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December 5, 2006 Regular meeting minutes The organizational meeting of the Ward County Commissioners was called to order by Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad at 9:00 a.m. with Comm’s. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Watne, Erickson and Lee present. Also present was County Engineer Roger Kluck.
The floor was then opened for nominations for Chairman. Comm. Erickson nominated Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson, that nominations cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Comm. Watne as Chairman. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Comm. Watne then assumed the Chair.
Smestad and Comm. Lee then presented additions to the agenda.
Chair Watne opened the floor for nominations for Vice-Chair. Comm. Fjeldahl nominated Comm. Lee. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to nominate Comm. Erickson for Vice-Chairman. Roll call on Comm. Lee for Vice-Chairman: Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted no; motion failed. Roll call on Comms. Erickson for Vice-Chairman: Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the November 21, 2006 meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented the bills. Kluck also appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Social Service bills totaling $18,983.80 and the bills totaling $304,346.82. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Erickson who abstained; motion carried.
Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve seven applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; approve one application for two-year new construction exemption; and two applications for 100% Homestead Credit for 2006. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve, and authorize the Chairman’s signature of the Notice of Meeting and Agenda Order. Smestad called point of order and Comm. Lee withdrew his motion.
Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly and Kluck appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Building Services Supervisor to call for bids for the Ward County cooling tower, system and related equipment – 2007 project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Chair Watne then reviewed various committee appointments. Comm. Erickson was appointed to the Ward County Historical Society.
A vacancy on the Minot City Planning Commission was then discussed. Chair Watne informed the Board that a term had expired on December 1, 2006 with no response from the current committee member up for re-appointment; the position had been advertised but no responses had been received; she then asked the Board for suggestions of a possible appointment and that she would have a name to submit for appointment at the December 19, 2006 meeting.
Members of the Ward County Social Service Board were then discussed. Comm. Lee informed the Board that the Social Service Board used to be made up of seven members: two commissioners, five at-large and was changed to a five member board made up of Commissioner’s only. Chair Watne asked that more research into this be conducted before any appointments be made.
Comm. Lee informed the Board that the Library Board position, currently held by former Commissioner Romine was to be held by a Commissioner as was the First District Health Unit Board appointment. Chair Watne asked that more research into these boards also be conducted.
Chair Watne requested that Smestad contact Hjalmer Carlson and Jim Blomberg to see if they were attending and still interested in serving on the Minot AFB Restoration and Community Action committees, respectively.
Chair Watne then briefly reviewed the Area Development Corporation appointments; informed the Board that she combined the Personnel and Human Resource Committees and established a new committee, to be chaired by Comm. Gruenberg to look into the County/Park Board/Rice Lake Sewer project relationship.
Smestad then presented information for the Board’s attention.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to establish the meeting dates and times of the Ward County Commissioners at 9:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month; and to authorize the Chair to sign the Notice of Meeting and Agenda Order. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the following correspondence: Asst. Ward County Engineer Larsen – ND DOT re: bid letting; Ward County Engineer Kluck – Ole Olson Towing re: Highway Dept. assistance; Ward County Engineer Kluck – City of Minot, ND DOT, BN/SF Railway re: Gavin Yard Separation Grade design; State’s Attorney John Van Grinsven – Judge Mattson re: Guardian ad litem; US Dept of Housing and Urban Development re: Dakota Boys and Girl Ranch project funding. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented two bids for laser printers for the Auditor/Treasurer Office. Kluck appeared briefly for comment regarding the bid process. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept the bid of CompuTech, Inc. for two laser printers for the Auditor/Treasurer Office in the amount of $3,678.00. Roll call: all voted no, except Comm. Lee who voted yes; motion failed. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the low bid of NDACo Resources Group for two laser printers for the Auditor/Treasurer Office in the amount of $3,380.00. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Overly again appeared for comment regarding needed work at the Emerson Apartment building. After discussion, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to reject all bids received for repair and painting work at the Emerson Apartment building and to have Comm. Gruenberg draw up the specifications for work and re-advertise for bids. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the Board hereby approves the action of the County Auditor in making the following sales and authorizes the issuance of tax deeds or contracts thereon; Russell & Nancy Parizek, Brekke’s S/D Lot 2; Harrison Township; Susan Meyer, Elk Meadows Addn. Lot 28, Minot City; and Robert E. Walstad, Lots 10 & 11, Block 3 Niobe, Elmdale Township. Roll call was delayed for the Board to review the information.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve an application from the Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for a Event Permit - wedding reception on December 23, 2006 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 a.m. serving beer, liquor and wine. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the application from the Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for a Sunday Event Alcoholic Beverage Permit on December 24, 2006 from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m. and on December 31, 2006 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 a.m. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
The Board then voted on the sale of tax deed property. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendments: Nick Martin – Temporary Bookmobile Driver – Library (new hire); and John Fjeldahl – County Commissioner. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the signing of an agreement with Rath & Mehrer, P.C. for an audit for the year ending December 31, 2006, in the amount of $9,100. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented the Board with an oil impact survey to be completed and returned to the ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties Association. Chair Watne appointed Engineer Kluck and Comm. Lee to respond to the survey. No further action was taken.
Clayton Mayer with Mayer Electric then appeared regarding electrical contracts for the County. At 9:51 a.m. the Board recessed so that Comm. Gruenberg could show Mr. Mayer an area of complaint.
At 9:54 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.
Chair Watne requested that a meeting between Mr. Mayer, the Building Supervisor, the County Engineer and the Building Committee be set up to discuss any problem and concerns.
Comm. Lee then presented the Board with a ballot from 1976 regarding the County Farm to Market and Federal Aid Road Program and Tax Levy; gave a history of the legislative changes to the Farm to Market program and requested that the State's Attorney review the program to make sure it is within Ward County’s legal authority. Kluck and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven also appeared for comment. After much discussion, Chair Watne appointed Comm. Lee, Kluck and Van Grinsven to research the matter further.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer Office to issue the December 31, 2006 payroll on December 22. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Van Grinsven appeared regarding his letter to Judge Mattson about guardian at litem. No further action was taken.
Recorder Sheila Dalen appeared regarding options to her bid specifications for digitizing the land records. Kluck also appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to add an addendum to the bid specifications for the digitizing of the land records in the County Recorder’s office to include a bid for a five year plan and a bid for a one year plan. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
At 10:22 a.m. the Board recessed.
At 10:35 a.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Watne, Fjeldahl, Erickson and Lee present.
At 10:36 a.m. Comm. Gruenberg rejoined the meeting.
Kluck then presented items for Board action.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the low bid of Minot Chrysler Center for a ¾ ton pickup, in the amount of $26,294. Roll call; all voted yes; motion carried.
Lengthy discussion was then held on the 55th Street Overpass design and the reduction in federal aid that Ward County would be receiving in 2007. Kluck informed the Board that a meeting had been set up with the ND DOT on December 13 regarding the federal aid reduction and that a meeting regarding the 55th Street Overpass would be held with the City of Minot, BN/SF, the ND DOT and other participants at a later date. No further action was taken.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Chairman’s signature on a resolution authorizing the Chairman’s signature on bid awards for projects on County Road 13 and 20. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Chairman’s signature on a resolution authorizing the Chairman’s signature on bid awards for a project on 18. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Engineer to purchase GIS updates, in the amount of $2,967.50 from Softree Technical Systems and from ESRI in the amount of $2,404.37. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Kluck then presented various items for the Board’s information.
At 11:27 a.m. with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 19th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2006.
s/Darlene Watne, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners ATTEST:
s/Devra Smestad
Ward County Auditor/Treasurer
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