BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                      Sunday, September 25, 2005

Holiday Inn Grand Montana

Billings, MT

Big Horn Room

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

 

 

                                            DRAFT MINUTES

 

MEMBERS PRESENT                                          

Officers                             

_X__ Bill Kennedy, President

                          

_X__ Doug Kaercher, 1st Vice President               _X__Bernie Lucas, District #9

 

_X__ John Prinkki, 2nd Vice President                 _X__Paddy Trusler, District #10

 

_X__ Bill Nyby, Fiscal Officer                          _X__Bill Carey, District #11

 

_X__ Jean Curtiss, Urban Representative             _X__David Schulz, District #12

 

_X__ Carol Brooker, Past President                   

 

District Chairs                                       Association Representatives        

 

_X__ Richard Dunbar, District #1             _X__Leo Gallagher, Attorneys

 

_X__ Mark Rehbein, District #2               _X__Pam Castleberry, Clerk and Recorders

 

_X__Joan Stahl, District #3                     _X__Marilyn Hollister, Clerks of Court

 

_X__Art Kleinjan, District #4                  _X__Joseph Christiaens, Coroners           

 

_X__Arnie Gettel, District #5                  _X__Gary A. Olsen, Magistrates

 

_X__Carl Seilstad, District #6                  _X__ T. Gregory Hintz, Sheriff & Peace Officers

 

      _X__Maureen Davey, District #7             _X__ Stephanie Downs, Treasurers

 

_X__Ed Tinsley, District #8                    ___Karla Christensen, School Superintendents

 

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Executive Director, Harold Blattie, Colleen Landkammer, NACo President-Elect, Patti Keebler and Anna Whiting, Governor’s Office, Jennifer Wilson, NACo Staff, Janet Kelly, MACo Past President and director of Department of Administration, Tom Swindle, TOS and Associates and Cynthia Johnson, MACo 2nd VP Candidate

 

1.  Approval of Minutes:  The minutes of the June 8, 2005 meeting were reviewed and approved as presented.                     

                                   

2.  FY-06 MACo Budget Report:  Bill Nyby, MACo Fiscal Officer, presented the budget report including year to date expenditures.                   

 

3.  MACo Audit:  Tom Swindle, TOS and Associates, presented the FY-05 MACo Audit.  Following a short discussion, the Audit was approved.

 

4.  Nominations Report:  Bill Kennedy, MACo President, presented the Nominations Committee report.  Candidates for MACo 2nd VP are: Mark Rehbein, Richland County, Cynthia Johnson, Pondera County, and Jean Curtiss, Missoula County.  President Kennedy also reported that Allan Underdal was nominated as a candidate for MACo Fiscal Officer.  He also noted that MACo By-Laws require there to be two candidates for officer positions and that nominations will remain open until the membership business meeting on Wednesday.

                                   

5.  Convention Bids: Harold Blattie, MACo Executive Director, reported that bids for the 2007 MACo Annual Conference have been received from Cascade County (Heritage Inn), Lewis and Clark County (Colonial Inn) and Flathead County (Grouse Mountain).  He also reported that all three bids meet the minimum requirements for hosting an Annual Conference and that the selection will be made at the Wednesday membership business meeting.

 

6.  ByLaw Amendments:  Bill Kennedy, MACo President presented two proposed Bylaw Amendments that will be voted upon by the membership at the Wednesday business meeting. Proposed Amendment “A” changes the duties of the Executive Director and Proposed Amendment “B” would allow for proxy voting by members.

 

7.  Resolutions Committee Report:  Mike Murray, Resolutions Committee Chair, reported that there is one resolution to be considered by the membership.  The resolution is in support of the Maria Wind Tunnel Project at Butte. Jean Curtiss, Urban Counties Representative, commented on late resolutions and encouraged everyone to make sure resolutions are submitted in a timely manner so that the Board does not have to consider late resolutions at Annual Conferences.  Members do not have adequate time to consider resolutions when they do not come through the normal process.  Late resolutions should only be approved for issues that have recently developed and are of an urgent nature.

 

8.  MACo HCT Report: Executive Director, Harold Blattie reported on the status of the MACo Health Care Trust.  The program is up and running with several counties having joined.  The financials are looking good at this point and are expected to strengthen, as more counties become members.  He noted for the benefit of the Board that the MACo Executive Committee members are the Trustees of the HCT in accordance with the Bylaws.  At some point in the future, commissioners from counties who are members will transition into Trustee positions.

 

9.  MACo/NACo Prescription Drug Card Program: Doug Kaercher, MACo 1st Vice President, reported that the Prescription Drug Program is in place and that individual counties may enroll.  He also reported that pursuant to his request, NACo is considering a single agreement with MACo for all counties since MACo is a 100% member state.  NACo membership is a requirement to participate in the program.  Colleen Landkammer commented about the success of the program to date from a national perspective.

    

10.  Workforce Situation: Bill Kennedy, MACo President, opened a lengthy discussion about the Governor’s decision to create a single workforce area and to take control of workforce funding to the state.  Local providers currently provide these services with the programs being administered by Montana Job Training Partnerships.  Anna Whiting, representing Governor Schweitzer told the Board members that it is “all about getting the money on the ground”.  The Governor believes there will be $1 million more in funding that will be available to provide services to Montana citizens.  Several Board members expressed concern and dissatisfaction about the changes and the lack of county participation in the decision.  President Kennedy cautioned the Board members that the counties need to stick together and not to allow this issue to divide our members.  He also stated that MACo will be submitting a proposal to the Governor that would provide a mechanism for MACo’s continued involvement in workforce issues, both in Montana and with the NACo Labor Steering Committee.  

 

11.  MACo Evaluations:  Harold Blattie, MACo Executive Director, distributed the annual satisfaction surveys, noting the very low response rate from other elected officials.  Overall both groups surveyed feel the Association is doing a good job for our members but comments did note areas that could be improved.  Following discussion, President Kennedy appointed John Prinkki as chair of an ad-hoc committee to work on this issue.  Other committee members are Ed Tinsley and Carl Seilstad.  Marilyn Hollister will represent affiliate members on the committee.

 

12.  Other Business:        

 

Anna Whiting, Family Advisor to the Governor, carried a message from the Governor to the Board of Directors.  She discussed his commitment to visit every courthouse in Montana within his first year of office.  He is on track and will make all visits before the end of the year.  She advised the Board that the Governor will include county commissioners in formulating a response to the President about Roadless Areas in Montana.  She noted the number of county commissioners and other elected officials that have been appointed to various board, councils and committees by Governor Schweitzer.  She advised the Board that she would stay through Tuesday to attend the Health and Human Services Committee meeting.  President Kennedy thanked her for her attending the Board meeting to represent the Governor.

 

Janet Kelly, Director of the Department of Administration, spoke about the DOA’s relationship with counties and noted many of the services they provide in cooperation with counties.  She pledged a continued close working relationship with MACo and counties.  President Kennedy noted that having a former county commissioner as a department director is an asset to counties and that he welcomed the opportunity to continue to work with the DOA.

 

Patti Keebler, Governors Office, spoke briefly about appointments by the Governor.  There are over 200 different Boards and Commissions with over 1400 appointments that are made by the Governor.  She thanked MACo for working with her office to identify potential appointees.  She

said that the Governor wants the boards and commissions to “Look like Montana” with a widely diverse representation of Montana’s people.

 

Colleen Landkammer, NACo President Elect, also spoke to the Board.  She thanked Montana for the level of participation at the national level and commented that because of Montana’s strong commitment to NACo, Montana has been able to secure leadership positions in many NACo committees and caucuses.  President Kennedy chairs the Rural Action Caucus and Connie Eissinger is President of the Western Interstate Region.  Montana also has six other members who serve as NACo Steering Committee Subcommittee Chairs.  This gives Montana a very strong voice on a national level.  She also thanked Montana for being a 100% NACo member state.  President Kennedy thanked her for attending and spoke briefly about the benefits to Montana of being actively involved in NACo.

 

Joan Stahl asked about the timing of the next MACo Annual Conference, noting that the last week of the month is in conflict with the regular meeting date of many county commissions who meet to approve claims on the last business days of the month.  A short discussion followed wherein it was noted that the two weeks preceding the MACo Annual Conference were the regular meetings of the County Treasurers and Clerk and Recorders and the week following is the League of Cities and Towns Annual Conference.  It was generally agreed that any move would have a ripple effect, creating conflict with other organizations conferences.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned with President Kennedy thanking the members and guests for attending.

 

 

Approved this _______day of __________, 2006

 

 

 

_____________________________                             ___________________________

Harold Blattie, MACo Executive Director                      Bill Kennedy, MACo Past President