January 16, 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, Erickson, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad and County Engineer Roger Kluck.       
      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the January 2, 2007 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Smestad then presented the bills. Appearing for comment were Chief Deputy Dave Bosh and Kluck. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $145,256.10, the Human Service bills totaling $35,767.68 and the bills totaling $106,633.07. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Ward County Veteran’s Service Office Dale Braun then appeared and presented an annual report of his office. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the 2006 Ward County Veteran’s Service Office annual report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 
     Recorder Sheila Dalen and Elair Brothen with Information Systems Corporation then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept and approve a contract with Information Systems Corporation for digitization of land records, to be completed in two years, with the payment as follows: $96,550.50 in 2007 from the General Fund with $10,000 from the recorder’s current budget and five annual payments of $15,000 from the Recorder’s Preservation account due back to the general fund with a budget amendment in the amount of $86,550.50 for the first half and $96,550.50 budgeted by the Recorder for the 2008 balance of the contract.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to 1) approve 16 applications for abatement and/or corrections of error of assessments; and to approve six applications for two-year new construction; 2) to certify the average agricultural value of $279.87 per acre to the Township Assessors for 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      State's Attorney John Van Grinsven then appeared regarding a lease for a new copy machine. Also appearing for comment was Duane Boeder from Advanced Office Solutions. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee to allow the State's Attorney to draw up specifications and call for bids for a new copy machine. Motion died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne, to allow the State's Attorney to proceed with the lease agreement with the Advanced Office Solutions for a new copy machine, per state bid, and to keep the current copy machine for extra use. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
      Sheriff Vern Erck and Van Grinsven appeared regarding a spare magnetometer. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to have Sheriff Erck contact Northwest Airlines and notify them of the plan to donate the extra magnetometer to Renville County, and upon their approval, transfer the machine to Renville County.  Comm. Lee then moved a substitute motion that the magnetometer be given back to Northwest Airlines, and if they don’t want it, to take the machine to the landfill. Motion died for lack of a second.  Roll call on the original motion: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.
      Chief Deputy Dave Bosh then appeared regarding vehicle bids for the Sheriff's Department. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Sheriff's Department to purchase one 2007 Ford Crown Victoria in the amount of $23,585 and one 2007 Ford Expedition, with running boards, in the amount of $25,068 from Westlie Motor Company. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried. 
    Smestad then presented items for action.
      Kluck and Van Grinsven appeared for comment regarding notice from Minot City on the annexation of Outlot 29, Sublots A and B of Outlot 29, and Outlot 31 of Section 30-155-82.  After discussion it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: ND Dept. of Health – air pollution control; NW Venture Communities – organizational/informational meetings; ND Dept. of Health – asbestos regulations; Chairman Watne – letter to Court Administrator Knoebel; ND Dept. of Health – leak detection & corrosion protection compliance; Souris Basin Planning Council – representatives; Minot City – annexation of Outlot 29, Sublots A and B of Outlot 29, and Outlot 31 of Section 30-155-82. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Kluck appeared for comment regarding FEMA payments from the 2005 rain disaster.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize a budget amendment to place $11,679.00 from the FEMA Township payments (2005 Rain Disaster) into the 2006 Emergency Management miscellaneous account as approved by a phone vote on 1-2-07. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the monthly reports, including financial reports. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept, approve and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the 2007 contract with Makoti Threshers Association. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following request for duplicate warrant for a check assumed lost, mutilated, defaced or destroyed: Chuck Panzer in the amount of $25.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the Board hereby approves the action of the County Auditor in making the following sales and authorizes the issuance of tax deeds or contracts thereon; Craig & Joanne Stein for Edgeview Estates 1^st Addn, Blk 9, Minot City for $200.00 – cash; Dacotah Frontier Valley LLC for Vallai Hai Addition, E33 of S76, E30 N80 S156 & E33, Minot City for $200.00 – cash; Crows Plat Lots 8-11, Block 5, Donnybrook City for $300.00 – cash; Crows Plat Lots 3 & 4, Block 6, Donnybrook City for $150.00 – cash; Crows Plat Lots 5-7, Block 6, Donnybrook City for $200.00 – cash; Crows Plat 20-22, Block 3, Donnybrook City for $200.00 – cash; Original Kenmare Lot 11 Block 16, Kenmare City for $200.00 – cash; Olt 1 of SESE Sec. 19-156-84 for $50.00 – cash. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
     The Board then discussed Social Service Board appointments. Chairman Watne explained that former Commissioner Romine would like to remain on the Social Service Board and in order to comply with State law, they would need to appoint a seventh member or ask Romine to resign. Van Grinsven and Romine both appeared for comment. At 10:16 a.m. the Board recessed for Van Grinsven to conduct more research of the North Dakota Century Code regarding the Social Service Board members and terms.
     At 10:25 a.m. the Board reconvened with all Commissioners present.
     It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social   Welfare and Human Service bills and include them with the earlier approved bills. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
     Smestad then presented the Board with information on the County Officials Academy on March 19 and 20. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to move the March 20 regular scheduled Commissioner meeting to March 21 at 9:00 a.m. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
     Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following application for payroll amendment: Tim Sandstrom – Engineering & GIS Technician – Highway Department (new hire.)  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
     Comm. Fjeldahl then presented a copy of House Bill 1387 regarding the District Court leasing space from the Counties.  Comm. Fjeldahl informed the Board that Representative Bellew will let him know when the hearing is scheduled so that the Board may appear for comments.  It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg that the Ward County Board of Commissioners go on record in support of HB 1387 and authorize any Commissioner to testify at the bill hearing. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.  Comm. Fjeldahl requested that the Court Cost Review Committee meet prior to the bill hearing to obtain their input.
      Van Grinsven and Romine again appeared regarding the terms and members of the Social Service Board. At 10:46 a.m., after much discussion, Chairman Watne recessed the regular Commissioner meeting for the Social Service Board meeting.
     At 11:23 a.m. the regular Commission meeting was reconvened with all members present.
     Chairman Watne requested that discussion of the Social Service Board be continued. Smestad informed the Board that during the recess, more information was researched and it was found that no public hearing was held in 1995 prior to the change in the Social Service Board to the five Commissioners and there were no resignations on file for previous Social Service Board members. Van Grinsven again appeared for comment. After further discussion Chairman Watne requested that Comms. Gruenberg and Fjeldahl meet to come up with a recommendation on having a seven member Social Service Board or creating an ordinance to change the terms of the members and bring their recommendation to the February 6 Commissioner meeting. No further action was taken at this time.
      Kluck then appeared to present items for Board action.
      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the County Engineer to prepare the necessary documents to advertise for a project engineer for a business that may be moving to Minot and will require water and sewer mains and a railroad spur line. An amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl that the County Engineer track his time spent on the project. Roll call on the amended motion: all voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on the original motion as amended: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to deny a request from the Western Area Power Administration for changes to the Ward County utility permit for work on County Road 23, south of Sawyer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to allow, but not require, the County Engineer to participate in a local service club(s) and to further allow the County Engineer to drop his membership due to job demands. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Erickson who voted no; motion carried.
      Brief discussion was then held regarding the County Engineer’s request to establish an ordinance charging landowners a fee for piling snow and other debris onto County roads and into County right-of-ways. Kluck informed the Board that he is working with the State's Attorney on language for the ordinance and will bring it back for Board action at a later date.
      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the County Engineer to lease three tractors from Magic City Implement, for up to 250 hours per year at no charge as long as the machines are kept well maintained. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
       Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Watne to deny the request to return the $500.00 up-front deposit fee for special assessment districts. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
     Discussion was then held about County forces doing township road maintenance. Kluck informed the Board that he would prepare a report in February or March, after the annual equipment bids are received, to re-examine the current rate the County charges for township road maintenance. No further action was taken.
     Kluck then presented informational items to the Board.
     At 11:44 a.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.
     Smestad then presented committee reports from the Coroner/Law Enforcement and Building Committee/Oppen Center meetings. It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the minutes of the Coroner/Law Enforcement and Building Committee/Oppen Center committee meetings. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.
     At 11:51 a.m. Comm. Lee returned to the meeting.
     Smestad informed the Board that the Department Head survey regarding space needs is mostly complete, but most every department commented that access to IT Coordinator Leonard Tennyson was difficult, since he is assigned to three other counties besides Ward. Chairman Watne requested that Smestad research the current contract, speak to Tennyson to make sure we are getting all of our allotted hours and place the matter on the February 6 agenda for further discussion.
      The Board then discussed the Oppen Center building and requested Smestad contact Owen Larson for a set of the building plans. Discussion on the lack of a storm sewer in the Oppen Center area was also held. No further action was taken at this time.
     At 11:58 a.m. with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.