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Commission approves $172,327.72 in claims despite objection over using law-enforcement levy for management legal fees
Summary
The commission authorized payment of claims totaling $172,327.72 by majority vote after Commissioner Rodett objected to a $750 charge for legal services posted to the law-enforcement levy and questioned a $725 bus rental claim; the county attorney agreed to investigate levy language.
The Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission voted 3–1 to authorize payment of claims numbered 148960 through 149038 totaling $172,327.72 after a public exchange over levy authority and the purpose of specific charges.
Commissioner Rodett objected to claim 148970 — $750 to Boone Carleburg for legal services charged to the law-enforcement budget — and to claim 149035, a $725 bus rental to Heather Edwards for which commissioners said the record lacked a stated purpose. "I don't believe that we have any indication that our levy allows for the payment of management's legal fees out of our law enforcement levy," Rodett said, and requested the county attorney investigate whether accounting practice aligned with levy language.
The CEO responded that the county's auditors (CPAs) provide guidance on accounting and allocation; the CEO offered to produce the CPA letter explaining the treatment. The county attorney told the commission he would look into Commissioner Rodett's request and research the specific levy language before changes are made.
A motion to authorize the payment of the claims was made and seconded; the motion carried 3–1 with Commissioner Bodette recorded in opposition. The county attorney will follow up on the levy question and report back to the commission.
The approval moved forward despite the objection because the commission voted on the claims as a whole rather than rejecting individual items.
