May 16, 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 and Watne present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad and County Engineer Roger Kluck.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve corrections to the April 18, 2006 minutes. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the May 2, 2006 regular Commission minutes. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad presented the bills. Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly and Kluck appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the bills totaling $119,084.12 and Social Service bills totaling $160,586.45 – Social Welfare and $42.099.35 – Human Services. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Overly then appeared with two bids for a generator maintenance contract. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Chairman to sign a maintenance contract with Interstate Power Systems for generator maintenance in the amount of $980.00, per the recommendation of Overly. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      State’s Attorney John Van Grinsven then appeared regarding a county animal control ordinance. Sheriff Vern Erck; Nedrose Township Officer Ray Lemer; and Nedrose Township citizen Bob Grosz also appeared for comment. After much discussion Chairman Gruenberg directed the township citizens to send a letter of complaint to the judge, as per the North Dakota Century Code. Erck and Van Grinsven will work on having the Century Code and instructions available for citizens outlining their course of action when making complaints about nuisance/vicious animals.  Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the letter from State’s Attorney Van Grinsven regarding animal control. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Chief Deputy Dave Bosh then appeared regarding a used, mid-size, four-door pickup for the Sheriff’s Department.  Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Sheriff's Department to purchase a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado crew cab pickup from Ryan Chevrolet, in the amount of $14,950. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Bosh then presented the Board with a proposal for card readers for the jail lobby elevator. Jail Commander Penny Erickson also appeared briefly for comment. Chairman Gruenberg requested that Bosh return with a proposal from Audiovisual, Inc. and Otis Elevator Company for needed changes to the Jail elevator. No further action was taken.

      Sheriff Erck then appeared with information on a new x-ray machine for the Courthouse. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the information on an AutoClear 5333 portable compact parcel X-ray machine. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Captain Todd Keller appeared regarding an employee identification system. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to purchase the Fargo DTC400 ID System, in the amount of $2,695.00. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Sheriff Erck appeared again regarding an e-mail from Court Administrator Dixie Knoebel containing information on the screening of employees at the Burleigh, Grand Forks and Cass County Courthouses. No action was taken.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert and Minot City Assessor Kevin Ternes appeared. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve an application for geothermal exemption; an application for farm residence exemption; and to deny a request for a reduction in 2005 true and full value. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented items for the Board’s action.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the following correspondence: KARR Tuckpointing – masonry work; Engineer Kluck – response to CR 14 at 16^th St SW; Clair Watne – temporary bypass; Attorney Van de Streek – land by Puppy Dog Coulee; Al Reynolds – letter of thanks to Ron Overly; ND DOT – Federal Aid programs; Sheriff’s Dept. – loading zone. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck appeared regarding a letter from the City of Minot for extension of 16^th St NW from 21^st Ave NW to the US 83 Bypass West. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the letter. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck again appeared regarding a proposed uniform fee schedule. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to send the ND Association of Gas & Oil Producing Counties, Uniform County Truck Permit Section, a letter of support for the fee schedule. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize a budget amendment by the Sheriff's Department to put $1,453.28 of state grant monies into the salaries budget for the DUI Saturation patrol that was recently completed. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented a letter from Attendant Care requesting permission to utilize the door between the library and the Attendant Care site as an emergency door in case of a fire. Comm. Romine informed the Board that the Library Board had no objections provided that the door has a buzzer installed so that the Attendant Care supervisor is aware of the door being opened. Chairman Gruenberg instructed Kluck to conduct more research, including a sketch of the current door locations and price of installing panic bars on the door, and return to the next regular meeting.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve a raffle permit from Minot Trailriders, Inc. for a raffle to be held on September 10, 2006 with prizes totaling $5,300. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to accept and approve the list of precincts, polling places and inspectors for the upcoming elections (a copy of which is available for review in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.) Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to receive and file the 2005 audit report, performed by Rath & Mehrer, P.C. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the monthly reports, including the financial reports. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the sick leave policy (a copy of which is available for review in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.) Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the following payroll amendments: Eric Hodgson, Seasonal Surveyor I, Highway Department, level 5; Kenneth (Pete) Schneider, Juvenile Detention Officer, Juvenile Detention, level 9 (new hire); Leilani Olafson, Library Associate/Bookmobile driver, Library, level 7 (PT to FT). Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve an event permit from the Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for a wedding reception on June 3, 2006 from 12 Noon to 1:00 a.m. with beer, liquor, and wine being served. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      At 10:04 a.m. the Board recessed for the Social Service Board meeting.

      At 10:58 a.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Gruenberg, Romine and Watne present.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve an addition to the vacation policy (a copy of which is available for review in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.) Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented information to the Board.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Engineer to accept the bid of Materials Testing Services to conduct below grade tests for contaminates at the tax foreclosed property in Kenmare, with the Highway Department employees drilling the holes. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following low bids for road work: seal coats on County Road 8 and County Road 11 (CP 0883(06) and CP 1162(06)) – Bituminous Paving for $379,479.63; and the paving on County Road 6 (CP 0628(06)) – Mayo for $151,741.51. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne that a request from the North Dakota State Fair to use a County tractor during the State Fair be approved, with the stipulation that the ND State Fair repair any damage to the unit before it is returned. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Engineer to advertise for hourly full-time grading services from local area contractors, with the County paying the fuel costs. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve a pay amendment for Dana Larsen, Assistant Chief Engineer (level 17 salary increase) retroactive to March 16, 2006. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Engineer to purchase a Mitre band saw from Praxair, in the amount of $2,216.67. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented several informational items.

        At 11:19 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to adjourn the meeting.

      ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 6^th DAY OF JUNE, 2006.

 

s/Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County