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Morton County Commission merges parks and weed leadership, enacts burn restrictions and denies road petition
Summary
At its Jan. 28 meeting the Morton County Commission voted to merge the county parks and weed department head position (with external advertising), adopted a countywide fire-emergency burn restriction for 2025, and denied Pale Horse Investments’ petition to open a road; commissioners also approved routine financial items and abatements.
The Morton County Commission on Jan. 28, 2025 voted to merge the county Parks and County Weed department head positions, adopt a countywide declaration of fire emergency and burn restrictions for 2025, and deny a petition from Pale Horse Investments to open a road, the commission’s minutes show.
Chair Boehm called the regular meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and commissioners took a series of procedural votes to approve the agenda, the Jan. 9, 2025 minutes and routine bills and payroll. Commissioner Morrell moved to approve the agenda; Commissioner Tokach seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
On personnel, Commissioner Morrell moved and Commissioner Buckley seconded a plan to merge the department head role for the County Parks and County Weed Departments, keep the two department budgets separate and advertise the position internally so hiring could align with Park Director Tim Nilsen’s upcoming retirement. Commissioner Tokach moved — and Commissioner Zachmeier seconded — an amendment to advertise the position externally as well as internally. The amendment passed on a recorded vote: Tokach, Zachmeier, Morrell and Boehm voted aye; Commissioner Buckley voted nay. A roll call on the amended motion then passed with all commissioners voting yes.
On public-safety policy, Commissioner Buckley moved and Commissioner Zachmeier seconded approval of a Declaration of Fire Emergency and county burn restrictions that prohibit open burning when the Rangeland Fire Index is in the high, very high, extreme or red-flag category; the motion carried unanimously and the restriction is effective for the 2025 calendar year.
Commissioner Tokach recused himself from a land-access petition involving Pale Horse Investments, stating he is related to one of the landowners. With Tokach recused, Commissioner Zachmeier moved and Commissioner Morrell seconded to deny Pale Horse Investments’ petition to open a road, finding access already exists by description or platted access. Commissioners Zachmeier, Morrell, Buckley and Boehm voted to deny the petition; the motion carried.
The commission approved a list of county financial institutions and depositories for 2025 as presented by Treasurer Hatzenbuhler and authorized out-of-state travel for the treasurer to attend the NACCTFO Conference in Philadelphia, PA, July 6–9, 2025. The board also approved a series of tax abatements (#6674–6677, #6678–6680, #6681, #6682–6683 and #6684) on unanimous votes.
The minutes note that total county funds expended from Jan. 10, 2024, through Jan. 28, 2025 equal $16,972,785.27 and that a detailed check list is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Morton County Auditor’s Office.
Commissioner Buckley moved to adjourn at 7:13 p.m.; Commissioner Morrell seconded and the meeting was adjourned. Chair Boehm and County Auditor Dawn R. Rhone signed the minutes.
