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Commissioners approve routine contracts, planning items and election-pay changes
Summary
At the Jan. 14 meeting commissioners approved an annual roof-maintenance contract, paid a PILT legal claim, adopted a county safety incentive program, raised election-judge pay to match the new minimum wage, extended a preliminary RV-park plat, denied a family-transfer land split and approved a final subdivision plat.
At their Jan. 14 meeting Lincoln County commissioners handled a package of routine administrative and planning actions, moving several measures forward without prolonged public debate.
Contracts and administrative items The board approved an annual roof-maintenance contract with Advanced Roofing for the Lincoln County campus to preserve warranty compliance; commissioners discussed tree-related roof risks and warranty language before the voice vote. The board also approved payment of a $1,273.50 PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) claim from Freyer Associates for legal work on a land conveyance. Commissioners approved the county’s 2026 safety incentive program; staff said the program adds a departmental incentive drawing to encourage quarterly participation and helps reduce workers’ compensation claims.
Elections pay Elections staff told the board that Montana’s minimum wage rose to $10.85 on Jan. 1. The county moved to raise pay to match: regular election judges to $10.85 per hour, chief judges to $11.35 and election managers to $11.85. Staff said the increases had been budgeted.
Planning actions Planning staff recommended a two-year extension for the Dirty Shame RV Park preliminary plat (to expire Jan. 25, 2028) because DEQ comments require revisions and no construction has begun; the board approved the extension. The board denied a requested family-transfer exemption to split a 4.482-acre parcel (certificate of survey 3853) into two lots, following staff advice that the parcel was originally created by a family-transfer exemption and further exempt splits without subdivision review could create unchecked development and sanitation problems. Planning staff recommended denial to require standard subdivision review and ensure sanitary approvals are in place. The board approved the IVAR amended lot-to-subdivision final plat (four residential lots, 3.63–5.99 acres) after staff found conditions of preliminary approval had been met.
Votes and next steps Most items were adopted by voice vote; multiple motions carried and the transcript records one or more recorded dissents during several voice votes. County staff will process signed documents, update records and, where applicable, pursue the normal permitting and DEQ processes required before construction or development can begin.
