April 1, 2008 Regular meeting minutes

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Erickson at 9:00 a.m. with Comms. Gruenberg, Watne, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; County Engineer Dana Larsen; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2008 regular meeting. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Service bills totaling $15,425.66 and the regular bills totaling $78,293.28. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 9:03 a.m. Comm. Fjeldahl arrived.

 

Jail Commander Penny Erickson then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept and approve the Ward County Jail Policies and Procedures revised or newly written in 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Don Longmuir with Souris Basin Planning Council then appeared regarding MG Grains. Longmuir provided the Board with an update on the information he had recently obtained.

Comm. Lee requested that Jerry Chavez, President of the Minot Area Development Corporation be invited to the next meeting to provide the Board with any information regarding the possible sale of the MG Grains building.

 

Jeff McElwain, engineer with Ackerman Estvold then appeared regarding the Meadowbrook Estates Paving District No. 1-2007. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to reject the bids and re-advertise the project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to: 1) approve the following plat applications as recommended by the Township Board, the Ward County Water Resource Board and the Ward County Planning Commission: Robert Paulson for Section 30-154-81; and Harlow Moger for Section 2-156-86; 2) approve 10 applications for disabled veteran’s credit for 2007; 3) to approve two applications for exemption; and 4) the two applications for Homestead Credit. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: Ottertail Power Co – increased rates; Souris Basin Planning Council – CDBG program changes. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the Berthold Economic Development Corporation’s expenditure report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to table the 2007 property inventory report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a budget amendment for the Sheriff's Office in the amount of $500.00 for funds received from Wal-Mart, which will be used for purchase of CPR/AED training supplies. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Chief Deputy Dave Bosh appearing briefly for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve a request for a duplicate warrant to Kevin’s Auto Body, in the amount of $785.96 in lieu of a warrant assumed lost, mutilated, defaced or destroyed. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the request of the Minot Committee for the National Day of Prayer to hold a Noon prayer rally on the Courthouse steps on May 1, 2008. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Chairman to appoint a representative for Ward County to attend the ND Insurance Reserve Fund annual meeting on May 14, 2008. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to advertise the positions on the Tuition Appeals Committee, the Library Board and the Park Board that will expire in June 2008. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Bosh appearing briefly for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the following payroll amendments: Michael Wing – Jail Supervisor (temporary) – Sheriff’s Office; Kimberly Ohlhauser – Secretary I/Receptionist – Sheriff’s Office (new hire.) Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then appeared with items for action and information.

 

The Board briefly discussed items on the Farm to Market program.

 

At 10:00 a.m. the time set for a public hearing on the West Hills Acres Paving District, Chairman Erickson opened the hearing. Jeff McElwain, Engineer with Ackerman-Estvold appeared briefly for comment. No one appeared in favor of or against the project, and Smestad informed the Board that no written testimony had been received. It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the West Hills Acres Paving District. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. At 10:05 a.m. Chairman Erickson closed the hearing.

 

Larsen again appeared.

 

It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Engineer to accept the low bid of Westlie Truck Center on a leased to own belly dump trailer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the Engineer’s contract for West Hills Acres Paving district. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne that a request from the ND State Fairgrounds to use a county tractor during the State Fair be approved, with the stipulation that the ND State Fair repair any damage to the unit before it is returned. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Highway Committee’s recommendation authorizing the County Engineer to charge a flat rate of $83.00 per hour for township maintenance work. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then presented informational items to the Board.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing for comment the Board discussed the 1993 Resolution

To Reform Alcoholic Beverage Retail Sale Licensure and Regulation in Ward County, North Dakota Excepting Incorporated Cities. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to strike the following from the Section I subsection J: “…where the patrons may be entertained by performers and where dancing is prohibited.” and to follow the proper process to change the resolution. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 10:33 a.m. the Board recessed.

At 10:41 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

Discussion was then held on the building space needs.

 

The Board discussed the three options as presented by the Minot Daily News (purchase their parking lot and sell the library lot; purchase Morgan Printing’s building and lot and sell it to the Minot Daily News; or purchase the Minot Daily News building and parking lot.)

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to contact the Burlington Fire Department to request a proposal for their building and lot. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 11:18 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn. Motion carried.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 15th DAY OF APRIL, 2008.

 

s/Carroll W Erickson, Chairman
Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer