August 22, 2007 Budget Hearing Meetings

The 2008 budget request meeting was called to order by Chairman Watne at 8:00 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson and Lee present.  Also present was Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad. 

 

Smestad presented a request for cost of living adjustment for all employees for 2008. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve a two percent cost of living adjustment for all employees provided there is no increase in other budgets. Roll call: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Erickson, Gruenberg and Watne voted no; motion failed.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a two percent cost of living adjustment for all employees effective January 1, 2008. Roll call: Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Veteran’s Service Officer Dale Braun then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Veteran’s Service Office budget as presented, less the extra hours. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Erickson who voted no; motion carried.

 

Extension Agent Mike Rose then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the County Agent budget as presented. Substitute motion made by Comm. Lee to freeze the County Agent budget at the 2007 level. Substitute motion died for lack of a second. Roll call on original motion: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

State's Attorney John Van Grinsven then appeared. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the State’s Attorney budget as presented with a $35,000 increase in the City of Minot prosecution contract. Roll call: Comm. Lee voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl, Erickson, Gruenberg and Watne voted no; motion failed.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the State's Attorney budget be approved as presented. A substitute motion was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the State's Attorney with a four percent increase over the 2007 budget. Roll call on the substitute motion: Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted yes, Comms. Erickson, Gruenberg and Watne voted no; substitute motion failed. Roll call on original motion: Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Social Services Director Dan Richter and Account Technician Connie Zieske then appeared. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee to approve the Social Services budget at the 2007 level. Motion died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the Social Services budget with a four percent increase over the 2007 budget. Roll call: Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted yes, Comms. Erickson, Gruenberg and Watne voted no; motion failed. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Services budget as presented, reducing the Social Services interim fund from $250,000 to $0. Roll call; all voted yes, except Comm. Watne who voted no; motion carried.

 

Superintendent of Schools Jodi Johnson then appeared.

 

At 9:50 a.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.

 

At 9:52 a.m. Comm. Lee returned to the meeting.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Superintendent of Schools budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Emergency Management budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Fred Debowy, E-9-1-1 Coordinator then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Minot Central Dispatch/E-9-1-1 budget as presented less $10,000 for signage. Roll call: Comms. Lee, Gruenberg and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Erickson and Watne voted no; motion carried.

 

At 10:11 a.m. the Board recessed.

 

At 10:21 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

Sheriff Vern Erck then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Sheriff budget with the following line item reductions: animal control from $8,000 to $7,000; auto expense from $83,000 to $80,000; criminal/civil mileage/extradition from $32,000 to $31,000 and the Sheriffs communication from $2,500 to $0. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Jail Commander Penny Erickson then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Jail budget as presented, less the part-time nurse and reducing the interim fund from $75,000 to $16,000. Roll call: Comms. Lee, Gruenberg and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Erickson and Watne voted no; motion carried.

 

Juvenile Detention Director Allison Hughes then appeared. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Juvenile Detention budget at four percent over the 2007 level. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Building Superintendent and Courthouse Janitors budgets as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

 Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Tax Equalization budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Library Director Jan Murphy then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to reduce the books/periodicals/av material line item from $29,000 to $27,000. After further discussion Comm. Lee withdrew his motion. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the Library/Bookmobile budget with the following reductions: capitol improvements from $6,000 to $3,000 and bookmobile replacement from $102,000 to $100,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Recorder Sheila Dalen then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to remove the line item for digitizing records from the recorder budget and add it to the technology purchase/maintenance line item in the general budget. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the Recorder budget as presented with the removal of the computers line item in the amount of $6,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Joan Anderson, Community Correction Agent with Rehab Services then appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Rehab Services Inc. budget as presented. A substitute motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to remove the Rehab Services Inc. budget request from county funding. Roll call on the substitute motion: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted no; substitute motion failed. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Erickson, Gruenberg and Watne voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.

 

Chairman Watne requested that Anderson provide more information to the Board regarding the entire budget for Rehab Services prior to final approval of the budget.

 

At 12:17 p.m. the Board recessed for lunch.

 

At 1:13 p.m. the Board reconvened with all present.

 

Anderson again appeared and presented the Board with the revised budget for Rehab Services, Inc. for which she was thanked.

 

Highway Engineer Roger Kluck then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Highway Department budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the 2008-2012 Farm to Market plan as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the park budget as presented. A substitute motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the park budget at the 2007 amount of $42,520. Roll call on the substitute motion: all voted yes; substitute motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the budget of Rushville township with a reduction from $15,000 to $12,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

The Board then discussed the area economic development corporation budgets. Bob Inman, Berthold Economic Development appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee to freeze the economic development corporation budgets at the 2007 level, cut them by 25 percent and donate the monies to a new Minot railroad depot. Motion died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Berthold Economic Development Corporation budget at four percent over the 2007 level. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Terry Zeltinger representing the DeSour Valley Economic Development Corporation then appeared. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to increase all economic development corporation budgets four percent over the 2007 level, give the remaining allowed amount to the DeSour Valley Economic Development Corporation and encourage each corporation to make a contribution to a new train depot in Minot. After further discussion Comm. Lee withdrew his motion. It was then moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to table the request of the DeSour Valley Economic Development Corporation until all of the economic development corporation budgets had been reviewed. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Kari Biess, Executive Director of the Kenmare Economic Development Corporation #2 then appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the budget request of the Kenmare Economic Development Corporation #2 as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With no one from the Carpio, Makoti or Minot Economic Development Corporations appearing, it was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Carpio, Makoti and Minot Economic Development Corporation budgets as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the DeSour Valley Economic Development budget at $2,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Appearing regarding the 2008 historical society budgets were George Officer, Faye Karna and Glen Warner representing the Ryder Historical Society and Jaye Jameson representing the Ward County Historical Society. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the Ryder Historical Society budget at $3,500 and the Lake County, Makoti and Ward County historical societies budgets at the 2007 level. After discussion Comm. Gruenberg withdrew his motion. It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Ryder Historical Society budget at $3,500. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Jameson present, it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Ward County Historical Society budget at $23,925. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Lake County and Makoti Historical Society budgets at $3,500 each. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

At 2:34 p.m. the Board recessed.

 

At 2:43 p.m. the Board reconvened with all present.

 

Paul Rechlin with CommunityWorks North Dakota appeared regarding the DREAM fund. Also appearing for comment was Theresa Bolinske with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the DREAM fund budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Weed Control Officer Derrill Fick then appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the weed control budget with the following reductions: contract services from $50,000 to $45,000; bio expense and supplies from $3,500 to $2,000; spraying expense and repairs from $95,000 to $90,000; general office expense and supplies from $7,000 to $5,000; and miscellaneous line item from $3,000 to $2,000. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Hank Bodmer with the Ward County Weather Modification Authority then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the weather modification budget as presented. Roll call: Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented other budgets for discussion and action.

 

Smestad informed the Board that she had been contacted by the UND Center for Family Medicine about contracting for coroner services. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the coroner budget at $30,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Water Resource Board’s budget request of $0.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the ND State Fair budget request of $274,000. A substitute motion was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the ND State Fair budget at four percent over the 2007 level. Roll call on the substitute motion: Comms. Fjeldahl, Lee and Gruenberg voted yes, Comms. Erickson and Watne voted no; substitute motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the Souris Basin Planning Council and Upper Dakota RC&D budgets as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the Ward County Soil Conservation budget as presented. Substitute motion by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Ward County Soil Conservation budget at four percent over the 2007 level. Roll call on the substitute motion: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted no; substitute motion failed. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Erickson, Watne and Gruenberg voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.

 

Chairman Watne directed Smestad to research the ability of this Board to reduce budgets submitted by other Boards such as the Soil Conservation and ND State Fair.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Ward County Council on Aging budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Regional Child Support budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the First District Health Unit budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the County Board budget as approved. Roll call; all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Auditor/Treasurer budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following budgets: office supplies, equipment & maintenance, and general miscellaneous accounts with the following changes: increase software upgrade from $224,900 to $321,451; decrease office building improvements from $458,000 to $425,000; and increase elections from $104,000 to $154,000. Roll call: Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Watne voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the insurance fund budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the emergency fund budget as presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then reviewed the capital improvement requests. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the capital improvement requests. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

The revenue was then briefly reviewed.

 

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:32 p.m.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 4th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2007

 

s/Darlene Watne, Chair

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer
Ward County