August 1, 2006 Regular meeting minutes

    
     The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Gruenberg at 9:00 am with Comms. Romine, Watne, Erickson and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad and County Engineer Roger Kluck.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes from July 18, 2006, with corrections. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented the bills. Kluck appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the Social Service bills totaling $12,536.68 and the bills totaling $424,060.52. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Steve Dorval with Interstate Engineering then appeared regarding a memorandum of understanding between the Fort Berthold Tribe, Ward County and the BIA.  Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve, with the review and approval of the State's Attorney, the memorandum of understanding between the Fort Berthold Tribe, Ward County, and the BIA for possible funding for improvements to county roads located on the reservation. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. State's Attorney John Van Grinsven then appeared for comment and gave his approval of the memorandum of understanding.

      Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly then appeared regarding a proposal from Bacon Signs. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Building Services Supervisor to accept the bid from Bacon Signs, in the amount of $2,178.00, to install an outdoor information sign at the west entrance of the Courthouse, with the money to come from the Commissioners Contingency fund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared.  Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve seven applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; three applications for two-year new construction exemption; two applications for blind exemption; one application for disabled veteran exemption and one application for homestead credit; and to approve the following plat applications: Sollid Surveying on behalf of Kevin Forbes, Sublot B of Outlot 4, NESE, Section 25 Sundre Township (154-82); Myron Thompson, Evergreen Third Subdivison, Harrison Township (155-83); Gary Adam, Outlots 20 & 21 of Government Lots 2 & 3, Section 19, Harrison Township (155-83); and Randy Westby, Evergreen Fourth Subdivison, Harrison Township (155-83). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature of the PSC Alliance, Inc. supplement to professional services agreement. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

            With Reynolds still present, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature of the contract with Motorola for the purchase, installation and initial testing operations of the new 9-1-1 Tower Communications system at project sites in Kenmare, Berthold, Donnybrook, Sawyer, Ryder, and Minot. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      The Board then discussed with Reynolds his inquiry about locations for placement of the two Ward County “Storm Ready” community signs. No further action was taken.

      Smestad then presented items for Board’s action.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the following correspondence: City of Minot – annexation; Ward Co. Highway Dept – Federal Aid road project; PSC – brochure on abandoned mines; Terry Traynor – Wireless 9-1-1 fees; County Engineer Kluck – letter to ND DOT; Ward Co. Water Resource District – proposed special assessment district. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the pledged securities, investments, and checking accounts through June 30, 2006. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to rescind the following motion from the July 18, 2006 meeting: “Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to have the three commissioners sign the lease, as per Caterpillar’s request. Substitute motion made by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to purchase the dozer with the funds to come out of the excess equipment fund and have only the chairman sign the purchase agreement. Roll call on the substitute motion: all present voted yes; motion carried.” After some discussion, Chairman Gruenberg called a point of order and called for the roll. Roll call on motion to rescind: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion to rescind carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Chairman’s signature on a letter of recommendation for Sheila Dalen for the Excellence in Government Award 2006. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Dalen also appeared briefly to report that the recent ND Recorder’s Convention, held in Minot, was a great success.

      Kluck briefly appeared regarding Ward County’s membership in the ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties.  Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to have Ward County pay dues, in the amount of $182.25, to the ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appeared briefly regarding payroll amendments. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the following applications for payroll amendments: Trista Van Winkle, Social Worker II; Kristy L. Voecks, Social Worker II; Brenden Rosendahl, Juvenile Detention Officer (new hire); Heidi Russell, Juvenile Detention Officer (new hire). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      At 9:28 a.m. the Board recessed for a public hearing.

      At 9:30 a.m., the time set for a public hearing on a moving permit from Jon Anderson, Chairman Gruenberg opened the hearing.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert appeared. With Jon Anderson present and no one appearing either for or against the moving permit, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the application to move a one story 24x42 house from 1013 1^st Ave, Rolette ND to Lot 5, Lakeview Second Addition on South Rice Lake Road, per the recommendation and requirement of Siebert that a center-bearing wall be constructed in the crawl space to support the floor beams. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      At 9:32 a.m. Chairman Gruenberg closed the public hearing and recessed the regular meeting.

      At 9:44 a.m. the Board reconvened with all Commissioners present.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to enter into contract with Cook Wegner & Wike PLLP for bond counsel to assist Ward County with the question of issuance of general obligation bonds to be placed on the ballot for the General Election in November 2006. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then confirmed with the Board that Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert was the County delegate to the ND Association of Counties convention in October.  

       Discussion was then held regarding the City/County/School/Park Liaison meeting to be held at 12:00 p.m. today. Sheriff Vern Erck, Reynolds, Kluck and Van Grinsven all appeared regarding topics on the Liaison committee agenda.

      Kluck then presented items for the Board’s action.

      After much discussion regarding the tax foreclosed property in Kenmare (Lots 12-22, Block 21, Tolley’s Plat, Kenmare) it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to: 1) have the Engineer call for bids for demolition of the structure and 2) request that Kenmare City pay 50% of the demolition costs, with the balance being paid within five years. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Erickson who voted no; motion carried.

      Van Grinsven appeared regarding a motorgrader equipment purchase. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to return the lease agreement to Caterpillar with the signature of the Chairman and inform Caterpillar that only the Chairman signs lease agreements. Roll call: Comms. Lee and Gruenberg voted yes; Comms. Romine, Watne and Erickson voted no; motion failed.

      It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to return the lease agreement to Caterpillar with the signature of three commissioners, per their request. Comm. Lee made an amended motion to return the lease agreement to Caterpillar with the signature of Comms. Erickson, Watne and Romine. Amended motion died for lack of a second. After much discussion, Comm. Watne called for the question. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Watne, Erickson and Romine voted yes; Comms. Gruenberg and Lee voted no; motion carried. Van Grinsven appeared briefly for a question.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to have the Highway Committee meet with the City leaders on a request for grade separation at 55^th Street near Gavin Yard. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented the Board with three options regarding equipment renting for the regrading of County Road 15 from County Road 8 and south. It was moved by Comm. Lee to go with the second lowest bidder, Ernie Nelson Construction. Motion died for lack of a second. After more discussion, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to cancel this year’s bid for grading equipment rental altogether, and allow the Engineer to continue the 2005 contract with Quality Construction. Substitute motion made by Comm. Lee that the low bid of Gratech be accepted. Motion died for lack of a second. Roll call on the motion to cancel the bid and continue the contract with Quality Construction: all voted yes, except Comms. Lee and Gruenberg; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented the Commissioner’s with a request from Douglas City for the Highway Department to perform work for the city prior to their centennial celebration this coming weekend. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to perform the work and bill Douglas City. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Engineer to send a letter to the ND Department of Transportation to correct the federal aid route to match County Road 16 east of US 83 and include a request to add County Road 18 from US 83 to US 52 to the federal aid system. After much discussion, Comm. Watne called for the question. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer and Accounts Payable Clerk to issue a check to the 2006 National Recreation and Park Association, in the amount of $315, to cover the seminar registration expenses for Park Worker Steve Fuegmann. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented several informational items to the Board.

      With no furthers business, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 a.m.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 15^th DAY OF AUGUST, 2006.

 

s/Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad