December 2, 2008 Regular meeting minutes

The organizational meeting of the Ward County Commissioners was called to order by Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad at 9:07 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Christianson, Erickson and Nybakken present.  Also present was County Engineer Dana Larsen; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

 

The floor was then opened for nominations for Chairman.  Comm. Gruenberg nominated Comm. Fjeldahl.  Comm. Nybakken nominated Comm. Christianson. Smestad called for a vote on Comm. Fjeldahl as Chairman with Comms. Gruenberg and Fjeldahl voting yes. Smestad then called for a vote on Comm. Christianson as Chairman with Comms. Nybakken, Erickson and Christianson voting yes.  Comm. Christianson then assumed the Chair.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl to nominate Comm. Gruenberg for Vice-Chairman. It was then moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl that nominations cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Comm. Gruenberg as Vice-Chairman.

Smestad then presented additions to the agenda.

 

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

 

Smestad then presented the bills. With Larsen and Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the bills totaling $102,751.93. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the social service bills totaling $26,988.68. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larry Johnson, Tollefson Contract Flooring, then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve Johnson’s request to extend, by one month, the completion date set for the new flooring in the jail. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel then appeared. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve eight applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments and two applications for Veteran’s Exemption. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to accept the 2008 Regional and County Homeland Security Grants; and to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the grant awards and 2008 Regional Grant Agreement. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to designate the Emergency Manager as the County official authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with each city in Ward County and the Ward County Park Board for warning sirens in the incorporated cities and at Rice Lake. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: Auditor/Treasurer Smestad; ND Dept of Health; EAP; Extension Agent Mike Rose; Carolyn Woolf; and Raymond Geyer. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the low bid of Central Mechanical of Bismarck for the replacement of the jail boiler, at a cost of $37,100, per the recommendation of Prairie Engineering, PC. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Larsen and Erck appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties County Permit Agreement. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg that the Board hereby approves quit claim deeds for the following tax foreclosed properties redeemed by owner prior to sale date to Dale & Rose Shelkey and James & Shelly Daniels. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl: 1) that the Board hereby approves the action of the County Auditor/Treasurer in making the sales at the tax foreclosure auction, and authorizes the issuance of tax deeds or contracts thereon (a copy of which may be reviewed in the Auditor/Treasurer’s office) and that the Board hereby approves the action of the County Auditor/Treasurer in making a sale, and authorizes the issuance of a tax deed thereon (a copy of which may be reviewed at the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.) Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer to negotiate the Master Agreement for Technology Support with NRG Technology Services. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to set the 2009 Board of Ward County Commissioners meetings for the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month at 9:00 a.m. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the notice of meetings of the Board of Ward County Commissioners and agenda order of business for 2009. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Chairman Christianson requested making committee appointments at the next meeting and requested that the Commissioners contact him with their request or preferences for committee appointments by Dec 4.

 

District Court Administrator Carolyn Woolf then appeared for comment regarding the District Court Renovations Committee. Comm. Gruenberg informed the Board that NDACo President Terry Traynor had contacted him about a possible appointment to the State Court Facilities Advisory Committee.

 

Smestad questioned if the Commission wanted to change the time of the Park Board meetings and was informed that the Park Board requested no change for now.

 

Discussion was then held on changing the time of the Social Service Board meetings. With Social Services Director Dan Richter appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to move the Social Service Board meetings to 11:00 a.m. on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comm. Christianson who voted no; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven and Jim Lee appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to advertise for applications to the advisory committee for a one year term effective February 1, 2008 with an application deadline of January 2 at 4:00 p.m. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad informed the Board that the next Elmer Jesme conference would be December 15 at 10:00 a.m.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer’s office to issue the December 31, 2008 payroll on December 24, 2008. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven; Larsen; Dalen and Erck appearing, it was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to close at Noon on Dec 24 and close all day on Dec 26. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on various Commission appointed board openings. Smestad was directed to advertise for the open positions in the Minot Daily News and the Kenmare News, twice, with an application deadline of December 11 at 4:00 p.m.

 

Personnel Director Colleen Houmann and Richter then appeared regarding payroll amendments. It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following payroll amendments: Lisa Gayzur, Social Services; Jaime Bristol, Sheriff’s Office; Bruce Christianson, County Commissioner; Jack Nybakken, County Commissioner. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Houmann and Richter still present it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following application for payroll amendment: Kimberly McCarty, Social Services. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing, the Board discussed interviews for the State's Attorney position.

 

At 11:20 a.m. the Board recessed to allow Van Grinsven to obtain more information regarding scheduled trial dates.

 

At 11:25 a.m. the Board reconvened with all Commissioners present.

 

The Board then set December 10 at 8:30 a.m. as the time for interviews for the State's Attorney position.

 

Smestad informed the Board that she had received a memo from the District Court Administrator regarding the Public Administrator position. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the memo. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then appeared with items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to purchase an additional license for the ArcGIS software in the amount of $6,312.78. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

The Board then set a date of Wednesday December 10 at 1:00 p.m. for a Personnel Committee meeting.

 

At 11:35 a.m. with no further business it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to adjourn.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 16th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2008.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County