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April 17, 2007 Regular Meeting MinutesThe regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Watne at 9:00 am with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson, and Lee present. Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; County Engineer Roger Kluck; and Assistant State's Attorney Robert Slorby.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2007 regular meeting and the April 3, 2007 Farm to Market hearing. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented the bills. Appearing for comment were Kluck; Sheriff Vern Erck and Chief Deputy Dave Bosh. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $50,092.34; Human Service bills totaling $34,118.02 and the bills totaling $173,676.29. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Chairman Watne then informed the Board of additions to the agenda.
Social Services Director Dan Richter then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to pre-approve Social Services paying their Northwest Airline Credit Card bills to avoid late charges. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.
Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the information from Emergency Manager Reynolds regarding Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented items for action.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the following correspondence: NDIRF – conferment of benefits; John Carver – Kenmare building; Sen. O’Connell & Rep. Hunskor – legislative bills; Jim Long – Minot building; Kaye Braaten – National Assn. of Counties; State's Attorney John Van Grinsven to Mark Larson re: JPA; Rocky Skarsgard – letter; Sheriff Erck – jail changes; Otis Elevator Co. – contract; Minot City – excerpt of minutes; Engineer Kluck – N Central Water Consortium/N Prairie Rural Water meeting re: NAWS; Souris Basin Planning Council – comment period on CDBG grants. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the 2006 annual reports; and to receive and file the monthly reports, including financial reports. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Chairman to send a letter to the Minot Board of Realtors requesting applicants for the Special Assessment Commission. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the request of Motorola/Printrak, Inc. for a duplicate warrant, in the amount of $4,028.00, for replacement of a check assumed lost. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Superintendent of Schools Jodi Johnson appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following for a three-year appointment to the Ward County Reorganization Committee, as recommended by Johnson: Jim Blomberg, representing Minot Area #1; Nancy Neshem, representing Ward County north area; and Ernest Medalen, representing Minot Area #3. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize Ward County’s participation in CAREMARK Rx’s prescription drug discount card program and to adopt the following resolution:
Roll call: Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted yes; Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.
Kluck appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the City of Douglas to close Main Street in Douglas from Noon July 6, 2007 to Noon July 8, 2007, with the City of Douglas signing a hold harmless agreement with the county approved by the State’s Attorney; and Douglas City placing all detour signs approved by the Engineer and Sheriff prior to the events. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.
Kluck then appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Highway Engineer to amend the Park Board budget by $59,092.71 with the funds to come from the sale of Park Board land to the Rice Lake Service District. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the following Site Authorization requests be approved: MSU Beaver Boosters for NDSF – The Pub and Flickertail Gardens; Minot Hockey Boosters for Speedway and FoxDen; ND Association for the Disabled for Bingorama and The Grainhopper; Minot Junior Golf Association for Hooterville Bar; and the Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for the VFW Club Post 753. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Kluck appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the letter from Minot City Planner Donna Bye regarding a public hearing on a variance petition to subdivivde Lots 18 & 19, Block 1, Hecker’s Fourth Addition. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
At 9:30 a.m. the time set for a public hearing, Chairman Watne opened the hearing. Don Longmuir with Souris Basin Planning Council appeared regarding a Community Development Block Grant for MG Grains. It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Chairman to sign the CDBG application, and other documentation needed for applying to and administering the Community Development Block Grant. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. At 9:40 a.m. the public hearing was closed.
Discussion was then held on the Emerson Apartment Building fire inspection. Chairman Watne directed Smestad to conduct research into the number of current leases. No further action was taken.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendment: Robert Ceplecha – Equipment Operator – Highway Department – Level 8 – new hire. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Chairman Watne then reviewed the correspondence for any needed action.
Slorby appeared for comment, and after discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl, to send the offer of John Carver for the Kenmare implement building to the State's Attorney for comment and recommendation. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Johnson appeared briefly for comment regarding the correspondence from Senator David O’Connell and Representative Bob Hunskor. No action was taken.
Chairman Watne then presented the Board with a letter to Jim Long, Director of Operations of the Minot Building, regarding his request for the Board of Commissioners to consider the Minot building. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Chairman to send the letter. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Bosh briefly appeared regarding letters from Rocky Skarsgard. No action was taken.
Chairman Watne then reviewed the memorandum from Sheriff Erck regarding jail changes. Watne commended Erck for his direct and immediate action on the needed changes. No further action was taken.
Kluck then appeared regarding his correspondence with Bob Schempp and Alan Lee, NAWS Board; and Joe Lochthowe, Todd Koop, Jennifer Johnson and Larry Holbach, Harrison Township Board members. Kluck informed the Board that a meeting had been set up for Wednesday, April 18 between North Central Rural Water Consortium, North Prairie Rural Water, Harrison Township, and the Northwest Area Water Supply regarding concerns Harrison Township has about previous work done by the North Central Rural Water Consortium; and to seek input on the North Prairie Rural Water and NAWS expansion to the Berthold area. No further action was taken.
At 10:11 a.m. the Board recessed.
At 10:22 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.
Kluck then appeared to present items for action.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to put recycled asphalt and seal coat on the vacant lot north of the Courthouse with the funds to come from the Commissioner Contingency fund. After further discussion Comm. Fjeldahl moved an amended motion to have the Highway Engineer put down gravel and pave the vacant lot next year. Comm. Fjeldahl then withdrew his amended motion and his second of the previous motion.
Chairman Watne asked for a second to the previous motion to put down recycled asphalt and seal coat on the vacant lot north of the Courthouse. Motion died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Highway Engineer to request a temporary variance from the City of Minot to allow graveling of the vacant lot north of the Courthouse; and to direct the Highway Engineer to prepare and gravel the lot with intentions of paving it within two years. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl, to authorize the County Engineer to charge a flat rate of $75.00 per hour to townships for maintenance work. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Engineer to accept the request of Hiddenwood, Ryder and Spring Lake Townships to do road maintenance work. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
The Board then discussed the motion of April 3, 2007 concerning the use of County Road 22 as a haul road for construction on US Highway 83. Chad Beggs, Engineering Team Leader with the ND DOT – Minot District, appeared for comment regarding their recommendations for public safety. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept the letter from the ND DOT and authorize the Highway Engineer, with Board approval, to request the ND DOT address any safety problems that may occur during the project or have the project shut down until the problems are fixed. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
At 10:43 a.m. the Board recessed for the Social Service Board meeting.
At 10:55 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.
Kluck continued to present items for Board action.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to postpone approval of the five year Farm to Market plan until after the Legislature has adjourned. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Highway Engineer to proceed with 2007 Farm to Market and General construction program. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Gruenberg who voted no; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Highway Engineer to advertise for bids for a road reclaimer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Discussion was then held on the meeting tomorrow with the NAWS, North Prairie Rural Water and North Central Water Consortium. No further action was taken.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the letter from Newman Township requesting Ward County assist in the installation of a 50” culvert, and review the request at budget time. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Engineer to return two office computers to the Computer Store and request a refund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Kluck then presented various items for information.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Highway Engineer to spend up to $2,600 for the purchase of a 20 ton and a 3 ton floor jack. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Kluck then presented the Board with results of the equipment sale at Northern Auction on April 14, 2007. No action was taken.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Highway Engineer to accept the quote from Clute Office Equipment to purchase additional work station and work area furniture and chairs for the Assistant County Engineer’s office. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Discussion was then held on the Oppen Center building. Chairman Watne thanked the Department Heads for their comments regarding both the Oppen Center and the Tollefson building.
After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept the offer of the Tollefson family for the former Slumberland building north of Minot, and to authorize the Chairman to send a letter accepting the building. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following information regarding the Oppen Center building: Building Committee/Oppen Building committee report; Department Head letters regarding the use of the Oppen Center and former Slumberland building; and the proposal from Ackerman-Estvold Engineering for surveying and engineering for Oppen Center storm sewer and parking lot repair. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Smestad then presented a letter and resolution from Passport Township opposing any changes in the Tagus to US #2 road. With Kluck appeared for comment, it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the letter and refer the matter to the Highway Committee for further review. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then informed the Board that she would be absent from the May 1, 2007 meeting but her deputy Denice Boe would be present. No action was taken.
At 11: 37 a.m. it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to adjourn. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 1st DAY OF MAY, 2007.
s/Darlene Watne, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners ATTEST:
s/Devra Smestad
Ward County Auditor/Treasurer |
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