August 18, 2008 Budget Hearings

The 2008 budget request meeting was called to order by Chairman Erickson at 8:05 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, and Lee present.  Comm. Watne was absent.  Also present was Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad.

 

It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the following recommendation for 2009 COLA: if earning less than $25,000 - 6%; $25,000 to $50,000 - 4%; over $50,000     - 2%. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 8:20 a.m. Comm. Gruenberg arrived.

 

Appearing to present his 2009 budget was Veterans Service Office Dale Braun.

 

Highway Engineer Dana Larsen then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 2009 Highway Department budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Larsen still present the Board discussed the 2009 County Park budget. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2009 County Park budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 2009 Rushville Township budget as presented as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

State's Attorney John Van Grinsven then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the 2009 State's Attorney budget as presented. Roll call: Comms. Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes; Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2009 Emergency Management budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With 9-1-1 Communications Coordinator Lt. Rob White appearing, discussion was held on the 9-1-1/Communications budget. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the budget as presented. An amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to strike the request of $7,500 for 911 sign maintenance/replacement from the budget. Roll call on the amended motion: all present voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on the motion as amended: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Social Services Director Dan Richter and Account Technician Connie Zieske then appeared. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to set the Social Services budget at $4,600,000. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Erickson who voted no; motion carried.

 

At 10:27 a.m. the Board recessed.

 

At 10:34 a.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Erickson, Lee, Fjeldahl and Gruenberg present.

 

Superintendent of Schools Jodi Johnson then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Building Services Superintendent Ron Overly then appeared. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Building Services and Courthouse Janitors budgets as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Tax Equalization budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Library Director Jan Murphy then appeared and introduced the new Library Director, Julie Burkhart. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Library budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Joan Anderson with Rehab Services then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the budget request of Rehab Services as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

At 11:26 a.m. Comm. Gruenberg left the meeting.

 

At 11:27 a.m. Comm. Gruenberg returned to the meeting.

 

Paul Robinette, Ward County Historical Society, then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Ward County Historical Society’s budget request as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the budget request of the Makoti Thresher’s Association as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Jerry Chavez, Minot Area Development Corporation, then appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the budget request of the Minot Area Development Corporation as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 12:03 p.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.

 

At 12:04 p.m. the Board recessed until Tuesday August 19, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.

 

2009 Budget Hearings

Tuesday August 19, 2008

 

The 2009 budget hearings continued at 12:56 p.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson and Lee present.

Kenmare Economic Development Director Kari Bies then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the budget request of the Kenmare Community Development Corporation #2 as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Berthold Economic Development Corporation President Robert Inman appearing it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to set the 2009 budget request of Berthold Economic Development Corporation at $7,313. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 1:05 p.m. the Board recessed.

 

At 1:51 p.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson and Lee present.

 

Sheriff Vern Erck then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Sheriff's Office budget with the following reductions: $5,000 from the auto expense line item; $2,000 from the auto purchase line time and $732 from salary line item for the administrative supervisor. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Jail Commander Penny Erickson and Erck then appeared regarding the 2009 Jail budget request. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2009 Jail budget with the following reductions: $34,400 from the prisoner/juvenile board line item and removing the following from the capitol equipment line item: $33,000 for elevator updates, $14,000 for floor tile and $10,000 for New World updates. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Juvenile Detention Director Allison Hughes appearing it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the 2009 Juvenile Detention budget as presented. A substitute motion was moved by Comm. Lee to appropriate $80,000 to the Juvenile Detention budget and transfer the juveniles to the Youth Correctional Center in Mandan. Substitute motion died for lack of a second. Roll call on the original motion: all present voted yes, except for Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

John Pietsch and Gordon Krueger of the Water Resource Board and Alan Estvold, Water Resource Board Engineer then appeared. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to reduce the 2009 Water Resource Board budget to 2.5 mills ($364,037.50.) Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 3:04 p.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.

 

At 3:05 p.m. Comm. Lee returned to the meeting.

 

ND State Fair Manager Bob Wagoner then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 2009 State Fair budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

County Agent Mike Rose then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 2009 County Agent budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Recorder Sheila Dalen then appeared. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 2009 County Recorder budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Dalen then informed the Board that she would be working as the Burke County Clerk of Court/Recorder through the end of 2008 as their Clerk/Recorder had resigned and she would be helping them through the appointment and training of a new Clerk/Recorder.

 

At 3:15 p.m. Comm. Gruenberg left the meeting.

 

At 3:17 p.m. Comm. Gruenberg returned to the meeting.

 

Weed Control Officer Derrill Fick then appeared. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the 2009 budget for Weed Control with a reduction of $5,000 in the spraying expense and repairs line item. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Public Administrator Mark Westereng then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the requested budget increase from the Public Administrator. Roll call: Comms. Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting. It was moved Comm. Lee to fund the Public Administrator at $1,000 per month for 2009. Comm. Lee then withdrew his motion. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to fund the Public Administrator contract at $12,500 per year. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Judge McLees and Judge Mattson appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to fund the 2009 District Court budget at $49,275, including $6,000 for guardian ad litem/custody investigator; $28,275 for mental health contract; and $15,000 for involuntary commitments. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Linda Freeman representing the Ward County Council on Aging then appeared. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to set the 2009 Ward County Council on Aging budget at $216,790. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on the 2009 Weather Modification budget. It was moved by Comm. Lee to deny the request of the Weather Modification until they made an appearance to explain their budget request. Motion died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2009 budget request of Weather Modification, as presented, pending their appearance at the September 2 regular meeting. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to restrict the 2009 budgets to three percent over 2008 requests. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on the 2009 Economic Development Corporation budget requests. It was moved by Comm. Lee to fund DeSour Valley, Makoti and Carpio Development Corporation budgets at three percent over their 2008 request. Motion died for lack of a second.

 

Comm. Gruenberg then left the table and appeared on behalf of the De Sour Valley Economic Development. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following budget requests for Economic Development Corporations: DeSour Valley at $2,500; Makoti at $1,000 and Carpio at $1,350. Roll call: Comms. all present voted yes, except Comm. Gruenberg who abstained; motion carried. Comm. Gruenberg then returned to the table.

 

Smestad then presented the general miscellaneous funds.

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to subtract the Minot Air Force Base population from the per capita number when figuring Ward County’s population and the appropriation to the Souris Basin Planning Council. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Erickson who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to set the 2009 NDACo dues at $19,570 and send a letter to the Association notifying them of this amount. Roll call: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg and Erickson voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to remove the budget item for the 2009 National Association of Counties dues. Roll call: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg and Erickson voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee to set the 2009 Commissioner’s Contingency fund at $15,000. Motion died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to set the 2009 Commissioner’s Contingency fund at $20,000. Roll call: all present voted yes, except Comm. Erickson who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 2009 Auditor/Treasurer budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the general fund, including: County Board at $154,147; and Office Supplies, equipment and maintenance at $52,800. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Emergency budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Insurance Reserve budget as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the 9-1-1 wireless fee budget as presented with a reduction in 9-1-1 signage to $7,500. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the budget request of the Ward County Soil Conservation as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the budget request for Veteran’s Services as presented. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the budget request of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District at 1 mill. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

The Board briefly discussed the 2009 revenue.

 

At 5:07 p.m. with no further business it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adjourn. Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 2nd DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2008.

 

s/ Carroll W Erickson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County