November 8, 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. Watne to approve the minutes of the October 17, 2006 regular and November 2, 2006 special meetings. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

     Smestad then presented the bills. Kluck appeared briefly for comment. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Services bills totaling $10,529.31 and the bills totaling $215,392.08. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

Noridian representative Lollie Gorze appeared and presented the Board with information on additional benefits of vision and long term care insurance now available to County employees through their current insurance carrier. Gorze explained that the vision insurance will be pre-tax but the long term care will not. No action was taken.

      Juvenile Detention Director Allison Hughes appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Juvenile Detention Director to pursue fiscal year 2006 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant funds from the City of Minot and Renville County, and once secured, to sign the funds over the Ward County Juvenile Detention Center. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      With Hughes still present, it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Juvenile Detention Director to purchase a digital video recorder from Reliance Telephone, in the amount of $1,499.00 for equipment and labor. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      State's Attorney John Van Grinsven and Sheriff Vern Erck then briefly appeared regarding correspondence from Rocky Skarsgard. No action was taken.

     Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following applications for plat approval: SRT Communications for Outlot 2 of NESE Section 33, Rolling Green Township (154-85); NW Limited for Outlot 1 of Government Lot 4 Section 6, Berthold Township (156-86); Charles M. Thompkins and Bradley Herr for Outlot 2 of NE Section 26, Burlington Township (155-84); Charles Thompkins for Outlot 2 of NENW Section 25, Burlington Township (155-84); John Muus for Outlot 9 of NWNW Section 11, Rice Lake Township (152-85); and  15 applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; one application for blind exemption; one application for two-year new construction exemption; and three applications 2006 Homestead Credit. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared.  Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Chairman’s signature on interoperable communication tower contracts with Reservation Telephone, SRT, and the City of Sawyer; and joint power agreements /memorandums of understanding with: McLean County, Renville County, Burke County, Bottineau County and McHenry County. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Library Director Jan Murphy, Chief Deputy Dave Bosh and Van Grinsven appeared. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Library Director and Chief Deputy to request donated leave for employees in their department. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Smestad then presented items for Board action.

      Kluck appeared for comment on letters from Interstate Engineering regarding North Prairie Rural Water and Kluck’s letter to Blaine Schumacher. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to refer the letter from Interstate Engineering to the Highway Committee and the letter from Engineer Kluck to Schumacher to the Water Resource Board. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: Ward Co. Engineer – letter to Ron Harris re: Kenmare building; ND Oil & Gas Division – Geophysical Exploration permit; Gratech Co. – Minot Intermodal Facility; Ward Co. Engineer – letter to Afton Township Chairman; Afton Township – letter re: Beaver Creek Estates; Ward Co. Engineer – letter to Ackerman/Estvold; ND Dept of Transportation – 2007-2008 Revised Federal Aid program; Minot Area Homeless Coalition – copy of letter sent to City of Minot; ND Dept. of Transportation – notice of 2 bid openings; Ward Co. Engineer – copy of letter to Harley Neshem, Gratech, Co.; Ward Co Engineer – ¾ ton pickup bids; Rocky Skarsgard – numerous letters; Dept. of Corrections – letter to Rocky Skarsgard; Chairman Gruenberg – letter to Rocky Skarsgard. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to recognize Minot Operation Warm Heart as a public spirited organization. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following: 1) raffle permit applications from Minot Operation Warm Heart, from November 8 through November 30, 2006 with prizes totaling approximately $1,000; Magic City Driftbusters, on January 6, 2007 with prizes totaling $900; a bingo permit for Nedrose School for November 17, 2006 with prizes totaling $1,000; 2) approve the Chairman’s signature on a ND Traffic Safety – alcohol incentive plan contract; and 3) approve a request from the Sheriff’s Office to transfer a $1,000 donation from Wal-Mart from the General Fund to the Sheriff's general office supplies account. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendments: Summer Monteau – Secretary III – Director of Tax Equalization (new hire); Kara Simonson – Admin. Assistant I – Social Services (new hire); Cathy Carson – Admin. Assistant I – Social Services (new hire); Heidi Miller – Social Worker III – Social Services (new hire); Dennis Snodgrass – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Dept. – PT to FT. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then appeared to present agenda items for the Board.

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Engineer to purchase two computers from The Computer Store, in the amount of $1,950. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Engineer to purchase the following equipment: tree chipper from RDO Equipment in the amount of $29,071; single axle service truck from Westlie Truck Center in the amount of $58,696; a tandem sander truck from Westlie Truck Center in the amount of $66,629; and a sander from Northwestern Equipment in the amount of $27,435. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Engineer to purchase two fuel tanks from O’Day Equipment in the amount of $72,094. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      At 9:29 a.m. the Board recessed.

      At 9:30 a.m. Chairman Gruenberg opened the public hearing of the Ward County Housing Authority Annual Report. Executive Director Tom Pearson appeared and presented the 2005 annual report and gave an update on the programs offered. With no one else appearing, Chairman Gruenberg closed the hearing at 9:37 a.m.

      At 9:37 a.m. the Board reconvened in regular session with all Commissioners present.

     Kluck again presented items for Board action.

      Kluck presented a request for the Chairman to sign the necessary ND Department of Transportation forms to secure federal aid funds. After much discussion, Chairman Gruenberg directed Kluck to request a meeting with the ND DOT regarding the shortage of federal funds to the state prior to signing any contracts. No further action was taken.

      Kluck then presented a request to hire an Equipment Operator. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to offer the position of equipment operator effective January 1, 2007 at an hourly rate of $11.43 and if the applicant does not accept the position, Kluck is authorized to re-advertise the position. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented information items to the Board.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to obtain a State's Attorney opinion on payment for the County’s share of the intermodal site preparation work. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. After Van Grinsven’s appearance and more discussion, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to rescind the previous motion of having a State's Attorney opinion on the County’s share of the intermodal site preparation work. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      At 9:51 a.m. the Board recessed.

      At 10:00 a.m. the time set for a public hearing on the Farstad Oil Community Development Block Grant closeout, Chairman Gruenberg opened the hearing with Comms. Romine, Watne, and Erickson present. Don Longmuir with Souris Basin Planning Council appeared to present to paperwork that needed the Chairman’s signature to complete the project.
     At 10:01 a.m. Comm. Lee arrived.
     Engineer Kluck also appeared for comment. It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Chairman’s signature on appropriate documents needed to close out the project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. With no one else appearing either for or against the project, Chairman Gruenberg closed he hearing at 10:05 a.m.

      Chairman Gruenberg informed the Board that he would be appointing Comm. Erickson to the canvassing board, which will be meeting on Monday, November 13.

      Smestad informed the Board of the dates for the 2007 ND Association of Counties Convention and that rooms had been reserved.

      At 10:09 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to adjourn.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 21st DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2006.

 

s/Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad