May 1, 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 Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Denice Boe; County Engineer Roger Kluck; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2007 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Boe then presented the bills. Appearing for comment were Building Supervisor Ron Overly and Chief Deputy Dave Bosh. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $14,573.83 and the bills totaling $114,386.30. Comm. Lee requested a split question on the Medal of Honor Memorial bill. Roll call on all bills less the Medal of Honor Memorial bill: all voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on the Medal of Honor Memorial bill: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Overly then appeared to present three bids for electrical work on the cooling tower project. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Building Services Supervisor to accept the low bid of Mayer Electric, in the amount of $2,895.00, for labor and material to install the cooling tower motor, VFD and select switch for rewiring the existing motor. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following plat applications, as recommended by the Township Board, the Water Resource Board and Siebert: Wayne Potter for Outlot 2 of NW Section 34-161-88 (Denmark Township); Ward County Highway Department for Outlots 10 & 11 being a portion of Outlot 9, and unplatted portion of SWNE Section 7-153-81 (Sawyer Township); to approve six applications for abatement and/or correction of errors of assessments; and approve one application for Homestead Credit. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Boe then presented items for action.

      With Kluck appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the correspondence from: Auditor/Treasurer Smestad; Dennis Schmidt; ND PERS; Engineer Kluck; ND DOT; ND Education Service Cooperative; Rocky Skarsgard; TNT Real Estate, LLLP. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Watne informed the Board that she would send a letter to Mr. Schmidt thanking him for his input regarding the Emerson building.

      Boe then presented information about a Census 2010 workshop to be held on May 22, and informed the Board that Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad would be attending. Chair Watne responded that she will attend and gave Smestad authorization for any of her staff to attend as well. No further action was taken.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to refer the letter from the US Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management, inviting Ward County to become a Cooperating Agency, to the State's Attorney for further review and comment. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve Special Event Permits for M&S Concessions: for Nodak Races; Wedding Receptions; NDSF; Rodney Carrington concert and the Fireman’s Stag all at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds/Center. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve a raffle permit for Ward County Historical Society. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Boe then presented the Board with two applications for the open position on the Ward County Library Board. Board consensus was to have the two applicants meet with the Board at 8:30 a.m. on May 15. No further action was taken.

      Kluck then appeared about two letters from the ND Department of Transportation regarding Alert Code 3 bridges and Bridge inventory in Ward County. Kluck informed the Board that he has responded to the Alert Code 3 bridge letter, telling the ND DOT that the bridge is scheduled for replacement this summer. No further action was taken.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to nominate Bill Kolb for the 2007 Basil O’Connell Community Leadership Award through the Souris Basin Planning Council. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Comm. Lee requested the Auditor/Treasurer’s office to contact Mr. Kolb and invite him to meet with Comm. Lee to fill out the nomination form.

      Bosh appeared regarding revised jail policies. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept and approve the following new and revised policies: new - code of ethics; revised – control of security doors; security; and inmate movement. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Van Grinsven appeared briefly regarding a request from the Minot Junior Golf Association for an amendment to their 2007-2008 Site Authorization at the Hooterville Bar. Van Grinsven requested that action be postponed until the May 15, 2007 meeting to allow for further research.

      Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Larry Pletcher, Correctional Officer, Sheriff's Department, PT to FT; Jamie Bristol, Correctional Officer, Sheriff's Department, PT to FT. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented items for Board action.

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to allow the Computer Store to fully replace the two towers purchased by the Highway Department, and if any significant failures occur on the systems within the next six months to refund the full purchase price. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck and Fjeldahl then presented information regarding the meeting between Harrison Township and North Prairie Rural Water; and North Prairie Rural Water, North Central Rural Water Consortium and the Northwest Area Water Supply. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to lift the hold on the 2007 permits and to revise the permit policy to include points of contact for all projects. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. After more discussion, Kluck was directed to invite John Bearman, President of the North Prairie Rural Water; and Ralph Packulak to a future meeting regarding the request for contact information on future projects.

      Kluck then presented a request from Westlie Crossroads Truck Center to substitute two

Cummins motor trucks for the two Mercedes-Benz motor vehicles as previously bid and ordered. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Highway Engineer to accept the two units from Westlie Crossroads Truck Center with a Cummins motor. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Kluck then presented informational items to the Board.

      At 10:11 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adjourn the meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 15th DAY OF MAY, 2007.

 

s/Darlene Watne, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 ATTEST: 

s/Devra Smestad
Ward County Auditor/Treasurer