Beacon of Hope Inc. inches closer to startup

Former Whitehall Ambulance Director Tyler Steinebach gave an update for Beacon of Hope Inc. at Monday night’s council meeting.

Steinebach said Beacon of Hope Inc., who will be leasing the ambulance facility and equipment from the Town of Whitehall, should be up and running this week.

“We are waiting for the insurance cards, which is paid and already mailed out, to be in hand before we say we have them,” Steinebach said.

The cards Steinebach mentioned are for vehicles, property and malpractice insurance.

Town Attorney Ed Guza said at the meeting his office has been involved with the Sheriff’s office on the investigation into the hidden camera’s found in the ambulance barn in early October. At this time, the Town Attorney’s office has not learned anything except that the investigation is continuing.

“Certainly this is a matter of high importance to the town and the privacy of the people that live here,” Guza said.

Council President Mac Smith made a motion “to authorize the Town Attorney’s office to file and maintain any viable legal causes of action rising out of the Whitehall Ambulance Service against both Jefferson County through the Office of Sheriff, the State of Montana through the Department of Health and Human Services and any other party or persons who has caused damages to the Town of Whitehall by their interference with the town’s ambulance service. Any and all inquiries concerning the litigation should go through the town attorney”.

The motion is from the results of the executive session on Monday night at 6 p.m. The discussion had been ongoing for about four months. The motion was passed unanimously.

Lee Good of TSS answered some questions from the Town of Whitehall about recording the council meetings. Good said at this time, only 60 percent of the files are being saved. Good said they will work to get the recordings to 100 percent and may have to get additional equipment to do so.

“Switching to high definition caused us a number of problems, a few years or a year ago. We are still working the bugs out to get the recording to 100 percent. The recording equipment we had for the analog equipment doesn’t work for the high definition, “ Good said.

He added if anyone would like a recording of the ones that are available to call his office.

In her report, Town Clerk/Treasurer Summer Fellows stated the town has a bid to for 56 98-gallon trashcans, which would be a good start to the 98 needed so each customer their own garbage can. The bid amount was for $4,662.84, $749 of that is the cost of shipping. Fellows offered to drive a trailer and pick up if or when she goes out of town to see her grandchildren to save the town the cost of having them shipped.

Fellows also talked about the public comment period from last month’s meeting in which Joel Andrews spoke about the town budget and financial reports. Fellows said she is two budget reports behind, the annual financial report is still late, and she is still waiting for the gentleman that is doing the annual financial report to get them done.

“We are not the only ones he is working on, as far as town’s and annual financial reports,” Fellows said.

She added the town clerk treasurer has many responsibilities, they don’t all revolve around the budget, an annual financial report or an audit; which the town clerk does not do the audits.

“The town pays $12,000 per year to do the audit. I recently switched to do bi-annual audits with the Mayor’s permission with recommendation from Kim Smith who is Cheryl Grey’s (Administrator, State Financial Services Division, Dept. of Administration) assistant, “ Fellows said.

In his report, Mayor Dale Davis reported the Town had not received a check for the Sugar Beet Row Sewer Line Extension. Commissioner Leonard Wortman responded for Jefferson County and said the county is working on putting all of the grants together and will address the Rural Development Board to get the $17,000 paid to the Town of Whitehall. Wortman said the project would be done in two phases beginning on the April 10, 2017. The first phase will be burying the line. Wortman added the company that is doing the relining isn’t available till June.

Public Works Director Kory Klapan said he collected six water samples on March 8, 2017, costing a little over $100 each, and has not gotten the results of these at the time of the meeting.