March 6, 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, Erickson, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; County Engineer Roger Kluck; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

      Comm. Lee and Chairman Watne announced additions and changes to the agenda.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the February 20 regular meeting and February 21 and March 1 special meetings. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Smestad then presented the bills. Van Grinsven appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the social welfare bills totaling $6,249.80 and the regular bills totaling $107,233.00. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Watne directed Comm. Fjeldahl to research an adjustment of the Souris Basin Planning Council bill, specifically the exclusion of the Minot Air Force Base population prior to the budget process.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following requests for abatement and/or correction of errors of assessments: Kathryn Haugen, SR 05.009.900.0210, reduce the 2006 true and full value from $231,400 to $200,000; Roger Neshem, DL 06.5U0.400.0000, reduce the 2006 true and full value from $16,600 to $10,000; and the following corrections on Homestead Credit applications: Robert Murray, KM 00.000.616.0020, add $698 to the 2006 true and full value; Freeman Peterson, SW 00.000.406.0060, add $184 to the 2006 true and full value. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.  Chairman Watne directed Siebert and Van Grinsven to research the law regarding two-year new construction exemptions.

      Siebert then presented an application for plat approval by Bill and Elaine Burke for Sublots C and D of Outlot 20, Section 10 Rice Lake Township (152-85.)  Kluck also appeared for comment. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to table the application for plat approval by Bill and Elaine Burke for Sublots C and D of Outlot 20, Section 10 Rice Lake Township (152-85.) Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Watne requested that Smestad and Kluck set up a meeting between the County, the Rice Lake Service District and the County Planning Commission regarding plats at Rice Lake and the requirement of hooking into the sewer system.

      Smestad then presented items for Board action.

      Kluck and Emergency Manager Al Reynolds appeared for comment. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: NDDOT – Safe routes to School Program; Em. Mgr. Al Reynolds – Emerald Ash Borer presentation; Em. Mgr. Al Reynolds – Local hazardous materials training; NDDOT – application for Special Road Fund projects; County Eng. Roger Kluck – letter to Jerry Chavez re: MG Grain engineer selection; Rolette County – resolution on State Revenue; Extension Office – Base policy; Sts Atty John Van Grinsven – Farm to Market, Federal Aid & Tax Levy. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the State requested owner name change of the liquor license for the Foxden for 2007. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following applications for raffle permits: 1) Triple R Saddle Club for August 18-19, 2007 with prizes totaling $709; and 2) Western ND Pro Am Golf Tournament for August 16-19, 2007 with prizes totaling $1,000. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Discussion was then held on the Board appointments policy. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to advertise the open position(s) on the various boards and committees upon each term expiration. 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.

      Chairman Watne then directed Smestad to contact Ron Burns and Clayton Gillmore who have terms expiring in April 2007 and ask them to serve another term on their respective boards. 

      Discussion was then held on the un-expired term of David Germain on the Water Resource Board. Smestad and Kluck informed the Board that an advertisement would be appearing in the Minot Daily News for a resident within the published flood plain.

      Reynolds briefly appeared regarding a Commission representative on the Ward County Emergency Resource Council and Steering Committee. Chairman Watne informed the Board that she would serve as the Commission representative.

Kluck appeared regarding a request from North Prairie Rural Water (NPRW) for a letter of support for NPRW’s rural water supply project to the Berthold area. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to have Kluck send a letter to the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) committee asking them to weigh in on the NPRW project to Berthold and if a meeting is held, to have Kluck and any Commissioners attend. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

Van Grinsven then appeared regarding the rent payment from the Rice Lake farm land. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne that the rent paid by Don Leifson continue going to the Park Board for recreational purposes. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne that to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, all political subdivisions in North Dakota have been financially hard-pressed by the State mandated requirement to provide services, by increasing costs and by the necessity of relying upon the property tax for the primary source of revenue;

WHEREAS, past sessions of the State Legislature have reduced the percentage of State revenue allocated to political subdivisions, including Counties;

WHEREAS, SB 2322 and HB 1447 in the 2007 session of the State Legislature would have restored State funding of political subdivisions, including Counties, to previous levels;

WHEREAS, Restoration of funding from revenue sources controlled by the State would allow political subdivisions, including Counties, to continue to provide essential services at current levels while reducing the property tax levy;

WHEREAS, the North Dakota State Senate and the North Dakota State House of Representatives have defeated both SB 2322 and HB 1447 which would have restored funding to political subdivisions, including Counties, and reduced the need to rely on property tax revenue;

WHEREAS, the failure to restore funding to political subdivisions will require political subdivisions to rely on the property tax to provide the funds to satisfy increased mandates for services placed upon the State’s political subdivisions;

That the Ward County Commission requests the North Dakota State Legislature reconsider its decision to reject SB 2322 and HB 1447 without having a plan to restore the funding to political subdivisions which these bills would have provided;

That the Ward County Commission requests that the ND Association of Counties, and each and every County Commission in the State, contact every State Legislator in the 2007 session to ask them how they voted on SB 2322 and HB 1447 and to explain their vote to the people of the respective Counties, Townships, Cities and other political subdivisions adversely effected by the rejection of these measures; and

That the ND Association of Counties and the North Dakota County Commissioners Association work with the members of the 2007 Legislative Assembly to restore State funding to political subdivisions to allow them to reduce their reliance on the property tax for revenue.

Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following application for payroll amendment: Heidi Russell – Sheriff Dept – Correctional Officer – Level 9-1(new hire); Aaron Ottmar – Sheriff Dept – Correctional Officer – Level 9-1(new hire); Pamela Faulhaber – Social Services – SWIII (underfill as SWI) – Level 9 (new hire); Robin Borud – Social Services – emergency temporary hire - $25.00/hr. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

Discussion was then held on space needs. After discussion, a tour the downtown Cenex location was set for 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 12.

Kluck then presented information items for the Board.

At 9:57 a.m. the Board recessed.

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

Van Grinsven then appeared regarding a joint powers agreement for the ND Medal of Honor memorial. He informed the Board that he had been in contact with the City of Minot’s attorney and requested a copy of their joint powers agreement, once it was approved, and would return to the March 27 Commission meeting with more information.

      The Board then discussed various pieces of legislation with no action being taken.       

      After much discussion on building options, with Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to invite the Bond Counsel and Bond Consultant to appear at the March 27 meeting. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

      Comm. Lee then discussed the matter of open records which is currently before the Attorney General’s Office.

      Discussion was then held about the Farm to Market program and research conducted by Kluck and Van Grinsven, both of whom appeared for comment.    

      At 10:52 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to adjourn. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 27th DAY OF MARCH, 2007.

s/Darlene Watne, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

ATTEST:

s/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer