January 2, 2007 Regular meeting minutes

     The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Watne at 9:00 am with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, and Erickson present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad and County Engineer Roger Kluck. 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2006 meeting. A substitute motion was then made by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes and rescind the following motion “Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to change the terms of the Social Service Board from three to two year appointments. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.” Roll call on the substitute motion: all present voted yes; motion carried. It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to add Comm. Lee’s suggestion about a possible storage unit to the end of the minutes. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on the orig inal motion to accept the minutes: all present voted yes; motion carried. 

      Smestad then presented bills. Appearing for comment were Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly and Regional Child Support Enforcement Director Larry Van Ness.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Service bills totaling $9,625.06, the 2006 bills totaling $159,748.52 and the 2007 bills totaling $271,996.02. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following plat applications as recommended by Siebert, the Township and Water Resource Boards: Mary Preston for Outlot 3 of NWSW Section 12, Willis Township (153-83) and Gary Peterson for Outlot 4 of E2SE Section 11, Carpio Township (157-86). Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried. 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve ten requests for abatement of taxes and/or corrections of errors; one application for exemption per 57-02-08(11); three applications for Homestead Credit; and one mobile home exemption. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      With Siebert still present, Chairman Watne discussed proposed legislation regarding the farm exemption and Homestead Credit. No further action was taken.

      Overly then appeared regarding bids for the cooling tower project.  Kluck also appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the low bid of Minot Plumbing & Heating in the amount of $66,543.00. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Recorder Sheila Dalen then appeared regarding the digital conversion project. Also appearing for comment was Kluck and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven . Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept the bid for a two year project, authorize the Recorder to work with the State's Attorney on a contract and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the contract once completed. After further discussion, Comm. Erickson withdrew his motion. Chairman Watne requested that Dalen return to the January 16 meeting with a proposed contract and more information on funding the digitizing project. No further action was taken.

      Smestad then presented items for action.

      Kluck appeared for comment regarding the Robinwood Estates paving project. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the following correspondence: Sheriff Erck – USD survey; District Court – civil order; ND Assoc. of Oil & Gas Producing Counties – President’s report; ND State Fair – legislative hearing; Engineer Kluck – proposed Robinwood Estates paving project; Chuck Thompkins – weather modification. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Discussion was then held on the request for funding of the ND Medal of Honor memorial. Van Grinsven appeared briefly for comment. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the correspondence received from Bill Kolb about the ND Medal of Honor memorial. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept, approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the Kenmare City prisoner contract. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept, approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the agreement with Domestic Violence Crisis Center . Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Van Grinsven then appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept, approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the mental health contract with Attorneys Richard Thomas and Carl Flagstad. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept, approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the following contracts: Minot Area Development Corporation; Kenmare Economic Development Corporation #2; Carpio Development Corporation; and the Berthold Development Corporation. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept, approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the following contracts: Lake County Historical Society; Ryder Historical Society and Ward County Historical Society. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following applications for raffle permit: North Plains Elementary PTA on February 9, 2007 with prizes totaling $900.00; and for GoldWing Road Riders of America (GWRRA) from January 8, 2007 to December 31, 2007, a 50/50 cash drawing with prizes totaling $1,000.00. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 2007 position/salary changes and the Ward County payroll effective January 1, 2007.  Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the letter from the Souris Basin Planning Council regarding possible Community Development Block Grants. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck and Van Grinsven then appeared regarding Outlot 4 of SESW Section 15-155-83, County owned land. Smestad informed the Board that there had been an error in the survey which was discovered during a title search.  After discussion it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to deny the request of the county to relinquish the property and to direct the surveyor to correct the plat. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following requests for duplicate warrants for checks assumed lost, mutilated, defaced or destroyed: Cherron Johnson in the amount of $49.50 and Brillian Township in the amount of $243.43. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented a request for a policy of requiring all entities receiving monthly allocations from the County to be set up for direct deposit. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a policy to use direct deposit for all entities receiving monthly allocations from the County. Roll call; all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following application for payroll amendment: Jaime Bristol – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department (new hire). Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Discussion then turned to Courthouse funding. Comm. Fjeldahl handed out a summary of a committee meeting he attended with District Court Judge McLees, District Court Administrator Dixie Knoebel , the Court appointed guardian at litem, Devra Smestad and North Central Human Services staff. Comms. Fjeldahl and Watne both expressed their concern over matters that were not cleared up after the court re-unification, such as the Public Administrator being appointed by and answering to the District Court, yet is housed and paid by the County; the County being responsible for payments in civil matters and possibly getting reimbursed by the family. Comm. Watne requested that a committee be formed to study these concerns and matters of how much space the Counties are required to provide the court system. Van Grinsven also appeared for comment. It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to form the Court Cost Review Committee, consisting of Chairman Watne, Comm. Fjeldahl, the NW District Court judges, Court Administrator Knoebel and State's Attorney Van Grinsven. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      At 10:30 a.m. the Board recessed.

     At 10:41 a.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Watne, Fjeldahl, Gruenberg and Erickson present.       

    Smestad then presented a request from McHenry County to help support McHenry County’s Commissioners in writing a letter to request that a legislative bills be drafted allowing the counties to receive a portion of the state surplus due to the shortfall in Federal Aid for road projects. No further action was taken.

      Regional Child Support Director Larry Van Ness and Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appeared regarding donated leave. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Regional Child Support Director’s request to ask County employees for donated leave for a Regional Child Support employee. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then appeared and presented items for the Board attention.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Engineer to call for bids to fence the east part of the Highway Department property and to seek quotes from Ackerman Surveying to stake the boundary of the County shop property. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented the Board with public service announcements regarding county citizens cleaning their private driveways onto the County roads. Van Grinsven also appeared for comment. No action was taken.

      Kluck then presented informational items to the Board.

      The Board then briefly discussed a legislative bill allowing emergency responder bills to be paid out of the Insurance Reserve fund when rural forces are used for a city emergency and vice versa; along with a letter from Dean Rylander about the Motor Services property. Chairman Watne also requested that Comm. Fjeldahl research the possibility of the NDSU Extension Service co-locating at the North Central Research Experiment Station.

      At 11:08 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 16th DAY OF JANUARY, 2007

s/Darlene Watne, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners 

ATTEST: 

s/ Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer