March 7, 2006 Regular meeting minutes

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

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the minutes from the February 21, 2006 regular meeting. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented the bills. Kluck and Chief Deputy Dave Bosh appeared briefly for comment on bills. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the bills totaling $117,965.81 with the exception of the Craft Builders, Inc bill in the amount of $749.80 for three windows in the Attendant Care Site. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented three additional bills from townships for reimbursement of FEMA monies from the summer storms. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the bills totaling $38,857.65. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following plat applications: Ruth Lampert Estate c/o Leslie Walters for the following described property: Outlot 2 of SWNW Section 22, Orlien Township (152-87); Bartel Strand for the following described property: John Reiser for the following described property: Lot 101 Replat of Robinwood Estates, Lots 8 & 9, Harrison Township (155-83); and the two requests for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; and two applications for two-year new construction exemption. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Leonard Tennyson, IT Coordinator appeared to present information from Official Payments Corporation on hosting a new county website. Tennyson explained that there are five options available to choose from: Blind pay, no data; Search to pay, current year taxes and delinquents; Look up property; Look up property and search to pay; and a web tool.  After much discussion, Comm. Lee requested that Tennyson provide website addresses for other counties currently using the different features as provided by Official Payments for review prior to the March 21^st meeting.  No further action was taken.

      Smestad then presented items to the Board. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the following correspondence: Ward Co. Highway Dept: Makoti area snow removal; Kenmare Community Development – sale of Kenmare building; City of Minot – Sunset Ridge Road addresses; Ward Co. Highway Dept: Karas Construction Sign layout; FEMA: Ward County disaster assistance; Dept. of Air Force: roads leading to missile sites. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck and Ralph Packulak, President of the North Central Rural Water Consortium, then appeared regarding a letter of support to USDA Rural Development for a loan application from the North Central Rural Water Consortium. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson, to approve a letter of support, with changes suggested by Engineer Kluck, to the USDA Rural Development, which supports the loan application as submitted by the North Central Rural Water Consortium to provide water to Upham and Granville. Roll call: Comms. Romine, Erickson and Watne voted yes; Comm. Lee voted no; motion carried.

      Packulak then requested that the Board have the Engineer draft a policy that all Utility Companies must follow when working in County right-of-ways. Kluck also appeared for comment and stated that he would rather have the contractor draft a plan and have it reviewed and approved by the Engineer. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to accept the Engineer’s recommendations to have contractors submit their plan for signage during, and reclamation after construction, and obtain the Engineer’s approval prior to beginning the work. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve a letter of support for a proposed Renaissance Zone in Kenmare. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried

       Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the following gaming site authorization: Sertoma Club of Minot for July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 at the All Seasons Arena. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine, to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the 2006 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the following raffle permit: Triple R Saddle Club, on August 20^th, 2006, at the Ruthville Rodeo Arena with prizes totaling $538.00. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the Board hereby approved the action of the County Auditor in making the following sales, and authorizes the issuance of tax deeds or contracts thereon; to Ronald & Karen Larson for Lot 8 plus ½ vac St, Block 23, Ryder City; $100 cash; David & Megan Cleary, Crow’s Plat, Lots 23 & 24, Block 3, Donnybrook City,      $1,000 – cash and Crow’s Plat, Lots 13-15, Block 3, Donnybrook City, $1,400 – cash. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad asked the Board when they would like to schedule the Department Head evaluations. The Board set a date of March 14^th beginning at 9:00 a.m. Vice-Chair Watne requested that Personnel Director Colleen Houmann send out new evaluation forms and a copy of last year’s evaluations. No further action was taken.

      Comm. Erickson then presented the Board with a report from the Electronic Monitoring Study Committee and their recommendation to not proceed with Electronic Monitoring at this point. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the recommendations of the committee to not proceed with the system at this point, but keep it in mind when working on the jail space needs. Roll call: Comms. Romine, Erickson and Watne voted yes and Comm. Lee voted no; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented the Board, for review, a hold harmless agreement for temporary closure and use of County Road 13 in Douglas City. Kluck also appeared for comment on his concerns for the extended period of the road closure. Comm. Lee requested that he and Kluck meet with the Douglas City officials to review the agreement and the Engineer’s concerns. Vice-Chair Watne moved the matter to the April 6^th meeting when Douglas City officials would be appearing before the Board. No further action was taken.

      Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appeared briefly regarding payroll amendments. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendments: Wyat Klabunde – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Dept (PT to FT); Michael Greenup – Building Service Worker – Building Services (new hire). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Houmann then appeared regarding a temporary promotion for Larry R. Hubbard as a Jail Supervisor for up to 12 weeks with the appropriate pay increase. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the temporary promotion for Larry R. Hubbard. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the Ward County Emergency Resource Council Steering Committee members and by-laws. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Comm. Romine then informed the Board that the Ward County Library Board would be meeting in the next week and was formally requesting to appear before the Board of Commissioners to present various information and to hold a public hearing on the consolidation of the City and County libraries. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to set a public hearing for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday March 21^st for the purpose of taking comment on the consolidation of the City and County Libraries and that written comments would also be accepted. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Vice-Chairman Watne appointed Chief Deputy Dave Bosh to the Marketing Committee to be included in all future meetings and correspondence.

      At 10:05 a.m. the Board briefly recessed.

      At 10:15 a.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Watne, Romine, Erickson and Lee present.

      Kluck then presented items for the Board’s action.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a contract for Engineering Services – Bridge Replacement from Ackerman/Estvold for design engineering services. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the County Engineer to accept the low bids for a tandem axle snowplow truck from: Westlie Truck Center of Minot for a Sterling LT9500 tandem truck chassis in the amount of $80,525; Bert’s Truck Equipment for a Falls one way plow and two hitches in the amount of $8,375; Prairie Truck Equipment for a Crysteel & New Generations box and hydraulics in the amount of $17,464; and a budget amendment request of $457,176. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented the Board with information on  the new load limit signing program on State Highways that is being implemented by the ND DOT. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the new load limit signs, as recommended by the Engineer. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck and Houmann then appeared regarding a raise for the Assistant Chief Engineer, who recently became a professional engineer.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve a raise to the next quartile, same grade, for the Assistant Chief Engineer, who recently became a professional engineer. After much discussion, the motion was withdrawn. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to refer the matter to the Personnel Committee for recommendation on approving a raise to the next quartile, same grade, for the Assistant Chief Engineer, who recently became a professional engineer and return with their recommendation to the March 21^st meeting. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.                         

      The Board then discussed a time for the personnel committee meeting and Department Head evaluations.

      Kluck then addressed a letter received from a resident traveling on County Road 6 near Carpio regarding washboard roads. Kluck informed the Board that he would contact the author and meet with them, that he would look at paving the road to the top of the hill and that he will forward a report to the Board at a later date. Vice-Chair Watne directed Kluck to research that the speed limit signage was adequate as well.

      Kluck then presented the Board with informational items.

      At 10:49 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adjourn the regular Board meeting.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 21^st DAY OF MARCH, 2006.

 

S/Jerome Gruenberg

Chair, Ward County Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

S/Devra Smestad
Ward County Auditor/Treasurer