1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:09,040 Uh, 24 questions. Um, pretty in-depth, but yeah. 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,720 Good to go? All righty. 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:19,040 We are good. We have anybody joining us? 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:24,880 » Yes, you have Ashley Taylor, Kim Bird, Brad Tomerup, Lacy Lincoln, Margaret 5 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:27,240 Miller, Riley Keeler, and a smiley face. >> Perfect. 6 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:32,480 Hello that smiley face. >> And just to be clear, questions by the 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:35,960 commission only. Uh, people on are just going to be flies on the wall. 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,880 » Yep, and same questions for all candidates. 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,600 » Correct. >> Uh, you want to get started this time, 10 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:42,640 Mr. X? >> Perfect. 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,280 » Uh, Clay, thank you for coming in. Thank you for stepping up. 12 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,640 » I appreciate it. >> to this 13 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,480 job. Uh, and you're willing to be interviewed for it. 14 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:54,160 » Um, >> what is your knowledge of what a 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:57,240 commissioner's duties are and what the job entails? 16 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:03,880 » Commissioner's duties are 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:09,800 you know, a lot of it is is motivation. It's dealing with resources. 18 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:12,640 It's allocating resources to the right spot. 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:18,040 Uh, the county has lost a lot of funds over 20 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:24,440 the past, you know, 15, 20 years from oil and gas revenues down to 21 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:28,440 almost nothing sometimes. And uh, 22 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:34,160 communicating with the public, uh, communicating with you know, 23 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:37,200 individuals on certain items that uh, 24 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:41,120 you have to you have to work it out. I mean, 25 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:46,760 everybody has a different life, they have different experiences, and uh, 26 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:52,120 their point of view is going to be different than than um, ours or 27 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:55,600 whatever. So, yeah, it's and you know, it's just working with 28 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:59,600 um, the public. 29 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:02,920 You've got You've got unfunded mandates that you have to do that come out of our 30 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:08,039 taxes. Uh you've got issues that 31 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:11,000 that uh hopefully grants and stuff that will support 32 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:15,840 what the county does that the commissioners have to look at, but in in 33 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:21,760 actuality roads, health, you know, just the basic 34 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:26,520 things that normal people cannot do. They can't set up water systems. They 35 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:30,880 can't set up sewer. They can't set up uh areas, airports, or or roads and and 36 00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:34,520 that type of stuff. So, who's taking care of that? So, that's that's 37 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:39,640 responsibility that I see as a commissioner. 38 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,640 » Definitely. 39 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,360 » Your turn. >> All right. 40 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,760 So, the big question, let's just get it out 41 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,576 of the way. Why do you want to be a commissioner? 42 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:55,596 » You know, I've asked myself that. >> [laughter] 43 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:01,440 » Um I've got 44 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:04,160 between 34 and 40 years of experience with Hill County. 45 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,360 Uh there's a lot of 46 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:11,320 I've dealt with a lot of county commissioners. I've dealt with every 47 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:16,480 single um 48 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:21,480 courthouse uh office uh dealing with everything from A to Z. 49 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:24,600 Uh there's there's wisdom in that. There's learning. 50 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:31,040 Um I've had nine different programs and 51 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:36,360 with that comes nine different budgets. Uh trying to make extend a limited 52 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:40,959 amount of funds, you know, into a specific area that you 53 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:44,640 have to deal with. But the laws as you have to deal with 54 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:49,000 even if you don't have the funds to do it. Uh so, in dealing 55 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:52,840 with that um 56 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:59,200 I've dealt with the public a lot. All the regulations, all the things that 57 00:03:55,440 --> 00:04:03,600 I've done over that 35 to 40 years of, you know, trying to make sure they 58 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:07,680 understand why the rule is this and and why we're trying to get this across, 59 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:13,440 whether it's public health or or landfill issues or junk vehicles or 60 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:20,280 zoning issues, any of that stuff. Uh And I think that would come into use in 61 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:23,520 this job. It's not just a a one, 62 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:27,360 you know, topic thing. There's so many issues that have to come in 63 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:32,120 uh to do this. And I And I've been through a lot of that, so 64 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,120 I think that's the reason. 65 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:41,600 » Would you have any personal conflict personnel conflicts? Per- Sorry. Let me 66 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:45,080 start over. Would you have any personal conflicts with the county if chosen for 67 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,960 the commissioner seat? >> No. 68 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:52,080 No, I've Again, I've dealt with a lot of people 69 00:04:50,280 --> 00:04:56,560 here. There are a lot of new employees, a lot of new people that I've had some 70 00:04:54,560 --> 00:05:01,240 dealings with, but uh you know, it's a job. You're here to to 71 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:06,120 serve the public, to deal with uh issues that come up, and 72 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,120 that's what you're here for. 73 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:12,240 » All right. >> [clears throat] 74 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:16,000 » What do you see as being a top priority as a commissioner? Please explain why. 75 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,080 » Uh 76 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:24,960 You know, I I had I had thought about that uh you know, over the 77 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:32,160 past week or two. One of the main issues is 78 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:35,840 to communicate with people and to listen to 79 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:41,520 people and their stories about why they believe what the topic is that they want 80 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:44,160 done or or that type of thing. Um 81 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:50,800 It's It's very important to hear both sides of a story. and then for them it's 82 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:56,320 very important for they hear that you are limited in what you can do according 83 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:59,599 to both the law and resources and that type of thing. So, 84 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,520 um >> [clears throat] 85 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:07,880 » motivating employees, trying to make sure that what is 86 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:12,920 under the state law for jobs that need to be done get taken care 87 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:17,080 of and and uh you know, training and stuff like that. 88 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:21,280 So, yeah, that's that's probably the biggest issue. 89 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:21,280 Definitely. 90 00:06:22,919 --> 00:06:29,729 » How would you build consensus among people who strongly agree? Strong 91 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,749 strongly disagree. >> [laughter] 92 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:39,720 » Uh again, and you're going to get that and I've seen that in this office for 93 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:44,080 years and years. Very few people come in here and and 94 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:48,880 pat you on the back for doing such a fine job. It's always, 95 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:52,000 you know, this has to be done and and my way is the only way. 96 00:06:50,919 --> 00:06:58,640 Uh people have conflicting views on 97 00:06:55,800 --> 00:07:02,320 everything. And again, it's their story. It's it's how they've grown up. It's uh 98 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,240 it's things that they've done in their life and 99 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:09,360 um they have to listen. They have to be 100 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:11,840 willing to hear both sides. They have to be willing to 101 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,400 uh basically 102 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:20,440 say, "Okay, you know, I can see your side of the story." Communication is the 103 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:25,280 big issue. If they don't communicate, the problem just festers and it gets 104 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:29,880 worse and worse and worse until at some point you don't want to hear. And I 105 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:33,520 guess it's it's starting with that communication and then uh trying to work 106 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,600 out the issue. Things are not black and white. I've 107 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:41,440 learned that forever that there are gray areas, 108 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:45,840 there's areas in between that you have to deal with. Uh if it was black and 109 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:50,120 white, it would be yes, no. We don't have to deal with anything 110 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:54,080 else, but uh you have to start with communication. 111 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:05,240 » All right. What experience [clears throat] do you have managing 112 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,240 budgets and public funds? 113 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:12,440 » Um like I said earlier, uh nine different programs. 114 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:18,840 Uh that's all the way from landfill to planning, subdivisions, zoning, 115 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:22,640 uh junk vehicle, public health, um I even did uh civil defense uh for the 116 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:25,520 first couple years that I was here. >> Oh, wow. 117 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:30,320 » Uh sanitarian's budget I've worked with and almost, well, at 118 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:36,880 least half of those uh are either grant or or fees for 119 00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:42,000 service issues. The others come underneath uh taxpayer type things and 120 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:47,240 you have to deal with it. You have to deal with the fact that everybody is a 121 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:51,360 taxpayer here and you want your funds spent properly. 122 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:56,160 Um and that you it just comes down to 123 00:08:54,040 --> 00:09:03,240 allocating what you have to the right spot and, you know, not necessarily 124 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:06,960 limiting it, but finding ways to use them more appropriately. 125 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:17,240 » How would you improve transparency in county finances? 126 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:30,080 » I don't I don't think that the public really understands 127 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:35,160 what the county gets versus what the school district gets versus what the 128 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:42,320 city gets versus all the other 20-plus things that resources go to. It all adds 129 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:46,880 up to this this big amount at the end. And and that I really have appreciated 130 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:51,840 looking at, you know, how much goes to the weed district, to the airport, to 131 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:56,680 all those things. And that that has to be gotten across that, you 132 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:02,520 know, the county doesn't get all this money. You're paying this, but you are 133 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:05,920 limited and because the 134 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:09,560 oil and gas revenue's gone from millions down to just 100,000 or 200,000, 135 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:12,440 whatever it is. Uh 136 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:15,560 that's education and it's getting across. 137 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:20,280 It is being made harder and harder because we don't have a newspaper. 138 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:25,400 Uh we can we can publish things and put it on bulletin boards, but that doesn't 139 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:28,400 necessarily get it out to people that need to know this because again 140 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:32,080 everybody has their own views and if they don't hear the facts, 141 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:36,880 they just stay with whatever they've heard and and social media 142 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:40,640 makes that a little bit tougher because somebody can put something out there 143 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:45,120 that is completely untrue and all of a sudden it is 144 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:52,200 the fact that everybody knows. So, um again, trying to find ways uh whether 145 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:56,839 it's talking to groups, whether it's uh I don't even know what a podcast is, but 146 00:10:54,120 --> 00:11:01,680 to put there has to be ways to get that across to people and I I think this 147 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:05,360 office is doing as much of that with, you know, the the media thing. Um 148 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,800 um and it's 149 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:13,560 every meeting you go to, okay, here's the facts, here's what we have to deal 150 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:16,622 with as three commissioners uh that's what you have to do. 151 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:19,960 » Definitely. >> [clears throat] 152 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:25,920 » All right. What are your priorities for roads, 153 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,920 bridges, and rural infrastructure? 154 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:34,480 » I heard priorities. People have to get to town. They they do 155 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:41,080 their own roads. So, that has to be something that 156 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:44,400 the local government, being Hill County, has to take care of and do. Yes, there 157 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:49,240 is a there is a limited amount of money that 158 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:53,560 that can be put into this. Bridges Bridges wear out. They're no 159 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:58,480 different than driving a school bus part-time. If you 160 00:11:55,720 --> 00:12:03,400 don't work on them and keep them up to standard, all of a sudden the cost has 161 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:07,880 gone from not a lot to a huge amount that you don't have. 162 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:12,120 Roads, bridges, and infrastructure. Again, those are issues the public 163 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:15,640 cannot do. They can't do water and sewer. They 164 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:20,440 can't do street lights. They can't do the things 165 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:24,080 that we have talked about, and so it has to be budgeted. It has to be done such 166 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:29,520 that the north side, it's our own it's all 167 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:32,360 our SIDs to where they have to pay a certain maintenance, and you have to 168 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:36,480 have good people that will go in there and 169 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:41,040 keep it up. Otherwise, it just falls apart. 170 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:44,960 We've looked at the flood control dike. That has gone on for years, and that 171 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:49,800 that is an issue that again one person cannot do. It has to be the 172 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:54,280 governments that work together to say we don't want to be in the flood plain. We 173 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:59,040 want to make We want to manage this. Pump systems, you know, they're they're 174 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:03,080 put in in the '50s, and I just had an a 175 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:07,360 electrician in there, and he just looked at those things and went, "Oh my gosh. 176 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:11,800 You know, these are old." And a lot of those types of systems are used in 177 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:16,720 irrigation pumps and stuff, and so there's there's some information that 178 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,720 can be gathered on that, but 179 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:24,360 you got to do maintenance. You have to do it, and anything that, you know, 180 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:29,040 requires more money, you know, it's either going to more maintenance type 181 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:31,280 stuff or finding grants or trying to come up with 182 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,560 uh better ways 183 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,760 to take care of it cuz this is the only group that can do it. Individuals can't 184 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,560 do it. >> Correct. 185 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:42,000 » Yep. Thank you. 186 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:51,000 » What are your views on the role of law enforcement in our county? And how would 187 00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:55,040 you support both public safety and community trust as commissioner? 188 00:13:55,360 --> 00:14:03,520 » Uh law enforcement is very important. Uh there I mean we have books on rules and 189 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:08,160 regulations and those rules and regulations are there for reason. 190 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:13,280 Uh hopefully 191 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:16,960 the the county sheriff can, you know, motivate deputies to make sure they're 192 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:21,440 doing education to make sure that they are getting the word out to people. 193 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:26,520 Uh jails are [snorts] one of the issues 194 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:32,160 that an individual cannot take up. It is an unfunded mandate. The county or the 195 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:37,880 city has to do as far as uh you know, keeping people uh 196 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:42,360 in a locked-up situation. Um again, communication about why we do 197 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:48,360 this. Uh it is not a high priority when it 198 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:52,440 comes to taxes because everybody wants the things that they use all the time 199 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:57,040 versus trying to deal with, you know, a 200 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:59,400 a jail situation. Well, but it's a it's a must. 201 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:03,320 Uh the sheriff needs to work with county 202 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:06,839 attorney. Uh they have to work with all the different laws that are there and 203 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:11,400 try to get people to understand why we do this. Um it's no 204 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:17,160 different than anything else. It's it's unfunded. It has to be funded by 205 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:19,960 taxpayers and we have to work with it. >> Definitely agree. 206 00:15:20,285 --> 00:15:25,160 » [clears throat] >> What experience do you have working with 207 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:31,160 unions or participating in collective bargaining bargaining negotiations? 208 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:37,160 » Um the landfill that is the Unified Disposal Landfill is unionized. 209 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:41,200 Uh and I have dealt with the union out there for a lot of years. 210 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,240 Um Teamsters, 211 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:47,920 I can't remember the the number that's on it, but 212 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:53,760 uh there's a reason for unions. Uh and the biggest one is that there was 213 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:57,400 a lot of unsafe situations that employees had to deal with and by 214 00:15:55,920 --> 00:16:01,160 unionizing they can say, "Okay, you know, we have 215 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:04,240 to have these safety issues because people are getting hurt. They can't go 216 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:09,080 home to their families. They can't do things they want to." 217 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:13,360 Uh and those really need to be pushed. Um 218 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:18,520 so I I've dealt with uh unions, a little bit with the road department. Um 219 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:20,840 not too much more than that. All right. 220 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:29,200 » How have you been involved with the community and how would you continue 221 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:31,960 engaging with the residents as a county commissioner? 222 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:40,320 » Obviously, going to functions. Um we've got a lot of community uh 223 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:44,760 um organizations that 224 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:48,600 are doing things for our community, for the citizens that are here. 225 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:53,080 Uh trying to get across, you know, what the county can do. 226 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:56,600 Uh there's things that that we are limited by 227 00:16:54,680 --> 00:17:00,600 law to be able to do, even though everybody wants uh I guess their cake 228 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:03,280 and eat it, too. It doesn't work that way. 229 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:07,199 Um you know, just 230 00:17:05,319 --> 00:17:10,800 you're going to get talked to at every single event that you go to 231 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:15,720 and listening, communicating, we can discuss 232 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:20,839 this. We can uh you know, try to figure out a solution. 233 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:27,000 Um, so I think you're representing 234 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:32,920 the local government that's here that taxpayers are paying into and at least 235 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:36,600 letting them know that you heard them. It's an issue that has 236 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:39,720 to be gone through and figure out what to do 237 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:43,080 and uh um, work from there. 238 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,240 Cool. 239 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:54,680 » Uh, [clears throat] please share an overview of your career experience and 240 00:17:52,360 --> 00:17:58,600 any leadership roles that have shaped your approach to public service. 241 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:07,360 » I think the jobs that I've had with Hill County and others prior to that, 242 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:12,520 uh, the the planning office, zoning, landfill, 243 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:17,560 uh, all those different types of jobs have 244 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:21,440 shaped what I feel needs to be done 245 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:24,120 for the public that's here. Um, 246 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:28,400 calling the state of Montana, you can get information, but in reality, there's 247 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:31,760 not a lot of resources that they are going to give you other than just, 248 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,520 you know, here, here here's some guidance, you 249 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:40,560 know, try to do this. Um, 250 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:44,280 I feel that every one of those people say, "Well, you've worked by 251 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:48,000 yourself on all of these jobs, whether it's the zoning, planning, civil 252 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:52,560 defense, whatever, whatever." But, that job cannot be done without this office 253 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:56,120 going through and discussing why it's done. Can't be done without the county 254 00:18:54,400 --> 00:19:01,040 attorney's office, can't be done without the clerk and recorder's to look up the 255 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:04,200 laws to figure out why we're doing this. Uh, 256 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:10,240 the whole the whole addressing system, you know, we needed that for 257 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:12,840 911 and that benefits everybody as far as emergency services, 258 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:18,000 uh, mail, everything. Everything is GPS'd 259 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:20,520 anymore and to try to uh 260 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:24,480 get from point A to point B when you're in the middle of nowhere it's not easy. 261 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:28,680 Um but there's a lot of stuff that I have gone 262 00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:35,560 through for years in those particular issues. Running a landfill is not a lot 263 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:40,480 of fun. I mean, 22,000 tons of garbage a year that this area produces. 264 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,943 Um we don't like garbage. We don't like 265 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,560 waste, >> [clears throat] 266 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:50,120 » but it's a fact of life and so you have to be able to lead and put up 267 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:54,520 with you know, the comments or concerns that 268 00:19:51,920 --> 00:20:01,080 people have. Um and that I've learned a lot in the past 269 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,080 30 years of doing that. 270 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:17,240 Hello? Okay. 271 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:23,400 » Uh tell us about a time you had to deal with an angry resident or difficult 272 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,400 stakeholder. How was it resolved? 273 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,040 » I've got a lot of those. >> [laughter] 274 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:33,680 » Let me just say a sanitarian probably never had to deal with that. 275 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:33,680 » Um 276 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:41,200 we're in Montana. People don't like to be told what they can do. 277 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:44,880 Uh I've had a lot of issues with subdivisions, with zoning issues, with 278 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:50,240 um you know, just junk vehicles. Oh my 279 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:54,760 gosh, you know, that's junk vehicles, that is a that is a 280 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:57,800 source of revenue. It's a it's a prized 281 00:20:56,280 --> 00:21:01,680 you know, trophy to have this thing. Well, there's rules that you have to 282 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:05,160 screen it. You got to take care of that. Zoning 283 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:11,080 zoning is a tough thing, man. People don't understand you don't want 284 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:15,480 you don't want to have a residential house be negatively impacted by a 285 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:20,760 commercial business that's going to have lights and motors and and uh 286 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:27,120 traffic and everything goes on. You try to separate that. Um we have we have 287 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:30,800 setback issues that are there for a reason to be back from streets and 288 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:34,920 street right-of-ways. Uh there were some people who were not 289 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:37,840 very happy that went ahead and built 290 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:44,560 um a big concrete floor about 6 ft from her 291 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:49,440 road and didn't get a permit. They were not happy. Uh they went to the zoning 292 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:54,680 board and because this is a fairly common known 293 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:56,960 issue that you had to get a permit for putting in 294 00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:02,560 uh things that are permanent. Uh we sat 295 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:05,080 down with them and said, "You know, this is not going to go over. This is 296 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:09,000 not Well, people brag about the first street 297 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:12,800 down here and having all the businesses within a a sidewalk's distance of their 298 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:17,280 front door. That's the reason the county has 299 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:20,920 setbacks. Um we've mostly been able to resolve things. They might have to tear 300 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:24,560 this stuff out and redo it again, which would suck to have to do. 301 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:30,280 Um Again, there's some things over at the 302 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:33,160 dike that we looked at that people don't like 303 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:36,280 the water issue. They they don't like a lot of things, but through communication 304 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:41,440 and figuring out who is actually responsible for this stuff uh and at 305 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:47,040 least getting the facts out there, and that's probably the best thing that I've 306 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:47,040 had to deal with that a lot. 307 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:55,160 » Describe your process in evaluating an employee's performance. 308 00:22:55,320 --> 00:23:03,640 » Evaluations are very important. Um 309 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:10,000 I've done evaluations for quite a few years and that evaluation needs to note 310 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:14,360 both the positive and then if there are things that need to be worked on, it 311 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:18,160 needs to be put on there and and I think if done right, 312 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:23,160 it's appreciated by the employee to say, you know, this is something you have to 313 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:27,200 work on. Okay, you know, here here's our business, here's what the law says, 314 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:30,320 here's what we need done. You know, let's get some schooling, 315 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:35,320 let's get some training on this. Uh but 316 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:42,120 you you have to do those, otherwise everybody just thinks that everything is 317 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:46,160 is perfect. Um which in a lot of cases in most cases it's not. There's always 318 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:49,080 things you can work on and and that's just part of an evaluation to go through 319 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:53,960 that. Even more 320 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:59,240 um evaluations, if that person needs more training because they're not doing 321 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:04,680 correctly what they're supposed to do, then it's the supervisor's job to make 322 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:09,600 sure that that is done and then is, you know, I guess followed up on to make 323 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:14,600 sure that that gets followed through, the training, whatever 324 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:17,800 it takes to do it. Uh but um yeah, it's it's [snorts] very important 325 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,440 to do that. All we can do. 326 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:33,600 » All right. Describe an ethical challenge you faced at work and how you resolved 327 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,600 it. 328 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:42,480 » Ethical challenge. 329 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:48,760 Um there's a lot of issues again with the 330 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:52,600 the budgets and the topics that I had to deal with 331 00:24:50,120 --> 00:25:00,000 uh that I believe it has to be done this way. 332 00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:05,080 Uh and in communicating with other people around the state, communicating 333 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:07,760 with this office, uh, county attorney, um, 334 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:16,520 my way is not always the right way or the perfect way to do things. And, 335 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:21,320 uh, I've had to basically say, "Okay, let's try to do it 336 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:27,720 this way." Sometimes you feel that you just want to go at it, you know, 337 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:31,080 headfirst, and you really just need to calm down, 338 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:35,880 write out the issue, figure out what the law say, figure out what other people's 339 00:25:33,360 --> 00:25:39,920 opinions are, and, uh, learn. Learn. Probably learning is the 340 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:44,920 biggest thing that that I have to do in others that I don't 341 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:48,800 know everything. Uh, that I need to learn what's there and communicate what 342 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,160 has to be done. >> Mhm. 343 00:25:55,360 --> 00:26:03,640 What does good governance mean to you, and how do you intend to show 344 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:03,640 accountability and transparency? 345 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:14,600 » Good governance, you know, it's again, you are representing not any one 346 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:17,960 particular group of people. Uh, 347 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:22,080 you are there to spend the money that the taxpayer has 348 00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:27,840 given you wisely. You are there to communicate those 349 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:30,560 issues or problems, uh, to the people who are paying that, 350 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:35,920 uh, and get that across to 351 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:41,760 the individuals that maybe see this courthouse once or twice a year. Uh, 352 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:44,440 again, not having a paper, not having some of the resources that people would 353 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:50,880 read, it is more difficult. But, 354 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:54,400 uh, communicating, being able to, uh, you know, talk to people at 355 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:59,240 different functions, [snorts] you know, attending meetings. Uh, some people are 356 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:01,360 30, 40, 50 mi from here and they don't get down here. 357 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:07,240 Uh, it's nice to have people from different 358 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:11,040 areas, Dukes from regular area and and, you know, deal It's different to deal 359 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:16,120 with people who are farming versus people who are ranching versus people 360 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:20,080 who are just business in town here. Uh, and there's different ways 361 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:22,800 that those people get together. Could be at church, could be at uh, 362 00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:27,480 uh, you know, at civic organizations. Could 363 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:32,680 be a lot of places and that represents what Hill County is trying to do with 364 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:34,960 the resources that they have. Yep. 365 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:46,800 » All right. There is an aspect of our county government you could change, what 366 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,800 would it be and why? 367 00:27:53,600 --> 00:28:01,160 » You know, I in some ways, you know, I I have thought 368 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:05,720 about over the past couple of weeks here that 369 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:11,160 some of the rules, some of the things with uh, state laws, 370 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:16,440 we've kind of lost our way in some areas and some of that is because we've got a 371 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:20,320 lot of brand new people that maybe have not been trained of what needs to be 372 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:23,640 done. Uh, 373 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:28,120 you you can you can read something, but there's a lot of facts and issues 374 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:31,560 that go with that statement that if you don't know 375 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:36,840 all the things that go with it, you're not going to do it right. 376 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:41,960 And that not doing it right affects other offices. It affects uh, people who 377 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:44,320 come in, you know, to get certain things. 378 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:50,120 Um, I think it's it's learning what the 379 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:54,720 rules are, you know, being motivated to do what the job entails. 380 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:58,600 Uh and 381 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:01,400 then, you know, backing it up with okay, here's an evaluation, here's what we 382 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:08,360 need to do um to represent those things. 383 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:12,520 The people in Hill County expect the courthouse to keep 384 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:18,760 records. No other place does that. They expect county attorney to deal with 385 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:23,920 crime and uh civil problems. They expect the sheriff to, you know, deal with 386 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:28,320 handing out warrants and so on and so forth. 387 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:34,800 They expected my office to deal with zoning issues and and uh 388 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:37,680 uh licensing issues or or addressing issues. 389 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:40,800 Nobody else can do that. And so 390 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:45,800 but I can't do that without other offices helping 391 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:50,760 figure out why and where and how this is done. So, yeah, it's uh 392 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:55,720 trying to work together. There's there's enough issues there that I think 393 00:29:53,080 --> 00:30:01,760 trying to get more cohesive organization, communication, talking to 394 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:01,760 each other. That's that's got to help. 395 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,720 » Man, you got a book there. >> Right? 396 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:12,040 We're getting there though. We're getting there. This is for the 397 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:15,680 commissioner position. [laughter] >> We got to be thorough. 398 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,680 » That's right. 399 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:32,760 » Did you want to do this three parts again? 400 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:36,440 Number 18. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yes. I think that would be appropriate. Um 401 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:40,880 so, I'll I'll start with you with the first part of this question. Okay. How 402 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:44,280 do you view your relationship with other elected officials. 403 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:50,480 » Uh I don't I don't have any problems with elected officials. 404 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:57,520 Uh I know they are elected for the reason 405 00:30:53,880 --> 00:31:03,160 that the public feels that they can do the job that that office requires. 406 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:07,840 Um and that's that's all I would ask or if you know if 407 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:11,200 I'm on the outside that okay the law says this I need this done. 408 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:14,760 Um I don't have any problems with with 409 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:20,440 that. >> And then how will you go about building 410 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:24,160 a strong relationship with new elected officials? 411 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:29,040 And then this this other lead on how do you maintain those relationships with 412 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:33,680 both prior elected and newly? 413 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:38,680 » A new elected official comes in here with 414 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:41,960 limited knowledge of what everything is done. That's why I make a lot of has 415 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:45,040 conferences to 416 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:47,200 help build uh 417 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:51,600 you know a get a a 418 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:55,240 a foundation for that elected official to say 419 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:59,000 here's what your responsibilities are. You know 420 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:05,000 you have to come into the job with the ability to communicate to be able to 421 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:11,080 talk to people uh and then you learn how that is done with certain jobs that the 422 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:15,000 county requires. Um 423 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:20,320 I used to come up in this office once a week whatever 424 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:25,440 and we would just sit and say yeah this is a person's uh proposing this 425 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:31,120 subdivision or I'm having problems with this uh restaurant or food facility or 426 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:35,840 we've had you know 30 people get sick from something that we're not sure of 427 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:38,160 but we're doing investigations on this this this. 428 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:43,600 Um you have to you have to represent your 429 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:47,480 office and the job that you are supposed to do 430 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:52,120 to the commissioner's office because they only know 431 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:55,000 what you tell them or that what they hear on the street. 432 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:57,880 Um it was nice to hear stuff in the 433 00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:02,920 newspaper, but uh in in reality 434 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:09,080 just having a normal conversation about what is going on in your office. Um and 435 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:13,560 there's usually plenty of things that they're not aware of. Commissioners 436 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:17,000 have their own concerns. They have things they have to deal with, but but 437 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:21,440 they're not They don't know what goes on with a certain dog bite or somebody got 438 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:25,680 bit by a bat over here and we're looking at, you know, a lady's uh 439 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:29,640 um problem or, you know, a lot of those 440 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:33,240 things, but it's interesting for them to hear that so that they know what your 441 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:37,240 office is doing. Elected officials, 442 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:40,960 I mean, the same thing. They they only get what you give them. And if I don't 443 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:45,520 tell you anything, they may consider that 444 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:52,440 you're not a priority and there must not be a lot going on. So, 445 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:52,440 keeping them up to up to up to par. 446 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:01,240 » All right. >> [clears throat] 447 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:05,240 » What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment relating to employment? 448 00:34:09,879 --> 00:34:15,520 » I think probably two things. Some people would disagree with this, but 449 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:19,720 uh the addressing system that we needed in the county was very important for 450 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:24,720 emergency services. Um and there are many, many ways of 451 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:27,560 doing an addressing system. Um 452 00:34:25,639 --> 00:34:32,840 but hopefully with a, you know, 1 to 100, you kind of 453 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:36,320 know where you are in there as far as streets. It's like a street and avenue, 454 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:39,080 you first street, second street, so and so forth. 455 00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:42,800 Uh that's something that needed to be done. 456 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:47,480 Another accomplishment that wasn't really easy, well, there's two of them. 457 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:50,080 Um the border patrol station that we have out here. 458 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:55,800 Uh the zoning in that area was not correct. 459 00:34:53,080 --> 00:35:01,920 And listing the procedures you have to go through to make sure that that can 460 00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:07,880 still be done if the public you know, after public 461 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:11,600 meetings considers it important uh to be able to work through that. 462 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:16,920 Sometimes we can get caught up in paperwork and not really 463 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:20,720 use some common sense as to why we're doing this. 464 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:23,520 Um another instance, uh fish and wildlife over by the dike that's over 465 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:28,160 there. You know, they need a bigger place. 466 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:33,200 What a better place to put something than down close to a 467 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:38,600 river, close to a lot of habitat things to where kids can learn, 468 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:43,680 whether it's And And again, that was not zoned appropriately at all. Uh and it 469 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:47,800 had to go through some changes, and those changes then had to go to a zoning 470 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:51,200 board, which again you have public meetings 471 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:57,440 uh to make sure that that certain things are taken care of and it does not 472 00:35:54,200 --> 00:36:02,960 destroy or cause problems in the residential area that it is. Um 473 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:08,400 Those Those are the three items that were enjoyable to work on and try to get 474 00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:10,600 taken care of in a timely manner. So, yeah. 475 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:15,960 » Why should we appoint you over the other candidates? 476 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:21,920 » Um I know the other candidates are good 477 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:26,000 people. They They work in this office. They know more about, you know, 478 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:28,400 commission meetings and that type of stuff. 479 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:33,600 Um the thing that I had thought about 480 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:37,440 experiences were something and I have not been in this office, but I've been 481 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:42,320 in this office many, many, many, many times with issues 482 00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:46,320 uh that we've had to try to resolve. Um 483 00:36:43,600 --> 00:36:50,240 34 to 40 years of experience dealing with the public, dealing with 484 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:52,840 regulations. Uh 485 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:57,240 you know, just trying to do stuff on the 486 00:36:55,400 --> 00:37:00,960 outside versus the paperwork that's on the inside. I feel I've got those skills 487 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:05,520 uh to do that 488 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:05,520 and um 489 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:12,800 I've had to communicate with a lot of people. I can't just bull rush through 490 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:17,600 things and say this is the way it is. It's It doesn't work that way. 491 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:23,000 Uh and so I've I've I've had to learn that over 40 years of uh 492 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:27,000 dealing with people, dealing with their their side of the story and uh working 493 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:31,260 it out. So, I would say that. 494 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:36,680 » Thank you. >> [clears throat] 495 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:36,680 » Uh this is also a three-parter. 496 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:44,240 First one. How will you approach short and 497 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:44,240 long-term planning processes? 498 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:49,400 » Short and long term? 499 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:54,600 » Short term, you know, you deal with uh public 500 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:59,440 comments, you deal with issues that you have 501 00:37:55,840 --> 00:38:02,760 at at a particular time in space uh and you have to make a decision on 502 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:07,040 it. Uh one of the areas that I have I've 503 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:12,720 thought about a lot is this office has to look 10, 20, 50 years 504 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:18,560 down the road. We are planning for our kids, our grandkids. You know, what do 505 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:22,520 they expect? What will they work for? Uh what kind of jobs are available? What uh 506 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:27,120 what issues uh need to be maintained so that 507 00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:31,240 you know, the millions of dollars we put into it now is still worth something 40 508 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:35,600 50 years from now. We don't want to have to do it again. 509 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:39,080 Um so, short-term yeah, you you've got to make a decision. 510 00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:43,280 Long-term, you have to look at decisions that are made now will affect people 511 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:47,320 a long ways down the road, which you know, 512 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:52,800 that's what you do. Your family expects things to be in good shape 513 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:57,880 20 50 years from now. So, keeping it up. >> Definitely. 514 00:38:55,200 --> 00:39:00,640 What system do you use to set goals and objectives? 515 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:08,920 » First off, identifying what the problem is 516 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:13,560 and then coming up with at least two or three 517 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:18,040 objectives as to how to deal with that problem. 518 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:21,800 Um we've had to do that quite a bit in in 519 00:39:19,240 --> 00:39:25,760 both um planning process for civil defense for [clears throat] disasters. 520 00:39:23,720 --> 00:39:30,280 You know, this could happen. This train could fall off this uh you know, tornado 521 00:39:28,520 --> 00:39:35,280 could come through here. Okay, what objectives do we need to have 522 00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:39,480 to make sure that those things can be planned for. Maybe it's early 523 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:44,760 warning system. Maybe it's uh you know, shelter systems. Um 524 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:47,160 um it was interesting the just a quick story. 525 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:52,640 Um years ago, probably in 526 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:56,720 1985 86 uh I don't remember. 527 00:39:54,200 --> 00:40:01,600 Jake, you were probably around. Both Amtrak trains had to stop here because 528 00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:06,480 there was an issue with uh possibly [clears throat] a 529 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:10,240 bomb or some type of nuclear thing. And 530 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:13,200 all those people had to be taken off the train. 531 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:18,480 Think about the the total amount of people that were involved in this. 532 00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:22,960 Uh and the train then had to be searched by border patrol and other people, what 533 00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:27,920 do you do with these people? We got the school district involved with buses, 534 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:32,640 went up to the uh, middle school. Uh, luckily it was a Saturday to where a lot 535 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:36,640 of people could be in the gym and in the different areas that were up there. 536 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:39,280 We had the Red Cross. We were able to get uh, food up there. 537 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:43,760 Uh, Hill County does have some stores of 538 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:47,120 cots and blankets and pillows um, to 539 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:51,240 help with an issue that is unexpected. And 540 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:53,800 so, dealing with that, 541 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:57,960 you you you have to look to the future and say, 542 00:40:55,960 --> 00:41:01,160 "What could happen?" And then uh, um, 543 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:02,400 at the spur of the moment, what was that? 544 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:06,000 » Yep. Yep, sure. 545 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:11,240 And last but not least, how do you monitor progress against these goals and 546 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:11,240 objectives? 547 00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:18,880 » Um, monitoring, it can come down to evaluations. 548 00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:24,040 Uh, it comes down to uh, I know our 549 00:41:21,240 --> 00:41:30,160 disaster committee, you know, looking at whether fire, uh, law enforcement, uh, 550 00:41:27,160 --> 00:41:34,480 public schools, all those things. You listen to what updates or what people 551 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:41,040 have pushed forward in in their mind as to 552 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:45,480 you know, what are what our school district need next over the next 10 553 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:50,640 years. What uh, law enforcement the jail is a big issue. You know, that 554 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:54,240 has to be looked at. Um, you [clears throat] know, just 555 00:41:52,240 --> 00:41:58,480 And again, that communication with the people who are responsible for those 556 00:41:56,320 --> 00:42:03,840 particular areas, you have to talk to them and then set a goal that says, 557 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:05,640 "Within this period of time, this needs to be done." 558 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:11,640 » Mhm. >> And the job of the commissioners may be 559 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:16,960 to monitor that and push it, but also, how do we fund it? And then how do we 560 00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:20,400 get the public to acknowledge that this is what we're doing with some of 561 00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:25,520 your tax funds, but hopefully there's other ways to to fund this stuff, but 562 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:30,599 evaluations and and communication is probably the biggest 563 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:32,880 issue. Everybody has their own thing, so >> [clears throat] 564 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:38,920 » Thank you. How do you encourage staff to stay in an 565 00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,920 organization? 566 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:51,360 » Well, obviously pay is one thing. 567 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:55,680 Uh but it's sometimes it's not pay, it's the working conditions. 568 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:58,960 Uh if the working conditions are such that 569 00:42:56,720 --> 00:43:03,120 um there's too much negativity, there's too 570 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:07,560 much uh infighting, uh there's not enough knowledge of the 571 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:11,040 job, and people are constantly complaining about this is not getting 572 00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:13,760 done. Um 573 00:43:11,720 --> 00:43:19,480 so having having the the knowledge to do the job 574 00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:24,480 that's there, so that you are are confident in what you are telling people 575 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:27,320 uh that needs to be done. Um 576 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:30,720 so you know, 577 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:34,560 it's just things that you have to work through, and uh 578 00:43:34,640 --> 00:43:38,760 I guess work with each office and go from there. 579 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:54,160 » All right. Tell us about your experience with uh 580 00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:54,160 TIFs and RSIDs. 581 00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:04,640 » I don't know if I know a lot about TIFs. >> That's pretty new. Um we just got our 582 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:09,280 first TIF district uh recently, so um yeah, that's that's 583 00:44:07,680 --> 00:44:13,120 uh that's a new thing, so. >> Well, but 584 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:18,520 uh if it's similar to [snorts] RSIDs, uh Hill County is 585 00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:22,280 one of very few counties in the state of Montana that 586 00:44:20,320 --> 00:44:26,840 have RSIDs. Um 587 00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:31,640 there's not a lot of laws on those on how you do them, and 588 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:36,120 more often than not, you know, the the the counties will just go to uh 589 00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:39,880 um funding it through taxpayer dollars or 590 00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:45,400 or uh maybe uh just SID and town. A lot of 591 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:49,520 RSIDs that the county has had were taken over by the city 592 00:44:47,240 --> 00:44:53,280 uh for years. You know, once you get water and sewer established and the 593 00:44:51,520 --> 00:44:56,840 roads, all of a sudden the city looks and says, 594 00:44:54,520 --> 00:45:00,440 "I need to expand our tax base, so we're going to take this in and expand it in." 595 00:44:59,560 --> 00:45:05,640 Um the whole north side of Havre is under 596 00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:09,280 several RSIDs for sewer. They don't have water. 597 00:45:06,800 --> 00:45:14,200 Uh and I don't think they want water, even though the water over there has got 598 00:45:11,240 --> 00:45:17,600 consistently harder and um 599 00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:20,680 hard on things in their house. It's it's gotten worse. The more you use it, the 600 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:23,640 more you draw in and you get a lot more minerals and stuff. 601 00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:28,680 Um the west end of Havre all the way out to 602 00:45:25,600 --> 00:45:33,760 what used to be Big Bud, now Fergusons, uh that was an RSID and that was not 603 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:37,520 easy to put in because one person owned a lot of the land and 604 00:45:35,960 --> 00:45:43,640 that person almost went bankrupt because of the 605 00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:49,240 costs that were associated with people's property to pay back 606 00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:52,760 uh the the funds for the RSID. And now, you know, it's caught up and things are 607 00:45:51,120 --> 00:45:55,720 going pretty good with them. Uh it is a funding tool, 608 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:59,520 uh but 609 00:45:57,080 --> 00:46:04,320 there are state rules on how you have to do it, 610 00:46:00,520 --> 00:46:07,960 and it's it comes down to 50 or 51% of people involved in it or of the land 611 00:46:06,680 --> 00:46:12,160 that's that's in that particular area. 612 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:16,640 Um 50 people cannot make one person that 613 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:19,880 owns most of the land do something. It's It's got to be, 614 00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:23,960 you know, back and forth. So, I've had quite a bit of 615 00:46:21,880 --> 00:46:28,520 dealings with artist ideas as far as sewer and water and and roads and stuff. 616 00:46:37,320 --> 00:46:41,920 » Last question. What questions do you have for us? 617 00:46:43,400 --> 00:46:47,417 » Uh >> Your turn. 618 00:46:45,397 --> 00:46:47,417 » [clears throat] 619 00:46:48,320 --> 00:46:56,200 » You know, I I hit on listening a lot here because 620 00:46:52,680 --> 00:47:00,760 people have their own ideas and their own their own lives have had 621 00:46:58,760 --> 00:47:04,040 different circumstances uh 622 00:47:01,440 --> 00:47:07,360 other than what mine are. Um 623 00:47:05,520 --> 00:47:11,880 the commissioner's office you have to deal with 624 00:47:09,080 --> 00:47:14,480 tons of different areas and you depend on 625 00:47:13,400 --> 00:47:18,920 the the uh 626 00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:26,360 elected officials or the department heads to to know their job and inform 627 00:47:23,280 --> 00:47:30,760 you as to what they feel should be done so that 628 00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:35,200 uh you get the best information possible uh to do this. 629 00:47:32,640 --> 00:47:35,200 Um 630 00:47:37,240 --> 00:47:43,120 The biggest thing that I would like to see, and I I know this office is pushing 631 00:47:41,240 --> 00:47:47,840 this with Bear Paw Development and other things, is 632 00:47:44,440 --> 00:47:53,960 you want your community to at least grow or be sustained such that 633 00:47:51,520 --> 00:47:58,120 you know, we're What are we, the seventh largest city in the in the state? Are we 634 00:47:56,680 --> 00:48:03,600 right in there somewhere? >> That ball park, in that ball park. The 635 00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:07,320 12th most uh populated. We have the sixth, almost fifth most county roads in 636 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:09,480 the state. So. 637 00:48:08,440 --> 00:48:13,080 » The the the understanding of county roads, 638 00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:16,640 trying to figure out what an open section line is. And a lot of counties 639 00:48:14,920 --> 00:48:19,920 don't have open section lines. So, I think we're 640 00:48:17,720 --> 00:48:24,320 » 54 out of 56 do not. >> Yes. It's uh and that's a that's a whole 641 00:48:22,520 --> 00:48:27,400 issue that some people don't like you driving on the land, but yet it's an 642 00:48:25,840 --> 00:48:30,080 open section line and as long as you stay within this area. 643 00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:35,800 Um So, so dealing with that issue. 644 00:48:32,440 --> 00:48:40,960 Um I know that this office has to deal with a lot of of 645 00:48:37,920 --> 00:48:43,800 road issues, monetary issues. Um 646 00:48:42,200 --> 00:48:50,320 and doing budgets, I'm okay with that. 647 00:48:47,080 --> 00:48:50,320 But, I'm really 648 00:48:50,440 --> 00:48:57,640 when I when I look at my checkbook it better not be at zero. I want to make 649 00:48:54,680 --> 00:49:03,680 sure that, you know, there's always some reserve in there to to work on stuff. 650 00:49:00,240 --> 00:49:07,480 And I know that's a big area up here with all the different functions. And 651 00:49:05,520 --> 00:49:09,040 that's just part of the duties. I wrote down, you know, 652 00:49:08,843 --> 00:49:13,000 » [clears throat] >> you want community involvement. You 653 00:49:10,720 --> 00:49:18,640 you're responsible to help deal with the fairgrounds, the weeds, the flood plain, 654 00:49:15,680 --> 00:49:24,720 roads, airplanes, jails, water and sewer, parks, law enforcement. All these 655 00:49:21,160 --> 00:49:29,760 things either have some grants, but are a lot of unfunded mandates. 656 00:49:26,840 --> 00:49:34,000 And decisions on those as to I have this much money. How much do I put here and 657 00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:37,840 here? And I can shift this around, but um 658 00:49:36,120 --> 00:49:41,960 that's probably the biggest issue is trying to make sure that that people can 659 00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:47,800 do their job, but the taxpayer knows that they don't 660 00:49:45,280 --> 00:49:52,240 want that money to be I guess in areas that 661 00:49:50,320 --> 00:49:55,080 they're not getting served correctly. >> Right. 662 00:49:52,600 --> 00:49:58,600 » And and I know this office does the best job you can and people need to 663 00:49:56,360 --> 00:50:03,960 understand that. That you can support something. It may not be 664 00:50:01,440 --> 00:50:07,680 monetarily, but you can help write letters. Maybe you can deal with the 665 00:50:05,640 --> 00:50:12,160 state or federal people to get stuff done. And I don't 666 00:50:10,080 --> 00:50:17,320 know how much I don't see what that is done up here as far as dealing with our 667 00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:22,840 Congress or or state legislators or whatever, but 668 00:50:20,160 --> 00:50:26,760 is do we deal that much with them? I know Paul gets involved in stuff, but 669 00:50:25,560 --> 00:50:31,160 who else? >> We we do touch base with our our 670 00:50:28,680 --> 00:50:35,560 representatives at the state level. Um they do pop in the office every now 671 00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:39,160 and again, but um no, we have the representatives in our phones. Uh 672 00:50:38,040 --> 00:50:44,280 they're local people. Like their offices like 673 00:50:41,320 --> 00:50:48,840 Danes's office and and Downing's office. And they'll pop in every now and again, 674 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:52,000 but you know, we actually have a really good work relationship with our 675 00:50:50,040 --> 00:50:55,480 delegations. And you know, if something does pop up 676 00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:58,040 where, you know, we're very uh 677 00:50:56,400 --> 00:51:01,760 very passionate about. And you know, if we get uh 678 00:50:59,720 --> 00:51:05,160 people coming in and asking about that uh certain things. You know, we're 679 00:51:03,640 --> 00:51:09,200 getting a lot of stuff on data centers right now. And you know, a lot of people 680 00:51:07,040 --> 00:51:12,400 are against the data centers. So, you know, these are things that we keep in 681 00:51:10,560 --> 00:51:16,960 the back of our mind that when our delegation representatives do come in, 682 00:51:15,120 --> 00:51:20,600 we will have those conversations with them. So, um the nice part is, yeah, we 683 00:51:19,760 --> 00:51:25,560 work with uh quite a few of our local delegates uh 684 00:51:23,040 --> 00:51:29,320 from the state level. And we do talk with them quite frequently. So. 685 00:51:27,120 --> 00:51:32,920 » The industrial park. Has anything happened with that for years? 686 00:51:31,320 --> 00:51:36,880 » Uh we're still working on the covenants and uh we've had we've had some interest 687 00:51:35,600 --> 00:51:40,320 in it. Um and we do take those into consideration. 688 00:51:38,920 --> 00:51:45,840 Uh Bear Paw Development just sent us the name of uh organization that uh is 689 00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:49,000 interested in purchasing it. So, um yeah, we continue you work on that. 690 00:51:48,200 --> 00:51:53,560 So. >> Well, it's it's things like that. We've 691 00:51:50,720 --> 00:51:58,400 had that for years out there. And with the all the development we've had 692 00:51:55,680 --> 00:52:02,160 around here, I don't know why people don't want to do more out there. 693 00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:05,760 Um when you've got a well, when you've got a road, when you've got utilities 694 00:52:03,960 --> 00:52:10,080 and all that, you would think that that would be a plus, but it's um I don't I 695 00:52:08,200 --> 00:52:12,400 don't know why it [clears throat] just hasn't taken 696 00:52:11,160 --> 00:52:15,600 off. >> Uh the 697 00:52:14,280 --> 00:52:18,720 the way it was drawn up in the beginning was very 698 00:52:17,840 --> 00:52:21,560 restrictive. >> Oh, that was very restrictive, yeah. 699 00:52:19,880 --> 00:52:26,200 » So, you know, that and that's something that we're looking at because we it's 700 00:52:23,760 --> 00:52:31,880 tough to, you know, we we want businesses to come in. We want to get 701 00:52:28,200 --> 00:52:34,480 that into a working area for Gila County, you know, get that tax base and 702 00:52:33,360 --> 00:52:38,440 whatnot. Um but the covenants were so restrictive 703 00:52:36,600 --> 00:52:41,600 in the beginning. Uh so, we're working on that right now to make it less 704 00:52:39,720 --> 00:52:45,600 restrictive, to make it more uh palatable for people to come in. 705 00:52:43,840 --> 00:52:50,320 » It even has a railroad that goes, you know, a spur that goes right next to it. 706 00:52:47,560 --> 00:52:54,040 And stuff could be And they use it and use it to store a lot of cars on, but uh 707 00:52:53,511 --> 00:52:58,880 » [clears throat] >> I'm trying to think if there's 708 00:52:55,920 --> 00:53:02,640 much else that uh I would have questions on. I've been up here a lot. I've been 709 00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:06,000 in this office. We moved stuff in the back. We've been in downstairs. So, it's 710 00:53:05,120 --> 00:53:08,160 not a new building. >> All right. 711 00:53:07,266 --> 00:53:11,720 » [laughter] >> Yeah, but we 712 00:53:09,080 --> 00:53:14,360 » Um no, I appreciate your time and uh >> Likewise. 713 00:53:13,080 --> 00:53:19,000 » If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them, but 714 00:53:16,440 --> 00:53:20,080 um we'll You guys good? 715 00:53:19,520 --> 00:53:21,640 » I'm good. >> I'm good to go. 716 00:53:20,920 --> 00:53:24,480 » We can call this >> Yeah, we'll adjourn the meeting. 717 00:53:23,600 --> 00:53:27,360 Thank you, Clay. >> Yes, sir. 718 00:53:25,640 --> 00:53:30,480 » Thank you for being willing to step up. Thank you so much. 719 00:53:28,160 --> 00:53:30,480 » on everything.