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Votes at a glance: Commission approves salary resolution, claims payment, permits, appointments and construction rules
Summary
At its May 19 meeting Anaconda-Deer Lodge County commissioners approved Resolution 26-14 (employee salaries), authorized payment of $782,284.46 in claims including several large invoices, approved a Montana DOJ 9-1-1 grant program, multiple reappointments and special event permits, and adopted a right-of-way construction resolution with a new flowable-fill requirement.
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County commissioners on May 19 approved a slate of routine and policy items, including a salary resolution, payment of a large batch of claims, reappointments, event permits, and construction-season rules.
The commission approved Resolution 26-14 establishing county employee salaries for fiscal year 2026–27. CEO Bill Everett explained the county’s practice of applying general employee increases earlier than union increases, which are governed by contract. The resolution passed on a 5-0 vote.
Chair Kevin Hart flagged that six claims accounted for $516,663 — about 66% of the total claims — and listed Martelli Forestry ($35,000), KLM ($35,000), TriHydro ($290,000), Harris Contracting ($119,700 for courthouse remodeling), a $10,000 Wells Fargo Bank appraisal, and $26,900 for a portion of the skating rink. The commission voted 5-0 to authorize payment of claims numbered 149435 through 149529 totaling $782,284.46. CEO Bill Everett added that a south entrance ramp project at the courthouse was tiled at no extra charge to the county and that Harris Contracting poured cement under the tiles.
The board approved participation in the Montana Department of Justice 9-1-1 Grant Program (5-0), and approved the appointment of election judges for the 2026 federal and primary elections after Election Administrator Toni Hofland presented a trained slate of judges; Hofland stated she requires three judges per table 'totaling eighteen' and said the 'bare minimum is thirty-seven' as recorded.
Reappointments included Lorelei Saffle to the Planning Board, which passed 4-1 after Commissioner Ed Beaudette expressed concern that a county employee should not serve on that board due to a potential conflict of interest. Greg Warner’s reappointment to the Police Commission passed 5-0.
The commission also approved multiple special event permits, including the Anaconda A’s American Legion baseball season, Junkapalooza flea market, Smeltermen’s Days (with insurance coverage follow-up), and a Sept. 26 wedding at Washoe Park. A change order for the ADLC 2026 Street Improvements Project was approved, and Resolution 26-15 was adopted to define the right-of-way construction season and materials; the resolution added a provision modeled on Montana Department of Transportation specifications requiring flowable fill to backfill excavations that disturb more than one cubic yard prior to paving.
All motions recorded in the minutes carried, except the Planning Board reappointment vote which recorded a single dissent. Chair Hart adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Actions recorded in the meeting minutes are procedural approvals or standard contracting and do not indicate additional policy changes beyond the approved resolutions and contracts.
