February 21, 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 the February 7 regular and February 13 special meetings. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented bills. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the bills totaling $282,292,82 and Social Service bills totaling $59,434.53.Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Jail Commander Penny Erickson then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne that the Jail Policy and Procedure Manual revisions be approved as recommended by Erickson.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Comm. Watne then gave a report from the Marketing Committee and requested that four additional people be added to the committee, Dana Larsen, Leonard Tennyson, Al Reynolds and someone from the Auditor/Treasurer Office, to help with a video and design of brochures to help educate the public on the need for a new office building. Chairman Gruenberg agreed to appoint the requested people, after they agreed to serve. It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the information from the Marketing Committee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Tax Equalization Director Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve six requests for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; one wheelchair exemption; two two-year new home construction; and two homestead credit applications. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Sheriff Vern Erck appeared regarding Chief Deputy Dave Bosh attending training at the FBI Academy. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve sending Chief Deputy Dave Bosh for the FBI training. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented items to the Board.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: PFM Group – latest results of bond sales and to receive and file the monthly reports, including financial reports. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Past Minot Rural Fire Chief Bob Wetzler then appeared regarding his letter on the 9-1-1 User Advisory Board.  Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the implementation of the following suggestions of Wetzler: for any/all issues to be fielded by the Emergency Resource Council Steering Committee and a 9-1-1 Quality of Service Report be initiated in order to provide users with a method of reporting both shortcomings and strengths of the 9-1-1 system. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Comm. Lee requested a list of the Emergency Resource Council Steering Committee members and how they were selected.

      Smestad reminded the Board of a City/County Liaison committee meeting today at Noon.

      Chief Deputy Dave Bosh and Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appeared regarding payroll amendments. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following payroll amendments: Emilio Vela – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department (PT) (New hire); Dennis Snodgrass – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department (PT) (New hire); Cortney Stelzner – Social Worker III – Social Services; Diane Hyduk – Social Worker II – Social Services. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept the bid for election supplies and ballot printing from The Printers in Bismarck. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented items for the Board’s action.

      Kluck informed the Board that upon further inspection, his department could handle the repairs on bridge number 125-24 on Highway 6 in Carpio. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the recommendation of the Highway Committee to authorize the County Engineer to accept the low bid from Ackerman-Estvold Engineering for replacement of two Code 3 deficient bridges: number 154-49.1 on CR 18 west of Highway 52 and 153-53.1 on CR 23, south of Sawyer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented informational items to the Board.

State’s Attorney John Van Grinsven then appeared regarding an Attorney General’s opinion regarding the combination of the City and County libraries.  Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the Attorney General’s opinion regarding the combination of city and county library services and mill levies. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad presented the Board with a Courthouse Security Policy draft for Board review. She informed the Board that Sheriff Erck would be returning at the March 21^st meeting for Board action.

      Van Grinsven appeared again to inform the Board that he had contacted Jim Montgomery with the Insurance Reserve Fund regarding a suit against the County for an appeal on a tax valuation in Minot City and that they would handle the County’s defense. Comm. Lee requested that copies of the suit be made available to the Board.

      Smestad then requested of the Board to set a check-cashing policy of no two-party checks and a maximum of $25 for personal checks. After much discussion, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to not allow any checks to be cashed through the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      With no further business, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 10:57 a.m.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 7^th DAY OF MARCH, 2006.

 

S/Jerome Gruenberg

Chairman, Ward County Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

S/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer