September 19, 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. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the August 31, 2006 department head budget hearing and September 5, 2006 regular meetings. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the Social Service bills totaling $48,142.81; Human Services totaling $21,212.39 and the bills totaling $205,402.60  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Weed Control Officer Derrill Fick then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a budget amendment to increase the Spraying Expense and Repair line item in the amount of $30,000 with the money to come from the Weed Control Fund balance to replace a pickup and spraying equipment. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

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

Smestad then presented the Board with items for action.

     Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: PFM Group re: bond sales results; ND Dept. of Health re: transporter permit; Ward County Highway Dept to ND DOT re: haul roads; ND DOT re: 2007-2010 Federal aid programs; City of Kenmare re: demolition of implement building; First District Health Unit re: Joint Boards of County Commissioners; Rice Lake Recreation Service District re: notice of confirmation of Special Assessment List. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     At 9:15 a.m. the time set for a public hearing on a moving permit, Chairman Gruenberg opened the hearing. Siebert appeared and presented pictures of the house that was requested to be moved. With no one appearing either for or against the moving permit, and with Randy Nielsen present, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve a moving permit for Randy Nielsen to move a 24 x 40 one-story wood frame cabin from Lake Audobon to Lot 15 North Shore Addition, Rice Lake, as recommended by Siebert. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. At 9:16 a.m. the hearing closed.

     IT Coordinator Leonard Tennyson then appeared to present an on-line demonstration of a mock Ward County website using the Govoffice.com program. No action was taken as two more presentations were to be made.

     At 9:37 a.m. Chairman Gruenberg opened a public hearing on the 2007 Ward County preliminary budget. John Fjeldahl, Berthold appeared to ask questions regarding the Sheriff and Jail budgets. With no one else appearing either in favor of or against the 2007 Preliminary budget, Chairman Gruenberg closed the hearing at 9:45 a.m.

      Tennyson appeared again to introduce James Cross and Kaaren Stuck of Cross Products, Inc. Mr. Cross then presented the Commissioners with a mock Ward County website using their software.

     Comm. Gruenberg left the meeting at 9:46 a.m. and returned at 9:48 a.m.

     Comm. Romine left the meeting 9:48 a.m. and returned at 9:51 a.m.

     Comm. Lee left the meeting 9:56 a.m. and returned at 9:58 a.m.

     Assistant Engineer Dana Larsen was also present to ask questions.

     Tennyson then introduced David Hoffman with Albertson Consulting. Hoffman presented a mock Ward County website using the Big Picture software. Larsen was also present to ask questions.

      After Hoffman’s presentation, Tennyson again appeared to answer questions from the Commissioners. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to contract with Albertson Consulting, Inc. for a new county website. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     At 10:31 a.m. the Board recessed for the Social Service board meeting.

     At 11:13 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

      Smestad again presented information for action.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file a letter from the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management regarding a Planning Concepts On-site class. Roll call: all 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 voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a fund transfer from the General Fund, in the amount of $3,000, to the Employee Benefit fund to cover expenses for benefits paid to employees upon termination of employment. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve amending the following items in the Initial Resolution for the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds, and the Notice of Bond Election: true and full value of all taxable property in the County is $1,354,378,800; and the County has outstanding General Obligation Bonds indebtedness in the amount of $0.00. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve five applications for Special Event Permits for Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. and M&S Concessions. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Chairman Gruenberg then appointed a committee of Comms. Lee and Romine to appraise the rural properties and Comms. Erickson, Watne and Gruenberg to appraise the urban properties for 2006 foreclosure. No further action was taken.

      Smestad then presented the Board with minutes and agenda for the Elmer Jesme conference scheduled for September 25. Comms. Romine, Erickson and Watne will be attending, with Comm. Romine representing Ward County at the First District Health Unit annual meeting.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the contract for boarding of Minot City prisoners, at a rate of $20 per inmate per day. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      State's Attorney John Van Grinsven and Kluck then appeared regarding a Kenmare City special assessment against County owned property. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Romine, seconded by Comm. Watne to pay the special assessment.  Comm. Lee made a substitute motion to not pay the special assessment because the County property in Kenmare does not receive direct benefit from the paving assessment, and to have the State's Attorney take appropriate action against the non payment of the assessment. Substitute motion died for lack of a second. Roll call on the original motion: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve the Ward County Auditor/Treasurer paying the Kenmare City Special assessment in full, to avoid the interest payment, with the money to come from Road Operations funds. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature on a vending machine and location agreement with Arvid L and LaVonne Carlson. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve an application for a raffle permit from Minot Y’s Men Indoor Rodeo on October 2, 2006 with prizes totaling $1,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendments: Michelle Kimball – Secretary III – Regional Child Support; Michael Wing – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Department; PT to FT; Kenneth (Pete) Schneider – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Department; PT to FT. Comm. Lee made an amended motion to offer Tax Appraiser Pamela Axtman a 5% increase and ask her to reconsider her resignation. Comm. Lee then withdrew his amended motion to address the matter later in the meeting. Roll call on the payroll amendments: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Smestad then presented a registration form for the annual meeting of the ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties on October 5, 2006. No Commissioners will be able to attend.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file a letter from Dorsey & Whitney LLP, bond counsel for Trinity Health. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to offer a 5% increase to Tax Appraiser Pam Axtman and ask her to reconsider her resignation. Roll call: Comm. Lee voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Romine, Watne and Erickson voted no; motion failed.

      Kluck then presented items.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to 1) authorize the Chairman’s signature on a letter to the ND DOT certifying right of way purchase and 2) authorize the Engineer to call for bids for the County Road 18 bridge replacement project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Engineer to call for bids for an overlay of County Road 20 from US 83 to County Road 13 and on County Road 13 from County Road 20 to State Highway 23. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a budget transfer from the Farm to Market account to the Road Operations account in the amount of $563,834.31. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Chairman and Engineer to meet with the ND Department of Transportation to review the federal aid and projects in October. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a budget amendment to the capitol improvements line item in the amount of $53,000, with the money to come from the Road Operations fund balance. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Kluck then requested direction on the demolition of the Kenmare tax property. After much discussion, Smestad and Kluck were directed to contact the potential buyer to see if they are still interested in purchase and return to the October 3 meeting. Van Grinsven was also directed to explore the County’s options in regards to the old hotel in Kenmare that the County will be taking possession of in October. No further action was taken.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Romine to authorize the Engineer to advertise for a full time GIS technician position. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Kluck then presented a request on behalf of Emergency Manager Al Reynolds to hire Main Electric Company, on an hourly rate, for electrical work needed to the 9-1-1 towers, with the funds to come from the Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Grant. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Kluck then presented informational items on County Road 9 and County Road 15.

Gruenberg then informed the Board of discussions at the Liaison Committee regarding

9-1-1 fees that the County and City share. Kluck and Van Grinsven also appeared for comment. No further action was taken.

      Smestad presented the Building Committee with a report from KAR Tuckpointing on repair work needed on the building. No further action was taken.

     At 12:14 p.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Watne to adjourn.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 3^rd DAY OF OCTOBER, 2006.

 

s/Jerome Gruenberg, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer