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February 7, 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. Romine to approve the minutes from the January 17, 2006 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented the bills. Kluck appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the bills totaling $255,077.56 and Social Service bills totaling $12,362.50. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Aaron Gilstad with the ND Atmospheric Board then appeared in regards to the 2005 annual report for Weather Modification. Chairman Gruenberg thanked Mr. Gilstad for sending out the information regarding the 2005 Weather Modification program. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the 2005 ND Atmospheric Board Weather Modification annual report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Gorlyn Wolhk, Douglas Fire Chief, then appeared regarding Ward County’s 911 system. Minot Police Chief Dan Draovitch also appeared. After much discussion, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Lee to ask E-911 Coordinator Fred Debowey and Past Minot Rural Fire Chief Bob Wetzler to form a “User Advisory Board”, as authorized by the Mouse River Fireman Association approximately 3 years ago, to discuss how to improve the 911 system in Ward County. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Greg Hagen, Executive Director of Souris Basin Planning Council appeared regarding a Community Development Block Grant for a unisex bathroom on the 1st floor of the Courthouse. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adopt a resolution for the Ward County Commission to act as the sponsor of a Courthouse ADA improvement project CDBG. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Bob Schempp appeared regarding the All Seasons Arena seating project. State’s Attorney John Van Grinsven also appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to participate in the seating project in the amount of $98,000, with $40,000 to come from the cash carryover in the 2006 general fund and the remainder to come from the 2007 general fund budget. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. After further discussion, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to remove the mention of interest from the tri-party agreement. Roll call: Comms. Watne and Romine voted yes, Comms. Erickson, Lee and Gruenberg voted no; motion failed. Smestad requested to know what the amount of interest would be so that she could properly budget for it. Schempp informed her that he didn’t know at this time and introduced the new North Dakota State Fair manager, Bob Wagoner, who would have that information available for the 2007 budget process.
County Recorder Sheila Dalen then appeared regarding having her office providing photo service for passports. Board consensus was that to have the Recorder’s office provide this service would take away from area business and to not pursue the matter. No further action was taken.
Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following zone change request: Kim Brown, rezone from A-1 (Agricultural district) to R-1 (Single family residential district) for the South 722’ of E2SESE Section 23 Burlington Township (155-84); to approve the following plat approvals: Norman Sollid on behalf of Glenn Hance for Outlot 3 of SWSW Section 4 Margaret Township (157-81); Beverly Roen for Outlot 1 of NWSW Section 5 Freedom Township (153-83); Dennis Huff for Outlot 1 of SE & NE Section 21 Carbondale Township (158-87) and Ward County for Outlot 1 of Government Lots 4 & 5 Section 2 Rice Lake Township (152-85). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
With Siebert still present, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve three applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; two corrections to mobile home assessments; six mobile homes exemptions; and four homestead credit qualifications. Roll call voted: all voted yes; motion carried.
After much discussion regarding the ND Insurance Reserve Fund’s letter regarding the Burlington Fire Department’s request for coverage of their turn-out gear, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: Berthold Development Corp: thank you for funding; First Dist. Health Unit: 2 notices to remove by owner; NDIRF: Burlington Fire Dept.’s turn-out gear; Ward County Highway Dept: letter to Alan Walters re: dumping fees and to direct the Highway Department to proceed with the cleanup order on Outlot 5 of SW ¼ of SW ¼ of Section 32 of 156-85, located in Lonetree. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then informed the Board of an Economic Development Seminar to be held next Tuesday and asked if anyone was attending. Comm. Watne stated that she would be attending.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the following applications for raffle permits: Habitat for Humanity Northern Lights, March 5 – 6, 2006 with prizes totaling $900; Western ND Golf Inc., August 17 – 20, 2006 with prizes totaling $1,100; Minot Gun Club, February 7 – August 27, 2006 with prizes totaling $2705.69; and Souris River Basin Longbeards, May 13, 2006 with prizes totaling $689.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Kluck appeared regarding an ordered cleanup in Lonetree, from the First District Health Unit, previously received and filed. Comms. Romine (motion maker) and Erickson (2nd) agreed to add “to direct the Highway Department to proceed with the cleanup order” to the earlier motion. Comm. Lee expressed his concern that a Board member be in attendance with the First District Health Unit, for inspection, prior to any ordered cleanups. Comm. Romine informed the Board that the matter had been discussed at the Board of Health meetings, but due to concerns regarding the scheduling of inspections, it no Commissioner had been contacted and that she would bring the matter up again at the February meeting.
Smestad then presented the Board with a bill from Ackerman Surveying & Associates for a topographic survey on Kenmare Scenic Lake Road. Comm. Lee and Kluck presented the Board with background information regarding the project. Van Grinsven also appeared briefly for comment regarding the agreement that was signed in 2003. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to deny payment of the bill and forward it to Kenmare City for payment. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad informed the Board that the State Land Department had oil impact grant monies available. Board consensus was to refer the information to the County Engineer to see if any projects may qualify. No further action was taken.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the Highway Department 2006 improvements update. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the following request for duplicate warrants: Excel Energy in the amount of $875.00 and MDU, in the amount of $350.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Chairman to sign the 2006 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program Award, between the City of Minot and the County for support of the Drug Task Force. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Auditor to contact Robert Hembree and Norman Livingston, members of the Ward County Planning Commission, to see if they are interested in serving another 4 year term. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Chairman Gruenberg then addressed the issue of smoking at the doorways of the courthouse – his recommendation was to have the Building Services Supervisor install signs stating “No smoking within 50 feet of any Courthouse entrance”. Kluck appeared briefly to request that the ban cover all county buildings. Van Grinsven also appeared to inform the Board of the current State laws regarding smoking at public buildings. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to prohibit smoking on all county property with signs on all doors. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following payroll amendments: Robin G. Pretzer – Social Worker II – Independent Living Program – Social Services – Level 10 (Temp. Hourly to ½ time salaried); Cortney Stelzner – Social Worker II – Social Services; Angela Shaw – Social Worker II – Social Services; Kimberlee Guderjahn – Eligibility Worker Tech – Social Services; Christine Feist – Eligibility Worker Tech - Social Services; Patricia Adkins - Eligibility Worker Tech - Social Services; Kristy L. Voecks – Social Worker I – Social Services; Trista Van Winkle – Social Worker I – Social Services; Leilani Olafson – Librarian/Bookmobile Driver. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Kluck then presented information to the Board.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the recommendation of Highway Committee to allow Lowell Myers to widen his driveway, at his cost, with an inspection and approval from the County Engineer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the recommendation of the Highway Committee to refer the issue of the County doing township road maintenance to the annual Farm to Market hearing and to seek testimony from the townships and contracting industry. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to set the date of the annual Farm to Market hearing for April 4th at 1:00 p.m. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the recommendation of the Highway Committee to add the replacement of three Code 3 deficient bridges: number 154-49.1 on CR 18 west of Highway 52; 153-53.1 on CR 23, south of Sawyer and number 125-24 on Highway 6 in Carpio to the replacement plan, to add the bridges to the Engineer selection review, and to seek Federal Aid funding for the replacements. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
At 10:28 a.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Engineer to advertise for a snow plow truck and to return with a bid report and recommendations at a future Board meeting. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.
At 10:30 a.m. Comm. Lee returned to the meeting.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve a request from Enbridge Pipeline to conduct an emergency response drill on Nelson Carlson Lake on February 16th. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve sending the Assistant County Engineer to the National County Engineers Convention in Michigan, with the State County Engineers Association paying for the registration and the remainder of the cost to come from the Highway Department budget. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Kluck also informed the Board that Dana Larsen had been recognized at the State Convention for his level of training through NDSU and is now a Road Scholar and is an officer with the State Association.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the County Engineer to purchase a pull-type mulcher from Sweeny Brothers, to be used in pulling gravel off of the road shoulders. Kluck informed the Board that the bid came in $3,000 under the budgeted amount.
Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the County Engineer to move the 40 mph sign on CR 15 to the crest of the hill and replace the current sign with a “reduced speed ahead” sign. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared before the Board with informational items regarding the grant for the Homeland Security Planner; EAS system testing; weather radios for the schools and auditor’s offices in Ward County and various other items.
At 10:45 a.m. Comm. Watne left the meeting.
At 10:47 a.m. Comm. Romine left the meeting.
At 10:50 a.m. Comms. Watne and Romine returned to the meeting.
Van Grinsven then appeared regarding the previous motion of no-smoking on county property and its enforcement. After much discussion, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to have the previous motion regarding no smoking on county property to not take effect for 60 days to allow time for more research. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented the Board with a letter from the Jail Commander regarding updated Jail policies and procedures. Smestad informed the Board that the Jail Commander would be appearing at the February 21st meeting to seek approval of the manual. No further action was taken.
At 11:08 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adjourn the meeting.
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 21st DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2006.
S/Jerome Gruenberg
Chair, Ward County Commissioners
ATTEST:
S/Devra Smestad
Ward County Auditor/Treasurer
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