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December 4, 2007 Regular meetingThe organizational meeting of the Ward County Commissioners was called to order by Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad at 9:00 a.m. with Comm’s. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Watne, Erickson and Lee present. Also present was County Engineer Roger Kluck; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.
The floor was then opened for nominations for Chairman. Comm. Gruenberg nominated Comm. Erickson. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne, that nominations cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Comm. Erickson as Chairman. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Comm. Erickson then assumed the Chair.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg to nominate Comm. Fjeldahl for Vice-Chairman. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented an addition to the minutes of the November 20, 2007. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the minutes of November 20, 2007 with the noted addition. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
The Board then discussed additions to the agenda. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to accept and approve the additions to the agenda. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Service bills totaling $8,157.77 and the regular bills totaling $440,769.84. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve: nine applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; eight applications for disabled veterans exemption for 2007; one application for homestead credit; and four mobile home exemptions. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve two applications for two-year new construction exemption. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Ward County Water Resource Board Chairman Maurice Foley then appeared regarding issues between the Ward County Board of Commissioners and the Ward County Water Resource Board. Also appearing for comment were: Laverne Mikkelson, Roger Kluck, Arden Haner and John Pietsch. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the information presented by Maurice Foley. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Smestad then presented items for action and information.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the following correspondence: Jerome Behm – letters to Dana Larsen re: fence; Roger Kluck – notice about mailbox stand; Chief Deputy Dave Bosh – Court Services costs; and Elmer Jesme Conference of Counties – agenda and minutes. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following raffle permit application: Blue Line Club from December 5, 2007 to March 1, 2008, at the All Seasons Arena with prizes totaling $1,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to cancel checks which have been outstanding for one year or longer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize a budget amendment for the Sheriff's Office in the amount of $2,202 covered by a grant to purchase bullet proof vests. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Discussion was then held on the software upgrade for the Auditor/Treasurer’s and Assessor’s offices. Appearing for comment was Minot City Finance Officer Cindy Hemphill, and Siebert. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer in purchasing the HTE program for property tax software and financial package; the Vanguard software assessing software; and IBM software for disk expansion totaling $220,500.50. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the signature of the Chairman on the City/County IT services joint powers agreement. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad then presented the board with two applications for an open position on the North Central Human Services Advisory Committee. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to interview the two applicants beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 18, 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to re-advertise the open position on the All Seasons Arena Commission. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the letter from Rudolph Zupetz regarding his term on the All Seasons Arena Commission. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Erickson informed the Board that he would send Zupetz a thank you for his service on the All Seasons Arena Board.
With Personnel Director Colleen Houmann and Veteran’s Service Office Dale Braun appearing, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the updated job description for the Veteran’s Service Officer, as recommended by the Personnel Committee. An amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee to add to all non-elected department heads the following language from the Home Rule Charter Article 6 Section 2. After discussion, Comm. Lee withdrew his amended motion. Comm. Gruenberg agreed to add the above language from the Home Rule Charter to his original motion. Kluck then appeared and commented that by adding that language to the non-elected department head job descriptions, it may conflict with the personnel policy. Comm. Gruenberg then withdrew his motion. Approval of the job description was then tabled pending further research.
Sheriff Vern Erck; Houmann; Van Grinsven and Chief Deputy Dave Bosh appeared regarding the addition of a third sergeant position to the night shift. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the new sergeant position in the Sheriff's Office, as recommended by the Personnel Committee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
At 10:30 a.m. the Board recessed.
At 10:38 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.
With Houmann appearing it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Employee Assistance Program policy, as recommended by the Personnel Committee. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Don Longmuir, Souris Basin Planning Council then appeared regarding MG Grains. Longmuir informed the Board that the water/sewer project supported by Ward County through the Community Development Block Grant has been completed. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the value added agriculture complex site improvements (a.k.a. MG Grain) project update. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad reminded the Board that an Elmer Jesme Conference of Counties meeting had been set for Monday, December 17, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. and the Fair Labor Standards training had been set for Monday, December 17, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. following the Jesme Conference.
Discussion was then held on the following tied motion from November 20, 2007: “With Van Grinsven appearing it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to request a conversation with Randall Bakke, the attorney who is representing Ward County in the lawsuit filed by Dave Gowan, to hear how he plans to represent the County. Roll call: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Erickson and Watne voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting.” Roll call on the tied motion: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted no; motion failed.
With Kluck appearing for comment, the following tied motion from November 20, 2007 was then discussed: “Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Engineer to purchase an air compressor for a service truck from the local bidder, Prairie Truck Equipment. Roll call: Comms. Watne and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting.” Roll call: Comms. Watne, Erickson and Gruenberg voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to set the 2008 Board of Ward County Commissioners meetings for the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 9:00 a.m. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the notice of meetings of the Board of Ward County Commissioners and agenda order of business for 2008. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Chairman Erickson informed the Board that he would review the individual 2008 Commissioner appointments for the next meeting.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Jaime Bristol – Juvenile Detention Officer (new hire); Michael Babyak – Correctional Officer; Kenneth (Pete) Schneider – Correctional Officer; Anthony Drago – Correctional Officer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Discussion was then held on a question from the Court Administrator’s office regarding the Public Administrator’s mail after his contract expires on December 16, 2007. With Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to have the Public Administrator’s records, checkbook, mail and other paperwork turned over to Presiding Judge McLees effective December 17, 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
With Van Grinsven appearing for comment, discussion was then held on the City/County prosecution contract. Board consensus was to follow the Liaison Committee’s recommendation to track the Assistant State's Attorney’s time involved for nine months and re-visit the matter prior to the 2009 budget process.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office to issue the December 31, 2007 payroll on December 21, 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Kluck then appeared to present items for action and information.
With Personnel Director Houmann appearing it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to add $606.00 per month to the County Engineer’s salary in lieu of salary received from the Water Resource Board. An amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee to give the County Engineer a $500.00 per month increase. Amended motion died for lack of a second. After further discussion, Comm. Watne called the question. Roll call on calling the question: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion to call the question failed. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; original motion carried.
With Houmann again appearing, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to set the County Engineer’s wages at $38.84 per hour for December 2007 with the two percent cost of living and two percent performance raises taking effect January 1, 2008. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to allow the Water Resource Board and Weed Board to continue residing in the Ward County Highway Department building for a six month trial period; and to allow the County Engineer to assist the Water Resource Board in the transition work, on his own time at no cost to the Water Resource Board or County, in their efforts to obtain another qualified engineer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the County Engineer’s correspondence to Bruce Burner regarding his request for an extended leave of absence. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the County Engineer to develop a joint powers agreement with Kirkelie Township in which the township retains ownership of the Old Settlers Park road and will continue snow removal and the County will maintain the pavement. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Discussion was then held on the letters from Jerome Behm and two recent accidents on County Road 20.
Brent Johnson then appeared regarding comments that he wanted to make about the Water Resource Board. Chairman Erickson requested that he contact the Auditor to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
Comm. Watne informed the Board that the Building Committee would meet following the Commissioner meeting to review the court’s request for new carpeting in a jury room and new counsel chairs.
Discussion was then held on obtaining a plaque for Dr. John C Smith, retiring coroner. Chairman Erickson informed the Board that he would send Dr. Smith a thank you letter.
At 12:16 p.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn the meeting.
APPROVED THE 18th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2007
s/Carroll W Erickson, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners ATTEST:
s/Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer
Ward County
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