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Big Horn County approves Lexipol subscriptions, adopts capitalization and grants policies
Summary
At its Oct. 30 meeting in Hardin, the Big Horn County Board of County Commissioners approved county subscriptions with Lexipol for policy and training content, adopted a capitalization policy and a grants-management policy, and approved a sheriffs budget transfer; the board discussed but did not record a formal vote on updates to the credit-card policy.
Hardin, Mont. On Oct. 30, 2025, the Big Horn County Board of County Commissioners met in Hardin and unanimously approved county subscriptions with Lexipol for policy manuals and daily training bulletins, adopted a countywide capitalization policy and a grants-management policy, and approved a budget transfer to cover a clothing allowance in the sheriffs budget.
The board recorded a motion by Commissioner George Real Bird III, seconded by Commissioner Larry Vandersloot, to approve the Lexipol contracts and the motions passed unanimously. County Attorney Jeanne Torske told commissioners the contracts provide policy manuals and daily training bulletins for corrections, local government and law enforcement; the minutes record subscription costs of about $15,000 for the corrections/local-government bundle and about $9,000 for the sheriffs office subscription, and note a 20% bundle discount if the entire county enrolls.
Accountant Mike Opie asked the board to approve a budget transfer to cover an oversight in the sheriffs budget related to clothing allowances; the board approved the transfer. Opie also led presentation and discussion of a capitalization policy recommended by MACo (Montana Association of Counties) to standardize thresholds and tracking of capital assets across departments; the board adopted that policy by unanimous vote.
Commissioners also approved a grants-management policy intended to align county procedures with federal grant requirements, including SAM.gov registration for vendors, separate fund accounting for grants, quarterly reviews with outside partners and subrecipient-monitoring provisions. The minutes record that the grants policy will require separate fund coding for grant awards and documentation consistent with federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
An updated county credit-card policy was presented and reviewed; the minutes include the full policy text and outline prohibited uses, reconciliation procedures, training and penalties for violations but do not record a separate approval motion in the minutes text. Separately, the board discussed the overall budget process and directed the accounting office to revise procedures so the county budget aligns with the Montana Code Annotated and county requirements.
The board noted it will need a formal resolution for Nov. 1214 to cover commissioners' attendance at the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs. With no further business recorded, Commissioner Vandersloot adjourned the meeting.
Meeting minutes and supporting exhibits attached to the record include the Lexipol master service agreements and exhibit pricing details, the full text of the countys capitalization and credit-card policies, and the grants-management policy.
