May 2, 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. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to accept and approve the minutes from the April 18, 2006 regular Commissioners meeting. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Watne who abstained; motion carried. 

      Smestad then presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the bills totaling $207,355.06, including the Social Service bills totaling $24,183.83. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

      Paul Rechlin, Executive Director of CommunityWorks North Dakota; Daryl Hodnefield, President of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; AJ Lizotte, Dacotah Bank; Bruce Walker, 1^st Minot Management/Coldwell Banker; and Karen Engel, 1^st International Bank & Trust appeared to request the County fund the CommunityWorks North Dakota program. Chairman Gruenberg informed them that no action would be taken now, but consideration would be given at budget time. 

      Al Lenertz then appeared about a concern he had in dealing with the Regional Child Support Enforcement Unit regarding garnishment of an employee’s wages. State’s Attorney John Van Grinsven and Regional Child Support Enforcement Unit Director Larry Van Ness briefly appeared for comment. Chairman Gruenberg advised Mr. Lenertz to meet with Mr. Van Ness to reach an agreeable conclusion to his concern.

      Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly then appeared with three requests for capital improvements. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Building Services Supervisor to accept the low bid from Refrigeration Equipment Co. for seven wall-type heat pump units for a total cost of $11,988.90. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

      Overly then presented the Board with a quote for a new containment manhole with overfill protection. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Building Services Supervisor to accept the low bid from O’Day Equipment, Inc. for a containment manhole with overfill protection, in the amount of $1,958.74. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

      Overly then presented the Board with a quote for new carpeting for Courtrooms 301 and 302. Moved by Comm. Lee, that the State Court system be requested to help participate in the cost since it is for the District Court. Motion died for lack of a second. Smestad reminded the Board that the county is responsible for providing space and the expenses to house the Court system. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Building Services Supervisor to accept the low bid from Tollefson’s to replace the carpeting in Courtrooms 301 and 302, in the amount of $10,514.00. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee, who voted no; motion carried.

     Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following plat applications: Edith Stroklund for Outlot 1 of SESW, SWSE, Section 23-159-88 (Baden Township); Norman Sollid on behalf of Clarence & Gwendolyn Cogdill for Sublot B of Outlot 2 of E2NE, Section 32-156-84 (Kirkelie Township); Norman Sollid on behalf of Edward & Jean Heit for Outlot 5 of NESW, Section 8-157-81 (Margaret Township); Norman Sollid on behalf of Lillian Miller Estate for Outlots 3 & 4 of S2NE, Section 36-153-81 (Sawyer Township); Randall Korslien for Outlot 1 of Government Lot 4, Section 2-152-84 (Hilton Township); and Ward County for Outlot 2 of Government Lots 5 & 6 of SENW & NESW, Section 2-152-85 (Rice Lake Township). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

      Sheriff Vern Erck then appeared regarding an employee identification system. After much discussion, Chairman Gruenberg requested that Erck return at the next Commissioners meeting with Captain Todd Keller, who would have more information on the various systems available for purchase. 

      Erck then requested permission from the Board to conduct a seatbelt blitz campaign with overtime wages to be reimbursed by a ND Department of Transportation grant. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Sheriff's Department to conduct the annual seatbelt blitz campaign. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

      With Sheriff Erck still present, it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to send a letter of appreciation to Northwest Airlines for supplying the County with magnetometer and x-ray machines at no charge and for the support of their community. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

      Smestad then presented items for Board action. 

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: Souris Basin Planning Council: ND CDBG program; Tom McIlroy: Great Plains Directory; William Pettit Jr.: Courthouse security; Water Resource Board: letter to Houston Engineering; ND DOT: County bridges with Code 3 deficiency; Larry Nore: Great Plains Directory; John A Bauer: Great Plains Directory; City of Minot: Annexing Lots 1A-5B, Southwood 7^th Addition; City of Minot: Annexing Lot 2, Liechty Homes 3^rd Addition. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

      Smestad then presented the Board with information on County atlases. Smestad informed the Board that at a recent regional meeting of the Auditors and Treasurers it was suggested that the Auditor’s office not sell the atlases as they compete with private business, and we do not have a sales tax number under which to collect and remit sales tax to the State. Recorder Sheila Dalen also appeared for comment. Alden Vannet, owner of Great Plains Directory, appeared to present the Board with an example of his atlas and a laminated wall map which shows the rural residents living in the county. After much discussion, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to contract with Midland Atlas Company for County atlases. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Smestad informed Mr. Vannett that the previous motion did not prevent them from creating their own Ward County atlas. 

      At 10:17 a.m. the Board recessed. 

      At 10:26 a.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Erickson, Watne, Gruenberg and Romine present. 

      Smestad presented the Board with a request from Lutheran Social Services for the Attendant Care site to utilize the doorway between their site and the Library for use in emergency situations. 

      Comm. Lee rejoined the meeting. 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne, to allow the Attendant Care Site access to the library door for use in emergencies only. After discussion, Comm. Erickson withdrew his motion to allow Comm. Romine to take the matter to the Library Board for their recommendations and revisit the matter at the May 16 meeting. 

State’s Attorney Van Grinsven and Dean Clott, owner of “The Klub Minot” appeared regarding an application for a liquor license in Eureka Township.  Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve a liquor license for “The Klub Minot” at Dons Edition, Lot 3, Block 1, Eureka Township (5227 N Broadway) effective immediately through December 31, 2006. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve a site authorization request from Beaver Hockey Boosters for the remainder of the 2005-2006 season at “The Klub Minot” effective immediately through June 30, 2006. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve six site authorizations effective July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve 14 applications for Event Permits from M&S Concessions. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

     Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following application for a raffle permit: ND Golf Association from May 15 – July 28, 2006 with prizes totaling $6,140.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

     Smestad then informed the Board that no bids had been received for the tax foreclosed property in Kenmare (Tolleys Plat, Lots 19-22, Block 21 less Hwy). Kluck appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to have the Highway Engineer solicit soil sampling of the property. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Gruenberg directed Kluck to determine from where the samples should be taken. 

     Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file a proclamation regarding family day on the fourth Monday in September. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

     Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to open a non-interest bearing checking account for pass through grants and monies such as Homeland Security and CDBG grants. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comms. Lee and Erickson; motion carried.

     Smestad then requested direction on disposal of old central count election machines that are outdated and no longer usable for elections. Chairman Gruenberg directed Smestad to check with the State Historical Society to see if they would be interested in one of the machines and then have the Building Services Supervisor dispose of the rest. 

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer to utilize Boy and Girl Scout troops for the upcoming June primary election, having them help open doors and direct voters to the polling site. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.  

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to allow the usage of the election trailers for other uses on a pre-approved basis. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. Chairman Gruenberg instructed Kluck to be very selective when the use of the trailers. 

     Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to appoint Comm. Watne as the Building Finance Committee chairman. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Comm. Watne requested that Comm. Erickson assist her and requested Comm. Lee to remain on the committee. 

     Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following payroll amendments: Laurie D. Davis – Social Worker III – Social Services (new hire); and Janel Dockter – Administrative Assistant I – Social Services (new hire). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

      Kluck then presented a report from the Building Committee. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept and proceed with the Building Committee’s recommendations for Courthouse expansion. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried. 

      Kluck then presented items to the Board. 

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to deny a request from Aggregate Construction, Inc. for a blanket exemption in the load limit on County Road 19 south. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Kluck informed the Board that he would provide a temporary exemption on a per case basis if requested. 

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the County Engineer to purchase a Kubota Zero Turn 20HP Kohler self propelled mower from Acme Tool Crib, in the amount of $5,950.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

      Kluck then presented a request from Strata Corporation for closure of 37^th Ave at the 16^th ST intersection, which would close through traffic on County Road 14. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee to direct the County Engineer to request access from the north going through to the Crystal Springs area. Motion died for lack of a second. Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Lee, to have the Highway Engineer contact the City and express the County’s concern over the lack of access to the County roads. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

     Kluck then presented information items to the Board. 

     Smestad questioned if any Commissioners would be attending the ND Insurance Reserve Fund annual meeting in Bismarck on May 18 as she needed to send in the registration paperwork. No Board members would be able to attend. 

      At 11:21 a.m. with no further business, Comm. Romine moved to adjourn. 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 16^th DAY OF MAY, 2006. 

s/Jerome Gruenberg 
Chair, Ward County Commissioners 

ATTEST: 
s/Devra Smestad 
Ward County Auditor/Treasurer