February 5, 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. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Watne, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; Assistant County Engineer Dana Larsen; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

 

Smestad presented additions to the agenda. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the amended agenda. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the minutes from the January 15, 2008 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. With Chief Deputy Dave Bosh; Personnel Director Colleen Houmann and Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Service bills totaling $22,286.58 and the regular bills totaling $304,185.15. Comm. Lee requested a split question on Roger Kluck’s vacation pay. Roll call on the bills except Kluck: all voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on Kluck’s vacation pay: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.

 

Dean Clott then appeared to inform the Board that The Klub Minot would like to be open from 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. to serve food only. State's Attorney John Van Grinsven and Bosh appeared for comment. After discussion it was Board consensus that Clott could proceed with his plan as there was no state law prohibiting hours of food sales and thanked him for informing them of his plan.

 

Clott then requested that the Board review having families in for meals until 8:00 p.m. every night. With Van Grinsven appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to meet at The Klub Minot and review the premises for the proposed family only area. Roll call; all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve 1) the resolution to amend Zoning Resolution No. 6 to include communication and electrical wind generator towers; 2)  the Ward County Planning Commissioner’s recommendation to adopt the Flood Insurance Study of 2003 and a Storm Water Management Plan; 3) 11 applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors; 4) five exemptions for disabled veterans; and 5) the one blind exemption application. Comm. Lee then moved and amended motion that the amendment to Zoning Resolution No. 6 maximum fee be set at $12,500. Amended motion died for lack of a second. Another amended motion was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to set the fee at $100 with a $2,500 maximum amount. Roll call on the amendment: Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted yes, Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted no; amendment failed. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Architect Don Davison then appeared to discuss his fees for architectural services he provided to the County. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve phase 2 on an hourly basis, not to exceed $9,800, with the funds to come from the 2007 general fund carryover. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

With Larsen and Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the following correspondence: ND Department of Health – leak detection & CP compliance; City of Minot – Sleep Inn application for tax exemption extension; Dakota Resource Council – MRSA; Sidwell Co. – agricultural land values; Mitch Holbach - letters; Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson/ND DOT – public input meeting; Souris Basin Planning Council – economic development seminar; ND DOT – bid opening; Sheriff’s Dept. – delinquent mobile tax collections; and State Land Department – oil impact grant. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the pledge securities report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to: 1) authorize the Chairman’s signature on the First District Health Unit’s 2008 budget information; 2) authorize the Chairman’s signature on the 2008 agreement with the Ward County Council on Aging; and 3) approve a raffle permit applications from North Plains PTA on February 15, 2008 with prizes totaling $950; and Local 1157 – Minot Firefighters on April 3, 2008 with prizes totaling $3,760. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Siebert and Larsen appearing for comment, the Board briefly discussed the correspondence from the Sidwell Company.

 

At 10:42 a.m. the Board recessed.

 

At 10:52 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

Discussion was then held on the upcoming Liaison committee meeting regarding 55^th St. Larsen and Smestad were directed to work together to research what funds are available and from where; provide background information on all other projects previously discussed; and to research when, where and how property was annexed in that area.

 

Discussion was then held on the Oppen Family Guidance Institute lease. With Van Grinsven appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept and approve the lease agreement for three years expiring June 20, 2011. An amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to renew the lease agreement for a one-year period. Roll call on the amendment: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted no; amended motion failed. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.

 

With Houmann appearing for comment, discussion was held on the recommendations from the Personnel Committee.

With Bosh and Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to recommend that the Social Service Board authorize the purchase of additional cell phones for the Social Services staff and review at budget time. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept the reclassification forms, as recommended by the Personnel Committee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following application for payroll amendment: Debra S Nelson – Administrative Assistant I – Social Services (new hire.) Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the findings in the Gowan zone change denial. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept the Court Facilities Improvement Grant award and to take the matching funds from the 2007 general fund carryover. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on the building space needs. With Recorder Sheila Dalen, Davison and Larsen appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to have the Chairman and another Commissioner speak with the Minot Daily News regarding the purchase of their parking lot, if it is still available. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Erickson then appointed Vice-Chairman Fjeldahl to accompany him. Davison questioned if he should continue with the evaluations of the current building and was told to do so.

 

Larsen then appeared with items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the promotion of Dana Larsen to Highway Engineer at a 5% pay increase for the promotion per Ward County policy and as approved by the Highway Committee. Larsen was directed to work with the Personnel Coordinator to put into effect the approved organizational chart which includes realigning the duties of the Road Superintendent; the Project Coordinator position: Engineering & GIS Technician position; and to include the hiring of an engineering technician.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Chairman and Auditor to sign the construction and engineering service agreement with Ackerman-Estvold Engineering for the County Road 23 bridge replacement project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept the low bid of Mayo Construction for the County Road 19 and County Road 12 bituminous overlay project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize Engineer Larsen to attend the NACE, National Association of County Engineers, convention in Oregon in April, with registration and transportation expenses to be paid by the ND Association of County Engineers. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Comm. Lee requested that Larsen bring repair options and estimates for County Road 5W to the Farm to Market hearing in April.

 

The Board then set a date of February 14 at 3:00 p.m. to meet at The Klub Minot to review the facilities.

 

Brief discussion was held on the death of Loren Zimmer and the vacancy created on the Water Resource Board; Board consensus was to visit with Water Resource Board Chairman John Pietsch about when they wanted the position declared open and advertised.

 

At 12:39 p.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee and carried unanimously to adjourn.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 19th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2008.

 

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

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer