September 2019 Minutes

Members present: Steve & Karol Zachmann, Tammy O’Donnell, Shanny Gion, Tasha Losing, Dean Wang, Alissa Miller, Shyla Hadley, Merri Beck, Christina Gaub, Beth Epley, Roy & Melissa Rost, Gretchen Mahon, Jim Reetz, Shanya Stoddard, Darlene Hornung

Vice President Alissa Miller called meeting to order. Asked for approval of August minutes. Karol moved to do so, all in favor.

Financial Report: All bills are paid

Old Business: Fairgrounds dishes: Budgets go in for approval today with the county commissioners

Website: bakermt.com is up. Get business info to Shanny.

OLD BUSINESS:

Fall Festival Sept. 7. Passed around sign up sheet. 7 vendors have sent in applications. Tammy will make up boards for the duck races which have been moved to the empty lot on the corner. Dean will bring panels to put around them. Robbie Christaens will bring tables and garbages. Mona will get the power panel and have Brian Davis hook it up.

Calcutta Oct. 5. A live band (Kyle Shobe and the Walkem’ Boys) has been booked that will auction and do games. Vaughn Zenko will emcee. Trish has ordered decorations. We need ideas for a big prize. Flight, NFR tickets, getaway package to Deadwood, Red Lodge were suggested.

Moonlight Madness and Appreciation Supper will be Thurs., Oct. 17. Need servers from 4:30 - 7 p.m.

Plevna’s pancake and sausage supper will be Oct. 12 Downtown trick or treat will be held for Halloween again. Tammy will contact businesses about participating. Will have members direct traffic. Bank of Baker and Russell’s parking lots are available for trunk or treat.

Member reports:

Beth Epley - EPEDC: Sept. 17 a travel blog exchange will be in Baker. Brenda Maus of Visit SE MT is the contact person. As many as 8 people on the tour will be here. Beth is working on lots of grants. The city is applying for one for their water supply.

Melissa Rost - Museum: The museum had 275 guests in August. Baker is hosting the Eastern Montana Museum Assn. meeting in October. She is planning a Night at the Museum around Halloween and recruiting people to play various characters.

Roy Rost - Fallon County Commission: Budget meeting is today at 3:30 p.m. County got an EMS grant for $48,000 for an ambulance loading system.

Jim Reetz - Baker Body Shop: asked about city watering dirt on streets.

Steve Zachmann - Baker City Council: They had their budget meeting last night. There was no public comment. Streets need work and they are planning an SID for street improvement. They plan to chip seal for all streets need to be done every 5 years. They will hold public hearings on the SID. The water project that needs to be done will cost a projected $22 million to do all the lines. The water main project on the west side to 4th street will be over $5 million to complete. They have secured 1 grant and are working with EPEDC on another. The 2 grants would total $1.3 million. They are asking the county for a loan for the rest of the $5 million.

Gretchen Mahon - McCone County Credit Union: Community Gives Back donated $3500 to the Senior Center. Last week, they gave out $400 in $20’s with a note to random people. They will be changing their name and will reveal it in October. It will become official in November.

Karol Zachmann - FMC: Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon will be Oct. 3. The Chamber meeting will be at the fairgrounds that day.

Shanny Gion - SMART: The childcare survey is out. It has 10 questions and asks that everyone take the survey. The next step is to get PAR and apply for grants and the county will apply for grants. They are looking at 2-3 years to get it all approved. Shanny and Elin Kittleman are bringing in a board training that will be held Oct. 1.

Tasha Losing reported that the Women’s Ranch Rodeo finals will be in Baker Sept. 21.

Shyla Hadley - Fair board manager: Fair shows were the most attended in the last 4 years. They feel that it all went well, but they are open to any constructive criticism. This weekend the fairgrounds will host Products of the Prairie, Lions Club dinner and dance and a wedding dance.

Christina Gaub - Big Hill Boarding: It has been a busy summer for them and they have added additional boarding space. Big Hill Boarding and Griffith Excavating have developed and gotten approval for a Baker Spartan license plate to support the baseball assn.

Other Announcements: The new extension agent is here. A Baker team will compete in a Powderpuff football game in Miles City on Oct. 12 to benefit CNADA. The Baker team will scrimmage Sept. 15.

The next meeting will be held at the Exhibit Hall during the Breast Cancer Awareness luncheon on Oct. 3.

Meeting adjourned