The Williams County Commission was joined for their meeting Tuesday morning by six Williston High School students who sat in as honorary members of the board as part of Elks Youth Day.

Students Sonja Slater, Catherine Hahn, Jessica Heinrich, Cameron Hughes, Ashley Fixen and Reese Clausen helped make some very important decisions.

At the meeting, the board appointed Tioga city auditor Jamie Erass to the Williams County Planning and Zoning Commission. Her term will end Feb. 1, 2012.

Board members voted to increase camping rates at Blacktail $5 per day, making the current rate $15 per day, and also approved four abatements. Two were disabled veteran abatements and one was a homestead credit.

The board approved a preliminary plat west of town and voted in favor of waiving a 10-acre condition. The future home will have setbacks over 100 feet. Williams County Disaster Emergency Services Director Ed Lodwig addressed the board and said that the burn ban has been lifted, but he meets with the fire chiefs once or twice a week to review the situation.

"We have a number of controlled burn bans and this is hopefully providing some relief, but we are just going to continue to monitor it on a weekly basis. We've been really fortunate in Williams County, we responded to a number of fires in Divide County. It is still very dry along the northern border but it is starting to green up," said Lodwig.

According to Williams County Personnel Director Helen Askim, Vector Control Board Director Fran Bosch has hired two crews to help fight mosquitoes.

Askim also said that two positions have recently been filled, so there is a new property specialist in the auditor's office and a new administrative assistant in the Evaluation department.

Jeff Roel of the Regional Council spoke to the commission and honorary members, and said that they are working on their five-year development plan.

"This is kind of a daunting process, and we are seeking information from you as members of the commission about any projects that you think are important in the next five years," said Roel.

He said he has been canvassing the three-county area and handed out surveys to each commissioner.

"I just need your input in what you feel is important for the county and where we can possibly help," he said. "I have also included an overview of some of the projects and what we have been working on for the last 12 months."

He also handed out a copy of the goals and objectives from the last area plan. "This is a five year process, and this will take me about eight months to get this completed," he said.

He also spoke about a project they are looking at right now under natural resources called alternative energy.

"We're looking at putting in two anometers in Williams County so I'm working with the community on that right now," said Roel.