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Commission approves $762,918.65 in claims after redacting an attorney‑fee claim pending levy review
Summary
County commissioners authorized payment of claims totaling $762,918.65 but accepted a motion to redact a claim for attorney fees tied to fire‑department negotiations pending review of the fire levy language; the lighting‑bond payoff was made contingent on passage of a related agenda resolution.
Anaconda — The Anaconda Deer Lodge County Commission authorized payment of claims numbered 146,173 through 146,341 totaling $762,918.65 after commissioners agreed to redact one claim for attorney fees tied to fire‑department labor negotiations while county staff locate the fire levy language.
During discussion commissioners noted large line items in the claims packet, including a $342,443.99 principal and interest payment on a lighting bond and a $129,001.93 payment to Harris Construction for courthouse window work, together comprising about 62% of the current claims period.
Commissioner Bodette objected to charging certain attorney fees to the fire fund and requested a written legal opinion before approving those specific charges. "I requested that the county attorney provide us with legal opinion as to the efficacy of doing that…and to date I have not seen nor heard of that opinion," Bodette said, asking that the attorney‑fee claim be removed until the levy language is confirmed.
Chair and CEO Everett responded that lighting‑district funds are segregated and cannot be used for other projects and suggested making the lighting‑bond payoff contingent on passage of the related agenda item later in the meeting. Everett explained that segregating costs to the benefiting department is common accounting practice: "The only way you could correctly allocate the cost to the beneficiary is through that department. That is why that is done."
Commissioner Bodette moved to proceed with claims approval while redacting the attorney‑fee claim for fire‑department negotiations and making the lighting‑bond payoff contingent on passage of the related resolution. The motion passed unanimously.
The commission recorded that the redaction and contingency will be followed by staff locating and producing the levy language and a memo on whether the levy permits attorney‑fee charges to the fire fund. No final legal opinion was included in the record at the meeting.
