January 2, 2008 Regular meeting minutes

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Erickson at 9:03 am with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Watne, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; County Engineer Roger Kluck; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

 

Comm. Erickson presented the Board with a certificate of appreciation from Cretex Concrete. Engineer Kluck appeared to inform the Board that this was in relation to the County Road 18 bridge replacement project and that Cretex Concrete donated a portion of the culvert cost to the County Engineers Scholarship fund.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the addition of the Joint Powers Agreement between Kirkelie Township, Ward County Park Board, and Ward County; and to move the item of Roger Kluck’s resignation to the Highway Department agenda. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept and approve the minutes of the December 18, 2007 regular meeting minutes. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Service bills totaling $25,457.84; the 2007 bills totaling $76,508.58 and the 2008 bills totaling $113,373.20. Comm. Lee requested a split question on the NDACo dues bill.  Roll call on all bills except the NDACo bill for dues: all voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on the NDACo bill: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg, and Erickson voted yes; Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following plat application as recommended by the Water Resource Board; Township Board and Siebert: Jared Lochtowe for Kirkelie Township. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Siebert still present, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve: 1) four applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; 2) two applications for disabled veterans exemption; 3) one application for wheelchair exemption; and 4) ten applications for 2007 Homestead Credit. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for action and information. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the following correspondence: ND State Treasurer – Oil & Gas tax distributions; ND Industrial Commission – geophysical exploration permit; Dept. of Air Force – re-graveling of roads; Dept of Interior – final environmental impact statement for Red River Valley Water Supply project; Judge McLees – vacating of 12/11/07 order. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to: 1) approve the following application for event permit: Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for a birthday party on January 19, 2008 from 12 Noon to 1:00 a.m. serving beer, liquor and wine; and the following application for Sunday Event Alcoholic Beverage Permit: Minot VFW Club Post 753, Inc. for February 2, 2008 from Noon to 1:00 a.m. serving beer and liquor, on and off sale; 2) to declare the Souris Valley Humane Society a public spirited organization and 3) to approve an application for raffle permit from the Souris Valley Humane Society for March 2, 2008 with prizes totaling $600.00. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to interview the applicant for the All Seasons Arena Commission at 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, January 15, 2008. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve an agreement between the ND DOT and Ward County which allows Ward County to place and repair emergency street name signing (911 signs) on the ND DOT right-of-way. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to designate the Ward County Highway Department Head as the designated County official for future correspondence from the ND DOT.

 

Discussion was then held on the Water Resource Board applicants. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to interview Tom Klein, Ralph Packulak, Bob Wetzler and Jeff Moen, the applicants who meet the requirement of living in the flood prone area of a river, for the two open positions on the Board. Roll call: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted no; motion failed. After further discussion it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to interview all seven applicants. Roll call: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried. Interviews were set for Monday, January 14, 2008 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and lasting ½ hour each.

 

With Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appearing it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve position/salary changes for 2008 and the Ward County payroll effective January 1, 2008. Roll call: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the 2008 Technical Support Services Agreement with the NDACo. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to table the matter until the position had been reviewed and other options for an IT person was researched. Roll call to table: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes; Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted no; motion failed. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes; Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee for the County to research hiring their own IT person, and related costs, before the 2009 budget cycle. Roll call: Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted yes; Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted no; motion failed.

 

With State's Attorney John Van Grinsven appearing, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following 2008 contracts: Legal Services for Mental Health Cases in Ward County; Berthold Development Corporation; Carpio Development Corporation; DeSour Valley Development Corporation; Kenmare Community Development Corporation #2; Minot Area Development Corporation; Lake County Historical Society; Ryder Historical Society; Ward County Historical Society; and the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Heather Ofsthun – Office Clerk/Imaging Specialist – County Recorder (new hire); Tawna Boyko – Juvenile Detention Officer – Juvenile Detention; Debora Westby – File Clerk/Office Assistant – State’s Attorney (new hire). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Chairman’s signature on a Joint Powers Agreement between the Ward County Park Board; Kirkelie Township and Ward County for maintenance of the rural portion of Burlington’s Old Settler’s Park and the paved interior ring roads of Old Settler’s Park. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to table the request from Dean Clott for extended hours at The Klub Minot until the January 15 meeting and to send a letter to Clott informing him that the Board will not take any action on his request until he appears. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Kluck then appeared with Highway Department items for action and information.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Department to work with Sauk Prairie Township on assisting with reasonable blading and reasonable adding of gravel to mitigate the impact of trucks diverted off of CR 2 during its asphalt overlay; and to request that Road Supervisor Melchert keep the Board informed on expenses and time spent on the project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to direct the Highway Department to draft an in-house engineering report, with design suggestions and costs, to help with drainage upgrades on County Road 2 through Kenmare. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to have a Highway Committee meeting, with all Commissioners present, to discuss replacement options for the County Engineer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Board consensus was to have the meeting immediately following the interviews for the Water Resource Board on January 14.

 

Kluck then presented informational items to the Board.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to reluctantly accept County Engineer Roger Kluck’s resignation and wish him well in his future endeavors. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Brief discussion was held on the building space needs. Kluck informed the Board that the architect would have a report for the next meeting. Comm. Lee requested that the Board begin discussing the Oppen Building and the current Social Services contract set to expire in six months. Chairman Erickson requested Auditor/Treasurer Smestad to place the matter on the next agenda for discussion.

 

State's Attorney John Van Grinsven appeared and updated the Board on a complaint filed by former inmate Rocky Skarsgard with the ND Department of Labor. Van Grinsven informed the Board that after their review, the Department of Labor had dismissed his complaint.

 

At 10:49 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to adjourn.

 

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

 

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

 

ATTEST:

 

s/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer