August 15, 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. Watne, and Erickson present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad and County Engineer Roger Kluck.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne, to approve the minutes of the August 1, 2006 special and regular commission meetings. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      At 9:01 a.m. Comm. Lee arrived.

      Smestad then presented bills. Chief Deputy Dave Bosh and Kluck both appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Service bills totaling $65,798.42, Human Service bills totaling $36,125.38 and the bills totaling $137,811.41. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Ken Hegle with SRT then appeared regarding a service contract between Ward County and SRT for the telephone system. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the maintenance agreement for leased communications equipment between SRT and Ward County, in the amount of $3,360.00 per year, for three years.  Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Ted Gutzke, of the US Fish and Wildlife Service then appeared before the Board to introduce himself. Gutzke informed the Board that Ward County should have received a check, for approximately $17,000, for payment of taxes on federal owned lands. He also reported that due to recent budget cuts by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, he is now the project leader for J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, and Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge. Gutzke also introduced Thomas Pabian who is the newly appointed operations manager for the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, and Mike Grabow, manager of the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following plat applications: Brian Berg for Outlot 1 of SWNW and NWSW, Section 20, Greely Township; Scott Thompson for Outlot 1 of NESW, Section 23, Mayland Township; and Jeremy Burkhart for Outlots 1 & 2 of NW, Section 20, Foxholm Township; and to approve nine applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; one application for farm exemption; four applications for two-year new construction exemption; and two mobile home exemptions. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented items for Board action.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: Liaison Committee re: minutes; County Engineer Kluck re: letter to Kenmare City; Dept. of Air Force re: graveling of Ward County roads; ND PSC re: Enbridge pipeline; and to receive and file the monthly reports, including financial reports. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Comm. Watne informed the Board that she had been visiting with Minot City Councilmember Tim Greenheck regarding city jail fees and requested that a committee be formed to further review the costs to Ward County for prisoner board. It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to rescind the following motion from the April 18, 2006 meeting: “Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to notify the cities that the price per prisoner, per day, be raised to $30, effective with the new budget beginning January 1, 2007. After much discussion, Comm. Watne called for the question. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee, who voted no; motion carried”; to give the City 60 days notice of contract termination; and to negotiate a new contract. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Chairman Gruenberg questioned Comm. Watne on when she wanted the committee to begin and who should be appointed to it. Board consensus was to have the committee made up of the two Commissioners and two Council members who currently serve on the Liaison Committee along with the Sheriff or his representative and to set a meeting date at a later time. No further action was taken.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve an application for a raffle permit from St. Mary’s Church for October 1, 2006 with prizes totaling $1,252.50. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for a Special Event Permit serving beer, wine, liquor, pop and coffee: Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for the Dofall 40^th Wedding Anniversary on September 23, 2006 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 a.m. and Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for the Johnson Wedding Reception on September 2, 2006 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 a.m. Roll call: all present voted yes except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the 2007 preliminary budget, including the five year capitol improvement plan. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Emergency Manager Al Reynolds appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Chairman’s signature on a Homeland Security notice of grant award, in the amount of $367,311.95, to be used for approved equipment purchases. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then reminded the Board that the annual ND Association of Counties Convention will be held October 8-10 in Bismarck and requested that if the Commissioners were interested in attending to please let her know so that she can complete the registration forms. No further action was taken.

      Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appeared briefly regarding payroll amendments. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following applications for payroll amendments: Larry Pletcher – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Department (new hire); Lisa Klingman – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Department (new hire); Catherine Holt – Administrative Assistant; Jenean Maroney – File Clerk/Office Assistant (new hire); Janel Dockter – Eligibility Worker I – Social Services; Christine Feist – Eligibility Worker I – Social Services; Kimberlee Guderjahn – Eligibility Worker I. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      The Board then set Thursday, August 31 at 8:00 a.m. for the Departmental Budget Hearings.

      At 9:29 a.m. the Chairman recessed the regular Board meeting for a public hearing.

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

      Siebert appeared and presented the appeals and his reason for denial of two moving permits for David Hanson and Neil & Dee Larson at North Shore Addition, Rice Lake. Also appearing were owners Hanson and Larson. Appearing to oppose the move was Todd Wegenast, property owner living between the two properties and Vern Johnson, landowner at Rice Lake.  Smestad informed the Board that Comm. Romine had received a couple of telephone calls opposing the moving permit. After discussion, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to uphold Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert’s denial of the moving permits for David Hanson and Neil & Dee Larson. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      At 9:43 a.m. Chairman Gruenberg closed the public hearing and reconvened the regular Board meeting.

      Kluck then appeared and presented the Board with background information for his 2007 budget request.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Highway Engineer to work with the Director of Tax Equalization to obtain information for easements on the County Road 18 bridge replacement project. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then informed the Board that the recommendation of the Liaison Committee regarding the County owned west parking lot was to enter into a joint project for repair to the driveway, parking lot and sidewalks as it joins 3^rd Ave SE. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Engineer to proceed with the project, using County forces to replace asphalt in the parking lot and driveway with the City hiring a contractor to do the concrete sidewalk work. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Kluck informed the Board that he had advertised for bids to demolish the old Kenmare implement building in the newspaper, but had to yet receive a response. Kluck also informed the Board that someone had contacted him in regards to the possible purchase of the building. Kluck plans to meet with the individual August 17.  No further action was taken.

      The Board then discussed informational items with Kluck.

      Smestad questioned if the Board would like to hold a meeting at the first Ward County Courthouse building, now located at the Ward County Historical Society, ND State Fairgrounds. Chairman Gruenberg suggested having a smaller group meeting out there due to the room constraints.

      Comm. Watne informed the Board that the Finance and Marketing Committee would be meeting today at 1:00 p.m. and suggested holding a joint building, finance and marketing committee meeting at the first Ward County Courthouse on Tuesday, September 5 at 1:00 p.m. Chairman Gruenberg requested that Smestad confirm that date and time with the Historical Society.

      At 9:59 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adjourn the meeting.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 5^th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2006.

 

s/Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad