June 5, 2007 Regular meeting mintues

 

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Watne at 9:01 am with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; County Engineer Roger Kluck and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

 

Smestad presented the Board with corrections to the May 15, 2007 regular Commissioner meeting minutes. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the minutes of the May 15, 2007 regular Commissioner meeting, with corrections, and the May 21 and 22, 2007 Special Commissioner meetings. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. Chief Deputy Dave Bosh and Kluck appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Service bills totaling $11,420.65 and the regular bills totaling $193,769.23. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Chairman Watne then presented Roger Tollefson, partner in TNT Real Estate LLLP, a plaque of appreciation for the donation of the former Slumberland building to Ward County.

 

Smestad then informed the Board that John Carver was unable to appear before the Board, but had called to tell her he was withdrawing his offer to purchase the foreclosed property in Kenmare (Lots 12-22, Block 21, Tolley’s Plat.) Appearing for comment were Kluck and Van Grinsven. Chairman Watne directed Kluck to research when the City of Kenmare expects to have the landfill open and Siebert to research the appraised valuations and when the minimum purchase price could be changed.

Chairman Watne then requested Kluck to gather the blueprint, the department head comments and the research conducted on the County North Building (former Slumberland building) in regards to the use of the building, including the departments requesting storage; and gather the Emerson Apartment bids for painting and the report from the fire department regarding needed changes, to review them all and return to the next meeting with a report. No action was taken.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following plat applications as recommended by Siebert, the respective township boards and the Water Resource Board: Betty Friesen and Krystal Kresbach for Outlot 17 of NWNE and NENW, Section 24, Sundre Township (154-82); Dennis Anderson for Outlot of SWSW Section 12, New Prairie Township (154-81); Rory Stroklund for Outlot 1 of NWNW Section 13, Baden Township (159-88); and approval of a plat application and variance of the 2 acre minimum lot size requirement for the North Dakota State Water Commission for Outlot 1of NE Section 14, Burlington Township (155-84.) Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

After discussion on plats at Rice Lake, it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following plat applications as recommended by Siebert, the Township Board, the Water Resource Board and the Rice Lake Recreation Board: Robert Hargrave for Sublot A of Lot 45 North Shore Addition, Rice Lake Township (152-85) and Bill & Elaine Burke for Sublots C and D of Outlot 20, Section 10, Rice Lake Township (152-85.) Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Social Services Director Dan Richter then appeared with a request for conference room furniture. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to hold the bids until a lease for the additional office space at the Oppen Center has been signed. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to have the State's Attorney draft a new lease, with the costs similar to the current lease, and have Comm. Erickson and Richter present it to Owen Larson as soon as possible. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to amend the motion to have any payments made on the lease go towards the price of the building, if purchased. Roll call on the amended motion: all voted yes, except Comm. Watne who voted no; motion carried. Roll call on the original motion: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for Board action.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the following correspondence: TNT Real Estate LLLP – warranty deed; Bill Kolb – ND Medal of Honor Memorial; Eng. Kluck – letter to City of Burlington; Penske – fleet management and maintenance; Erwin Quarne – taxes on Lots 2 & 3 of Lonetree; ND Dept. of Human Services – Child Support Enforcement transfer; First District Health Unit – estimated mill value; Control Screening – vendor information. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the letter from TNT Real Estate, LLLP accepting the former Slumberland building on behalf of Ward County and agreeing not to sell the property for at least three years. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Regional Child Support Director Larry Van Ness appearing for comment, the Board briefly discussed the correspondence from the ND Dept. of Human Services regarding the Child Support Enforcement transfer. No action was taken.

The Board then discussed the correspondence from Erwin Quarne. With Kluck and Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to correspond with Quarne informing him that the offer from March 1, 2005 (to drop the assessments of Outlot 3 and 10 and reduce the assessment for Outlot 2 to $1,500) is still available and if Quarne does not accept that offer to proceed as is. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

At 10:08 a.m. the Board recessed for the County Board of Equalization meeting.

 

At 11:37 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the minutes from the HR/Personnel Committee and the City/County/School/Park Liaison Committee meetings. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to appoint Jim Muzzy to a three year term on the Ward County Park Board, effective July 1, 2007; and Denise Vormestrand to a five year term on the Ward County Special Assessment Commission, effective immediately. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the following requests for duplicate warrants in replacement of checks lost or mutilated: Hewlett-Packard Co. for $1,100; and Polk County Sheriff’s Office for $35. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Comm. Fjeldahl and Van Grinsven updated the Board on the request from the US Dept. of Interior – Bureau of Land Management regarding a cooperating agency request. Van Grinsven informed the Board that he had requested a sample memorandum of understanding for his review, but has yet to receive it. It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to table the matter until more information has been obtained. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Lengthy discuss was then held on the HB 1332 which changes the tax foreclosure process from five years to three years and a plan that would offer a one-time waiver on penalty and interest if taxpayers paid all their outstanding taxes. Also appearing for comment was Van Grinsven. Chairman Watne requested that the matter be held until next year.

 

Smestad presented the Board with a letter from the Upper Dakota RC&D Office requesting completion of an Area Plan Survey. No action was taken.

 

Smestad then presented a recommendation of the HR/Personnel Committee to establish a policy regarding travel reimbursement. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the following travel reimbursement policy: “Commissioners will be paid mileage to and from their home for regular or special called commission meetings, committee meetings to which they have been appointed by the chairman, and special meetings as approved by the commission.  All travel vouchers for commissioners and employees must be submitted at least quarterly.” Van Grinsven then appeared for comment. Comm. Erickson then moved, seconded by Comm. Watne, the following amended motion: “Commissioners will may be paid mileage to and from their home for regular or special called commission meetings, committee meetings to which they have been appointed by the chairman, and special meetings as approved by the commission.  All travel vouchers for commissioners and employees must be submitted at least quarterly.” Roll call vote on the amendment: Comms. Erickson, Watne and Gruenberg voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried. Roll call vote on the motion as amended: Comms. Erickson, Gruenberg and Watne voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing again for comment, it was moved by Comm. Lee to have the State's Attorney request an Attorney General opinion on the County’s ability to deny paying elected officials mileage as set by state law. Motion died for lack of a second.

 

Comm. Erickson then gave a report from the City/County/Park/School Liaison Committee meeting. It was then moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following recommendations from the Liaison Committee: 1) set aside annual deprecation of $82,517 from 9-1-1 funds for future Central Dispatch updates;   2) approve Steering Committee overseeing maintenance of Interoperable Communications System with 9-1-1- funds;  3) approve update of Central Dispatch with wired and wireless funds. Roll call: Comms. Erickson, Watne and Gruenberg voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

At 12:29 p.m. the Board recessed.

 

At 12:33 p.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Watne, Erickson, Lee and Fjeldahl present.

 

Smestad presented the Board with information and questions for the 2008 budget and requested the Board review them prior to the June 19^th meeting, at which time she would like their input. No further action was taken.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following payroll amendments: Tara Perdue – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Office – Level 9 (new hire); Jennifer Meslow – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Office – Level 9 (new hire); Shaun Lewellyn – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Office – Level 9 (new hire); Kristy L. Voecks – Social Worker III – Social Services – Level 10 to Level 11; Roger Kraft – Seasonal Weed Control Sprayer – Weed Control – Level 7; Laurie Schachtschneider – Correctional Officer – Sheriff's Office; Nicole LaVallie – Receptionist/File Clerk/Secretary – Regional Child Support – Level 5; F. Ellen Carter – Secretary I/Receptionist – Sheriff's Office – Level 6 (new hire). Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad informed the Board that a request for a resolution regarding the YMCA project publication and notice of hearing had been pulled by the YMCA and no action was needed.

 

Kluck then presented items for the Board.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Engineer to proceed with plans to tear down the steel Quonset at the Highway Department; to build a salt shed, which would meet Federal requirements; and to move toward use of block oils and eliminate the current oil storage. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept the recommendation of the Highway Committee in doing seal coat work in Burlington on Park Road, and on a shared basis with Burlington on the Colton/Snake Road; and to place the Farm to Market sections of Johnson and Colton Roads on the five-year Farm to Market road plan. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Comm. Lee requested that Kluck and Van Grinsven get copies of the Century Code(s) that govern the highway funds and provide them to the Board. No action taken.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to seal coat and patch, as needed, the County owned road at Rice Lake from County Road 13 west and north to the public beach and to budget and seal coat the remainder of the road in 2009 with the Rice Lake property owners. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Lansford Threshers & Historical Association to use the parking lot of the County North Building (former Slumberland building) on June 23, 2007, holding the County harmless from any accidents and restoring the property to the condition it was in when they arrived. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Van Grinsven appeared for comment regarding the Berthold Paving project (County Road 9.) Comm. Fjeldahl questioned if there would be a public hearing in Berthold after the completion of paving regarding stop sign placement. Kluck informed the Board that once the paving has been completed, they will be holding a Highway Committee meeting in Berthold to get public input on the stop signs.

 

At 12:51 p.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to adjourn; motion carried.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 19th DAY OF JUNE, 2007.

 

s/Darlene Watne, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 ATTEST: 

s/Devra Smestad
Ward County Auditor/Treasurer