:22] Further discussion? All in favor?

[19:26] » I. >> I.

[19:27] » Opposed? >> All right.

[19:30] There you go. Uh appointments. It's like [snorts] we

[19:34] have four couple proposals on aging. Tom McKenna.

[19:40] So, we'll just do them one at a time. Well, I would entertain a motion to

[19:44] appoint him onto the board.

[19:47] » You want to move to appoint Tom McKenna to the board of this county?

[19:51] Council on aging for a third term. >> I'll second.

[19:55] » It's moved and seconded. Discussion? All in favor?

[19:59] » I. >> I.

[20:00] » Opposed? >> All right.

[20:03] Next up, Joe Eckert. Yeah, this is his second term.

[20:07] What's your pleasure? >> I would move to approve Joe Eckert for a

[20:11] second term on the Council on Aging board.

[20:16] » It's been moved. >> Second.

[20:17] » And seconded. Discussion? All in favor?

[20:21] » I. >> I.

[20:22] » Opposed? >> All right.

[20:25] And then for the Weed Board, we have Ed Evans for his second term.

[20:30] What's your pleasure? >> You want to move to

[20:33] appoint Ed Evans to the Weed Board for a second term?

[20:37] » Second. >> And seconded. Discussion?

[20:40] Seeing none, all in favor? >> I.

[20:42] » I. >> Opposed?

[20:44] » All right. Okay, uh public comments on any

[20:48] non-agenda items?

[20:52] Seeing none, uh next meeting August 10th at 2:00, August 19th at 5:15, August

[20:58] 25th at 2:00. Meeting adjourned. And Scott's

[21:02] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[21:05] » Bye, then. >> Bye, bye.

[21:06] » Bye, then. >> Bye, then.

[21:07] » I'll never leave that way. >> That's right.

[21:09] » my goodness. I don't even remember that. >> I don't remember that.

[21:12] » I did.

Commission Meeting July 24, 2026

Transcript