County Commission approves applying for grant for DES vehicle

At their weekly business meeting Thursday the Hill County Commission approved County Disaster and Emergency Services to apply for a grant to get a new vehicle, voiced their support for Montana State University-Northern's Aurora Complex, and discussed the county's policy for reimbursing meal cost for employees going to events relevant to their jobs.

Hill County DES Coordinator Amanda Frickel, who attended the meeting, said her department is in need of a designated vehicle to go on calls and this priority grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would allow them to get one.

Frickel said she's been having to use her vehicle for these calls or a county vehicle that has twice now broken down on them, so there is a clear need for a new vehicle and the up to $70,000 grant is a good opportunity to fill that need.

Hill County Commission Jake Strissel said Frickel has been doing great work for them and he supports them applying for the grant.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the request to apply for the grant, as well as a request for the department to buy a new desk for its office.

During the meeting the commission also signed a letter of support for Northern's Aurora Complex project.

Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel has been working on trying to get a multi-purpose recreation center, to go with its new football field, built on campus and though the project is its early stages, the commissioners said they want their support for the project to be known.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said he feels the project is vital to the campus and the growth of the student body, which in turn helps the community.

Peterson said Kegel's leadership has been vital to making the university a premiere institution of learning in the state and the nation and its graduates go on to do great things, so an investment in the campus is one that will pay off for generations.

"Our future leaders will benefit from the Aurora Complex by being afforded the necessary tools to be successful," he said, reading from the letter.

During the meeting the commission and other county officials had a discussion about the county's policy of paying for meals for employees and officials going to events relevant for their jobs. The discussion was prompted by a claim for a meal from Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown that was denied by Hill County Auditor Kathy Olson.

Brown said that, as she understands state policy, which county policy should be following, the county is supposed to repay employees and officials up to a certain amount for meals per diem when they are at events relevant to their jobs, but one of her meals was denied payment.

She said in this case she was at an event where dinner was being provided, but she was not able to eat any of the provided food so she had to get her own, and she thinks that should be eligible for repayment in accordance with policy.

Brown said she's not bringing this up for the sake of a relatively small payment by the county, but because she wants to make sure the county is following state law for the sake of the future.

Peterson said he's never received payment for a meal that was provided by an event, but Brown said that is what is supposed to happen.

Olson, who also attended the meeting, said she spoke with Hill County Attorney Lacey Lincoln who said that's not how it worked in Missoula County, where Lincoln had previously worked, so she thinks the policy should be decided upon at the county level.

Peterson also said Brown should have informed the event's organizers that she had special needs when it came to food which would have sidestepped the issue, but Brown reiterated that she thinks the county should be providing the payments for meals regardless.

Hill County Commissioner Sheri Williams and Hill County Clerk and Recorder Lexis Dixon said they were both at the event and confirmed that Brown was not able to eat the provided dinner and the former said there are others who have similar situations as Brown.

Peterson then said he thinks they should accept the judgment of Olson but would like to follow up on the matter and get clarification on what state policy is and what the county should be doing.

Strissel agreed, saying he would accept the recommendation of Olson as long as they can change that decision later should new information come to light and their understanding of state and county policy change.

The commission also established the hours of operation for the courthouse as well as the regular meeting times of the commission for the coming year, which are the same as they were in 2022.

Peterson said meetings of the commission, with the exception of those provided for in state law, are open to the public and they encourage public participation.

Brown said she did want to make one clarifying point in regards to hours, specifically that her office is permitted to close between noon and 1 p.m., though she's never done that and doesn't have any intention to in the future.