Silver Bow County commissioners approve $1.00M expenditure list after questions on specific claims

Silver Bow County commissioners voted 5-0 on June 4, 2025, to approve the county expenditure list for June 4, 2025, as presented at the meeting. Commissioners raised questions about individual claims and asked staff to report back with additional details on funding sources and billing history.

The questions followed a line-by-line review of claims in the expenditure packet. Commissioner Shea asked whether a wellness room listed on claim 9677 receives any external funding; county staff said the account code was not immediately clear and staff would follow up. Commissioners also discussed a wastewater surveillance payment that appears to be coded to the health department and supported by a grant from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; staff said Carroll College provided sampling services under that grant and the county paid for sample processing and shipment.

Commissioners discussed continuing Main Street uptown lighting work; commissioners said funding for lighting projects appears to be passed through and that requests for additional funding come in one lighting installation at a time. Commissioner O'Leary asked about an unusually large Northwestern Energy bill for a property listed as "80 Beef Trail Road," possibly tied to a sports field with high-power lights; staff said a county rate analyst reviews utility bills over time and would investigate any unusual increases. A claim listing "Rockwell Peterson" was clarified by staff as payments to Timberline Security Services (a vendor/W-9 situation) rather than an individual contractor.

After questions and staff clarifications, the chair moved to approve the expenditure list "as of Wednesday, 06/04/2025," with the amount read at the meeting (reported verbally at the meeting as $1,000,137.81 and 85 cents). The motion was seconded and passed on a 5-0 vote. The commission also approved a small batch of budget transfers, including a $55 transfer for title fees related to a Yamaha purchase and a $1,000 transfer into community development to cover travel for training; staff identified the transfers and their destination funds during the meeting and said the amounts were intended to cover specific departmental needs.

Commissioners repeatedly requested follow-up from county staff on specific claims: identifying the account code for the health department wellness room, confirming the scope and billing arrangement with Carroll College for wastewater testing under the state grant, reviewing the history of the Northwestern Energy account for the 80 Beef Trail Road location, and confirming the vendor identity and contract type for security services billed as Rockwell Peterson. Staff agreed to look into the items and provide additional details to commissioners.

With no further questions, the chair called for adjournment following the approval of the expenditure list and the transfers.