Fallon County commissioners on Thursday directed staff to prepare a formal proposal and numbers for a county-led solution to consolidate justice- and city-court clerk hours so one clerk could reach benefit thresholds, while receiving detailed briefings from roads, maintenance, emergency services and Fallon Medical Complex staff.

The commission agreed to ask Human Resources to compute workload and cost shares and to send a written proposal to Baker city council for an interlocal agreement; the county and city would decide a proration method if the single position is adopted. Commissioners and city officials agreed to meet with legal counsel before any final interlocal is signed.

Why it matters: The change would convert a split, part-time city/county clerk role into a single county position with sufficient weekly hours to qualify for benefits, a step county leaders say could improve staff retention and simplify HR and payroll oversight.

Body of meeting: Justice court. County staff and Justice of the Peace Anna outlined the current schedules: a small combination of city- and county-time slots that together reach roughly 30–32 hours per week for the existing employee, but because payroll is split between two employers the clerk does not qualify for full benefits. Julie Straub, Fallon County HR director, and Judge Anna described the practical and ethical constraints for judicial clerks and recommended shifting the position to county payroll with an interlocal that would bill the city for its portion of hours. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a written cost and caseload comparison, using several years of court data, and to present that to Baker city council; county representatives agreed to attend the city meeting when it is placed on the agenda.

Roads and maintenance. Road supervisors provided an extended operational update: crews are doing repair and resurfacing work on several county routes (including the so-called 101 Road), placing 4–6 inches of new material on resurfaced sections, reshaping shoulders and pulling gravel inward where appropriate. Supervisors warned that the county stockpile is more than half used and that the county is exploring purchase options from neighboring pits; the permitting documents for those pits did not state exact quantities and procurement will require inspection of material quality before purchase decisions.

Crews also discussed equipment maintenance needs (pins/bushings and hydraulic motor work for packers), the schedule and costs for replacing a rubber-wheel packer and other aging machines, and continuing truck and shop repairs. Commissioners were told some repairs are still under warranty and some parts have long lead times; supervisors said they expect the heavy-equipment crane service and radiator work to occur soon.

Parkview and park maintenance. County maintenance staff reported sidewalk and pedestrian-path clearing around Parkview / Iron Horse is being done using a V-plow; staff and city crews coordinate clearing where jurisdiction blurs. Commissioners heard a recurring complaint about people parking where county crews must broom, and were told the county normally cleans sidewalks and will continue to do so when asked. Staff also reported progress on building maintenance (handrails, concrete steps) and small equipment repairs.

Wooden pedestrian bridge & ADA question. Maintenance staff said a private citizen asked whether their ADA-compliant mobility cart (described in the meeting as a golf cart–style ADA vehicle) could use a small wooden bridge on county property. County staff and legal advised they need an engineer-rated load limit for the bridge and recommended talking with the county engineer before approving regular motorized access. Commissioners directed staff to obtain a load rating and report back; they discussed alternatives including reinforcing the crossing, replacing the bridge, adding a culvert or posting an engineered weight limit with an accompanying formal sign and inspection plan.

Airport. Airport manager Roger reported the new fuel system installation is complete and that the county should sign KLJ’s closeout documents to seek a reimbursement of $28,984 from FAA grant proceeds. Commissioners approved signing the FAA project reimbursement paperwork and asked staff to return the signed documents to KLJ for final closeout.

EMS and training. EMS leadership reported the department’s year-end totals and recommended a service contract option with Stryker covering cots, power loads and defibrillator maintenance; a Stryker service contract and battery-replacement plan was presented as a budget item for next year. The EMS director also asked permission to send staff to a week-long crisis-intervention training in Sidney; commissioners preapproved up to two staff to attend subject to staffing availability and normal travel processes. EMS additionally reported a pilot grant to install footfall/visitor-estimate sensors (an unrelated chamber/smart community tool) and said ambulance batteries and other capital items will be requested in the next budget.

Golf course and parks. The volunteer acting as golf-course contact updated commissioners on mower reel sharpening, equipment spare parts, and an active search for a part-time or intermittent superintendent. Commissioners agreed to allow a local volunteer to work intermittently for small tasks (on a time-sheeted intermittent status) and requested a prioritized list of equipment and operating needs to support hiring and maintenance decisions.

Fallon Medical Complex. Hospital leaders presented November financials: the hospital reported a positive operating variance against budget year-to-date, with gross patient revenues and net operating results ahead of plan. The hospital staff warned the November month looks artificially favorable for operating expense lines because auditors required a fiscal-year reclassification of certain expenses into FY2024; that accounting entry distorts one-month comparisons but year-to-date figures were more meaningful. Hospital managers also described two recent natural‑gas leaks in pipe routed above clinical areas, summarized the needed repairs and recommended the county-funded building-project engineering continue (separate building-improvement project to add a clinic-entry lift, replace worn exterior doors, update office layouts and replace an older chiller). Commissioners asked the hospital to return with firm engineering estimates and phasing proposals; hospital staff agreed to scope designs and provide line-item cost estimates for the next budget cycle.

Votes at a glance. The board recorded the following formal actions during the meeting:
- Chair and vice chair nominations: Motion made to nominate Kevin Braun as commission chair; motion seconded and carried unanimously (naming of vice chair was moved and carried; transcript did not specify the vice‑chair name). (Action: motion to elect chair/vice chair — approved.)
- Payroll and claims: Motion to approve December 24 payroll and withholdings (amount recorded in the meeting as $634,318.55) — approved unanimously. Motion to approve December 24 claims — approved unanimously. (Action: adopt payroll and claims — approved.)
- Resolution 1142: Mileage reimbursement set at 70¢/mile for the first 1,000 monthly miles and 67¢ for miles above 1,000; motion to adopt resolution 1142 carried unanimously. (Action: adopt resolution 1142 — approved.)
- Resolution 1143: Commissioners established regular meeting days and procedures; motion carried unanimously. (Action: adopt resolution 1143 — approved.)
- Resolution 1144: Named official public posting locations and added the county website/social channels to the list; motion carried unanimously. (Action: adopt resolution 1144 — approved.)
- Contract approval: Commissioners approved a $4,000 contract with Dalton Morris/PRCA for a February 14–16 event; motion carried. (Action: approve event contract — approved.)
- Airport closeout: Commissioners approved signing KLJ’s airport fuel system reimbursement package (FAA reimbursement $28,984) so the consultant can submit final paperwork. (Action: approve FAA reimbursement paperwork — approved.)
- Personnel action (closed session): After a closed‑session personnel discussion, the commission voted to issue a written warning to a county employee as recommended by staff; one commissioner abstained from that vote. (Action: personnel disciplinary action — written warning issued.)

Ending note: Commissioners asked staff to return design and cost estimates for the hospital building project and for engineers’ load ratings on the wooden bridge before the board commits to construction. The commission also asked the county and city court leaders to meet on the clerk-hours proposal and set a short timetable for bringing a joint interlocal to the city council for discussion.

Next steps and public calendar: Staff will compile the justice‑court workload and cost data for an interlocal draft, the hospital will provide a phased cost estimate and engineering drawing for the building work and gas-line replacement, and airport paperwork will be returned to KLJ for FAA closeout.