Chair Parks called the meeting to order at 7 PM. All members were present, including the Administrative Manager; members of the public in attendance included (but not limited to) the following: Mary Strickroth, Zondra Skertich, Doug MacCartney, Bob Kopeland, Randy Russell, Laura Dooley, Lori Hoppe, Amy Howie, Shawnee Good, Becky Smith, Nathan Varley and JoLynn Sharrow.
Administrative Manager Bush presented the November meeting minutes. Secretary/Treasurer Stone moved to approve the November minutes. Director Dawson seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Administrative Manager Bush presented the current expenses for the month. Director Gerdes moved to approve the current expenses. Vice-Chair Dalling seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Vice-Chair Dalling moved to approve the financial reports for the month. Secretary/Treasurer Stone seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Chair Parks explained Greater Gardiner Community Council’s request to spend $3000 of the 2017 GGCC Community Center Floor appropriation on room dividers. After Board discussion, it was decided not to grant this request as it wasn’t part of the original project. Vice-Chair Dalling moved to transfer the remaining $5087 balance back into the available funds for tonight’s appropriations.
Chair Parks welcomed the public to the meeting, explaining that members of the Board can make motions on any of the existing applications. Secretary/ Treasurer reported that the District has $498,905 available funds for appropriation. The following motions were made:
Director Dawson moved to approve Gateway Hose’s Building Expansion Rollover request for $80,000.00. Director Gerdes seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Director Gerdes moved to approve EPAC’s Shakespeare in the Parks request for $1350.00. Secretary/Treasurer Stone seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Director Dawson moved to approve Gardiner Water & Sewer’s Spring Box Improvement request for $86,032.00. Vice-Chair Dalling seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Secretary/Treasurer Stone moved to approve the Gateway Hose Company’s Ambulance Equipment request for $66,930.00. Director Gerdes seconded the motion. No discussion was needed. Vice-Chair Dalling abstained from voting. All others voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Chair Parks moved to approve $2942.00 of the Bear Creek Council’s request – $2700.00 is for the Bear Proof Cans and $242.00 is for the Earth Day event. Director Gerdes seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Chair Parks moved to approve the Gardiner Public School’s $250,000.00 request for the Boilers – Phase 1. Secretary/Treasurer Stone seconded the motion. Secretary/Treasurer Stone asked Mr. Russell, School Superintendent if additional funds became available could the Resort Funds amount be reduced. Mr. Russell said the entire project will cost quite a bit more than this request, so any additional money would be used for other parts of the project. No further discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Secretary/Treasurer updated the Board that they had already “over” appropriated. It was agreed to continue on until the end and “see where things stand”.
Secretary/Treasurer Stone moved to approve Entre Nous’ Scout House Appliances request for $1900.00. Director Dawson seconded the motion. Director Gerdes abstained from voting. All others voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Director Gerdes moved to approve GGCC’s Jail – Final Phase request for $2136.00. Vice-Chair Dalling seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Director Gerdes moved to approve EPAC’s Season Support request for $3000.00. Vice-Chair Dalling seconded the motion. Discussion centered on whether this was a specific event/project. All voted against; none in favor. Motion died.
Director Gerdes moved to approve EPAC’s Oblongata Show & Workshop request for $2391.00. Secretary/Treasurer Stone seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; Three votes in favor (Dalling, Gerdes, Stone), one vote against (Dawson). Motion passed.
Vice-Chair Dalling moved to approve EPAC’s Youth Initiative request for $2300.00. Director Dawson seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Chair Parks moved to approve Gardiner FFA Alumni’s request for $3760.00 for the advisor staff support portion of the application, subject to the Gardiner School Board’s approval of an extended contract. Secretary/Treasurer Stone seconded the motion. Chair Parks confirmed with the school superintendent that this would not hinder the school’s ability to receive other funding. No further discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Director Gerdes moved to approve NYEF’s Missoula Children’s Theatre request for $2100.00. Secretary/Treasurer Stone seconded the motion. No discussion was needed. Vice-Chair Dalling abstained from voting. All others voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Chair Parks stated that because the Gardiner Rodeo Club’s applications were not complete, their group was not represented at the November meeting and the owners of the property (the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce) were not involved in the applications therefore, these applications will not be considered. The group was encouraged to get with the Gardiner Chamber and resubmit next year.
Chair Parks removed the Successful Gardiner application from the list, stating he had other ideas regarding that application.
Secretary/Treasurer Stone updated the Board that with the current motions they were still approximately $2936.00 short. Various suggestions were made as to which projects to reduce funds for and offers were made from the public members present to give up some of their funding.
Vice-Chair Dalling moved to reduce the Gateway Hose Company’s Ambulance Equipment amount to $63,994.00. Director Gerdes seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted NO; none in favor. Motion died.
Based on the school Superintendent Randy Russell’s offer to reduce the school’s appropriation by $2936.00, Vice-Chair Dalling moved to reduce the Gardiner Public School’s Boilers – Phase 1 amount to $247,064.00 with the understanding: should additional funds become available by December 31, 2018 that $2936.00 will be added to this appropriation. No further discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Director Gerdes moved to approve the complete list of projects and appropriations. Vice-Chair Dalling seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Secretary/Treasurer Stone presented the proposed 2019 District Budget to the Board, explaining each line of the budget and answering any Board questions. Chair Parks emphasized the surplus that is building in the District’s Operating Fund (account balance is @ $79,000)
He proposed using $15,000.00 of this surplus to fund the Successful Gardiner application, noting he reduced their request by half. Chair Parks moved to spend $15,000.00 from the Operating Fund to make a line item on the 2019 District’s budget, dependent on advice from District counsel, Betsy Griffing.
Director Gerdes seconded the motion. Several questions were raised during Board discussion: Can the Operating Fund be used to fund an application? Does this motion make this a “board project”? Would invoices be available to track payments?
After discussion was held, a vote was taken; 4 voted in favor (Dalling, Gerdes, Parks and Dawson) 1 vote against (Stone). Motion passed, pending opinion of counsel. Director Dawson moved to approve the amended 2019 District Operating Budget of $53,784.00. Vice-Chair Dalling seconded the motion. No further discussion was needed; 4 votes in favor (Dalling, Gerdes, Parks and Dawson) 1 vote against (Stone). Motion passed.
Secretary/Treasurer Stone and Chair Parks updated the Board on the annual resort tax meeting held over at Big Sky. It was nice to meet folks from other districts and learn about their operations. Several bills are being drafted that might affect resort tax districts and the Big Sky district is paying for a lobbyist to keep an eye on those; at some point they may be asking other districts to help with this cost.
In New Business, Chair Parks updated the Board on a late application received from an individual concerned with snow removal in town. As this application was late and filed by an individual not a non-profit organization, it cannot be considered. Members of the public from GGCC said they would address his concerns. Director Gerdes updated the Board on a meeting held with the new Superintendent of Yellowstone Park and the non-profit groups in town.
Also in New Business, the GGCC has two rollover requests concerning current appropriations. Director Gerdes moved to approve GGCC’s requests to rollover the Jail Appropriation in the amount of $10,499.60 and the Grant Writer Appropriation in the amount of $683.00. Secretary/Treasurer Stone seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
Chair Parks called for Public Comments. A question was asked concerning contracts for the 2019 Appropriations and when they will be finalized. EPAC expressed their continuing gratitude for funding of their projects. Bear Creek Council expressed their gratitude for the Board taking on the Successful Gardiner project. The next meeting will be held on January 8, 2019 at 7:00 PM. Director Dawson moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 PM. Vice-Chair Dalling seconded the motion. No discussion was needed; all voted in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
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