Carter County, Montana

Commission Proceedings 03/31/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana, Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present Rod Tauck, Chairman was absent. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. Guests to the meeting include Tessa Tauck and Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright. Public comment from Judy: notice the commission that the security system / cameras will be installed April 7, 2026. Commissioner Dinstel moved to approve payroll in the amount of $302,451.34 and claims in the amount of $86,544.84. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Consent Agenda: Highway 212 letters of request to eliminate oversize loads that will be sent to Montana Department of Transportation, Judy read the letter from Action for Eastern Montana (AFEM) requesting commissioners’ approval of the AFEM Needs Assessment and the Agreement with Stahly Engineering for subdivision and plat review and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AIP 017-SF217 outlay no.6 and letter of 90% completion of the AWOS III project. Commissioner Dinstel moved to approve the consent agenda with the stipulation that commission acquire quotes for subdivision and plat review at the end of the current contract. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no p [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 03/25/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana Rod Tauck, Chairman, Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. The meeting was called to order at 9:06 am. There was no public comment. The commission discussed the hospital roof repair and the possibility of an emergency repair declaration for the membrane roof and the water damaged interior. Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp and Road crew member Nolen Dvorak joined the meeting for Nolen’s 1 year probation review. Commissioner Dinstel moved to remove Mr. Dvorak’s from probation status on the recommendation of Road Supervisor Knapp. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Carl let the commissioners know that gravel mining at the Brownfield pit is complete. Brosz Engineering measured the pile at 151,500 yards after which the county road crew mined approximately 3,500 more yards of gravel. The road department is in the process of reclamation and reseeding the previously disturbed areas at the Brownfield pit. The Boyes Road shop building pad has been prepared. The road crew will finish hauling gravel for the parking area for the shop. The gravel for the parking lot will be hauled in Monday, March 30, 2026. Carl agreed to gravel the Boyes H [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 03/25/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana Rod Tauck, Chairman, Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. The meeting was called to order at 9:06 am. There was no public comment. The commission discussed the hospital roof repair and the possibility of an emergency repair declaration for the membrane roof and the water damaged interior. Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp and Road crew member Nolen Dvorak joined the meeting for Nolen’s 1 year probation review. Commissioner Dinstel moved to remove Mr. Dvorak’s from probation status on the recommendation of Road Supervisor Knapp. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Carl let the commissioners know that gravel mining at the Brownfield pit is complete. Brosz Engineering measured the pile at 151,500 yards after which the county road crew mined approximately 3,500 more yards of gravel. The road department is in the process of reclamation and reseeding the previously disturbed areas at the Brownfield pit. The Boyes Road shop building pad has been prepared. The road crew will finish hauling gravel for the parking area for the shop. The gravel for the parking lot will be hauled in Monday, March 30, 2026. Carl agreed to gravel the Boyes H [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 03/04/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, March 04, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. Rod Tauck, Chairman was absent. Deputy Treasurer-Payroll Clerk Cecile Smith-Kuehn stepped into the meeting to request a signature ona replacement Fair Board warrant. The missing warrant # 23771 was replaced with warrant # 23849. Commissioner Dinstel received a call from Mike Skillstad of Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to request a letter of support for the nine mile resurfacing project on highway 212 at mile marker 130 near Alzada from the commissioners. There were 5 letters of support for the road project sent to the MDT. Vice chair Pamela Castleberry called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. There was no public comment. Carter County Conservation District Treasurer Wayne Yost, Deputy Treasurer / Payroll Clerk Cecile Smith Kuehn, and Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting where Wayne requested a pay increase for the Conservation District Administrator position held by Karen Kreitel. The county wages are set ona tier system. The position should be on the Department head tier that would be paid at $28.54 per hour. It has been paid out as a secretarial position at $24.02 per hour. Wayne stated the Conservation District is looking into the [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 02/27/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, February 27, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. Rod Tauck, Chairman was absent. Georgia Bruski stepped into the meeting to discuss funding for equipment and supplies for Alzada Fire Department and to discuss cooperation between Carter County rural fire and Alzada Fire Department and the Sheriff's Department. The meeting was called to order at 9:02 am. Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp joined the meeting to request an extension of the excavator rental for mining gravel at the Brownfield pit. The pit will only be open until March 10, 2026 due to calving season and sage grouse regulations. Commissioner Dinstel moved to allow the Road Department to spend an additional $3,000 to rent of the excavator. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Carl plans to hire Brosz Engineering to measure the gravel stock pile after it has been crushed. Carl left the meeting. Commissioner Dinstel moved to approve payroll in the amount of $318,004.62 and claims in the amount of $147,041.18. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Commissioner Dinstel moved to approve the consent agenda: including the commis [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 02/19/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, February 19, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. Rod Tauck, Chairman, was absent. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright stepped into the meeting to let the commission know that county received a rebate from Travelers Insurance in the amount of $1,102 for cyber security. Consent Agenda: Commissioner Dinstel moved to approve the February 04, 2026 commissioner proceedings. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Judy made the request for special predator levy at the rate of $75,000 with a county wide levy. The commissioners placed a call to Predator Board President Matt Borchgrevink to request official documentation from the predator board members to request the special levy. Matt will send an official request to Judy this week. Commissioner Castleberry and Dinstel gave an update on the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) mid-winter conference they attended in Billings, MT last week. The meetings they attended included MACo policy, Health and Human Services, metal health meeting, public lands committee, transportation meeting and emergency management meeting. Commissioner Dinstel moved to accept the digital [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 02/11/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Chairman, Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. The meeting was called to order at 9:05 am. and there was no public comment. Guests: Dahl Memorial CEO Darrell Messersmith and Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright. The Commission placed a phone call to Chad Mezinger from Black Hill Roofing to discuss inspection, and temporary repair until the final repairs to the hospital roof can be made. Chad will contact Darrell to set up the inspection for next week. Darrell left the meeting. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright and head election judge Kim Tooke will be attending election training the end of February. Carter County Sheriff Neil Kittlemann and Sheriffs office Administrative Assistant and DES Coordinator Georgia Bruski joined the meeting. Sheriff Kittlemann requested information on monies to be used to cover the cost of burial for indigent travelers as well as funds to pay for wrecker services to remove disabled vehicles from the roadway. Sheriff Kittlemann requested that Carter County cover these costs as needed going forward. Commissioner Dinstel moved to allow Sheriff Kittlemann to pay $1,500 to Stevenson’s Funeral Home for cremation services and $200 to Baker Boyz Towing and $200 to Plai [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 02/04/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, February 04, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman, and Dan Dinstel, member, were in attendance. Rod Tauck, Chairman, was absent. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting with a request for an update on any new buildings near the TC Energy pipeline in Carter County in the last year. Commissioner Dinstel would like the request be placed on the agenda for the February 11, 2026, commission meeting. Consent Agenda: Commissioner Dinstel moved to accept the commissioners’ proceedings for January 21, 2026, and Federal Aviation Administration form 271, 3-30-002517-2025 and 3-300025-18-2025. Commissioner Dinstel moved to table the quote for the replacement heat pump for the courthouse maintenance room. The county is expecting one more quote for the heat pump. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright present a quote for a computer systems server refresh. Commissioner Dinstel move to approve the quote for the server refresh from DIS Technologies in the amount of $18,498. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Carter County attorney Corbit Harrington joi [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 01/30/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Friday, January 30, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Chairman, Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. The meeting was called to order at 9:07. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting with public comments: Including the heater in the maintenance room needs to be replaced. Judy clarified her statement made during public comment of the January 07, 2026 commissioners meeting; stating that Frank Nies’ inquiring was to why the road in the maps is labeled the way it is, not to close the road going through his propriety. Judy left the meeting. Commissioner Dinstel requested a proclamation setting a Thomas “Tom” Larsen Day in Carter County to honor his induction on to the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Commission discussed the proclamation and requesting information from County attorney Harrington. Commissioner Dinstel moved to accept the claims on the amount of $92,521.48 and payroll in the amount of $312,330.49. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Commissioner Castleberry moved to approve the quote from DIS Technologies for the security system door hardware and card reader in the amount of $2,598.50. Commissioner Dinstel seconded the motion. There was no public comment [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 01/21/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. Rod Tauck, Chairman, was absent. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting, Public comment: Commissioner Dinstel stated that there have been issues with the cell phone notifications on a fire in Alzada. DES Coordinator/ Sheriff's office administrator Georgia Bruski stepped into the meeting to speak to the issues with the phone notification system and that the main point of contact for emergency personnel is still the hand-held radios. Georgia suggested that the Alzada Fire Department contact her with an updated list of fire crew that wish to use the phone notification system once the bugs are worked out. Georgia left the meeting. Consent Agenda: Commissioner Dinstel moved to approve the consent agenda including the commissioners’ proceedings for January 15, 2026, early warrant for the Verkada security systems deposit payment in the amount of $19,900 and the notice of the Town of Ekalaka Mill levy resolution. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. The Carter County Weed Board members: Matt McCabe, Lee LaBree, J.O. Tooke, and Gabe Carroll. Weed Dep [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 01/21/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. Rod Tauck, Chairman, was absent. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting, Public comment: Commissioner Dinstel stated that there have been issues with the cell phone notifications on a fire in Alzada. DES Coordinator/ Sheriff's office administrator Georgia Bruski stepped into the meeting to speak to the issues with the phone notification system and that the main point of contact for emergency personnel is still the hand-held radios. Georgia suggested that the Alzada Fire Department contact her with an updated list of fire crew that wish to use the phone notification system once the bugs are worked out. Georgia left the meeting. Consent Agenda: Commissioner Dinstel moved to approve the consent agenda including the commissioners’ proceedings for January 15, 2026, early warrant for the Verkada security systems deposit payment in the amount of $19,900 and the notice of the Town of Ekalaka Mill levy resolution. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. The Carter County Weed Board members: Matt McCabe, Lee LaBree, J.O. Tooke, and Gabe Carroll. Weed Dep [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]

Commission Proceedings 01/07/2026 The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, January 07, 2026, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Chairman, Pam Castleberry, Vice Chairman and Dan Dinstel, member were present. The commissioners received a call from Levi Mitchell of Broadus Montana who offered to provide a quote for the install of security cameras. The commission have yet to receive the revised quote for the cameras and panic buttons from Verkada for the camera systems. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright stepped into the meeting to let the commissioners know that she received a call from Frank John Nies requesting the county close the road through his property. Judy received a report of a damaged car gate on the South end of the Hammond Road as well as an incident of damage to the museum storage building by a delivery truck. Commissioner Dinstel moved to accept the proceedings for December 18" and 31%. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. County attorney Corbit Harrington and Treasurer Jesi Pierson joined the meeting where there was discussion regarding the Interlocal agreement for the FM communication signal between Fallon County and Carter County. This included the review of the petition and boundary map from 1967. Jesi left the meeting. [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]