October 3, 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 September 19, 2006 meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Chairman Gruenberg informed the Board of additions to the agenda.

Smestad then presented the bills. Kluck appeared for comment, and after much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Service bills totaling $10,874.63 and the bills totaling $136,251.53. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert appeared. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve one application for abatement of taxes and/or corrections of errors of assessments; seven applications for two-year new construction exemption; and three applications for homestead credit for 2006. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented items for the Board’s action.

      County Recorder Sheila Dalen appeared briefly for comment.  Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties – annual meeting; NDACo – Award for Excellence in County Government; Mayer Electric – request for payments to electrical contractors; ND DOT – County Road Advisors Conference; City of Minot – 72^nd St SE maintenance; Rocky Skarsgard – request; Senator Dorgan – Federal grants; Ward County Engineer – letter to Bob Reinarts; notice of mowing ditches; Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee – grants. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and approve tax foreclosure appraisals made October 3, 2006 and direct the Director of Tax Equalization, with the assistance of the Sheriff's Office, to evict persons living in the residences and to post no-trespass notices. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a budget amendment to the Sheriff’s salaries to cover Courthouse Security, in the amount of $41,458, with funds to come from the Commissioner’s Contingency Courthouse security budget. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Chairman’s signature on seven Homeland Security grant awards totaling $499,659.15. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the request of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center to display an awareness tree at the Courthouse and use the Courthouse steps for a “Take Back the Night” ceremony. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Chairman’s signature on ND Department of Transportation agreements for bridge replacement project BRO-0051(012) and bituminous overlay projects SC-5154(052) and SC-5131(152). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Chief Deputy Dave Bosh appeared briefly. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Sheriff’s Department to sell vehicles and miscellaneous equipment from the impound lot. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Siebert appeared again for comment. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the following payroll amendments: Ralph Rhoades – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Department – Level 9 (new hire); Laurie Schachtschneider – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Department – Level 9 (new hire); Julie Hummel – Appraiser I – Director of Tax Equalization – Level 6 to Level 10. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine that the first November meeting be held on Wednesday, November 8 rather than November 7 due to the General Election. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to appoint Kenneth Gillespie and Kandi Mikkelson to one year terms as ND State Fair Association annual meeting delegates. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented informational items to the Board.

      At 9:30 a.m., the time set for a public hearing on the issuance and sale by Ward County of its health care facilities revenue bonds (Trinity Obligated Group), Chairman Gruenberg opened the hearing. With no one appearing either for or against the bond sale, it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve a resolution Authorizing The Issuance And Sale By The County Of Ward Of Its Health Care Facilities Revenue Bonds (Trinity Obligated Group.) Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Gruenberg closed the hearing at 9:31 a.m.

      Smestad then presented a request of the employee relations committee for the Board to review assigned/reserved employee parking. Court Administrator Dixie Knoebel and Sheriff Vern Erck also appeared for comment. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to temporarily assign the second reserved parking spot in the east parking lot to the Court Administrator. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared briefly regarding the Homeland Security Grants. No further action was taken.

      Smestad presented motions for adoption of the 2007 budget. Kluck appeared briefly regarding the Water Resource Board budget. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the motions adopting the final budget and setting levies. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept the offer of John Carver to purchase the tax foreclosed property in Kenmare in the amount of $18,200, and to leave the chain link fence in place as requested. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Comm. Lee then requested that any use of the Courthouse for any political party or promotion have prior approval by the Chairman of the Ward County Board of Commissioners. No further action was taken.

      Discussion was held on the City of Kenmare, First District Health Unit and the County Engineer and Auditor/Treasurer’s inspection of the old Kenmare hotel. No further action was taken.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to refer the Courthouse inspection results from Karr Tuckpointing to the Building Committee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      The Board then set a building committee meeting for 12:30 p.m. today with a marketing committee at 1:00 p.m.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the engineer to advertise for annual equipment purchases. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented a request to advertise for the replacement of a dismissed employee. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Engineer to advertise for an equipment operator position in the Highway Department. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented informational items to the Board.

      With no further business, it was moved by Comm. Watne to adjourn at 10:18 a.m.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 17th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2006.

 

s/Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer