July 1, 2008 Regular Commission meeting

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 State's Attorney Roza Larson; and County Engineer Dana Larsen.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the additions to the agenda. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the minutes from the June 17 regular and Board of Equalization meetings.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. With D. Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the Social Service bills totaling $10,973.23 and the regular bills totaling $1,113,162.32.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Alex Zorn, Minot, then appeared regarding a mailed tax payment which the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office never received or credited. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to remove the penalty and interest accrued on his property for 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to remove the penalty and interest and reinstate the five percent discount on Alfred and Judy Walter’s property for 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Hank Bodmer, Chairman of the Ward County Weather Modification Authority, then appeared regarding obtaining a certificate of indebtedness from Ward County to get a loan they need to cover a shortage in their requested mill levy. Also appearing for comment was R. Larson. It was moved by Comm. Lee to table the matter until the July 15 meeting to allow time for a State's Attorney opinion. Comm. Lee withdrew his motion to allow R. Larson to present more information. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to have the State's Attorney’s office research the preparation of a Certificate of Indebtedness and prepare a policy to deal with future mill levy shortages. Roll call: Comms. Lee, Fjeldahl and Gruenberg voted yes; Comms. Watne and Erickson voted no; motion carried.

 

Chief Deputy Dave Bosh then appeared regarding a disputed bill from Western Edge Aviation in Williston. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to pay the original quote of $5,637.45 to Western Edge Aviation and the $150.00 landing fee from the Amarillo, TX airport. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following applications for plats, as recommended by Siebert, the respective Township Boards and the Water Resource Board: Steve Gathman for Outlot 2 of NE 27-156-85 (Foxholm Township); Norman Sollid for Replat of Lots 8 & 9, Block 1, Sandy Beach Addition, 152-85 (Rice Lake Township); and Gary Smith for Outlot 2 of NWNE 22-153-81 (Sawyer Township.) Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Siebert still present it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following: 1) applications for abatement of taxes and/or corrections of errors of assessments: Machele Somerville, HA 00.009.800.0120, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $589,000 to $552,000; Kelvin Holzer, HA 00.001.800.0930, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $240,400 to $228,400; Craft Builders, Inc., NE 00.009.300.0010, place a value of $185,400 for 2006, 2007 & 2008; Warren Mechling, SU 30.009.900.0120, increase the 2008 true and full value from $70,000 to $99,800; BB Prosper Properties, LLP, MI 24.146.000.0350, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $72,000 to $45,000; Fae Self, MI 23.021.820.0050, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $84,600 to $71,200; Allen R Larson, MI 15.114.020.0220, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $74,000 to $63,000; Linda Alexander, MI 15.114.060.080, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $84,600 to $80,000; Delwyn Groninger, MI 27.288.153.0304, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $76,400 to $50,000; Gohl Properties, LLP, MI 20.A82.000.0010, increase the 2008 true and full value from $744,600 to $897,800; Michael Braun, RL 00.000.501.0130, remove the 2008 structure value of $85,600; Minot River of Life Assembly of God, Inc., MI 11.953.040.0120, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $2,344,800 to $869,200; City of Minot, reduce the 2008 true and full values as follows: on MI 36.278.070.0120, reduce from $22,400 to $5,600 and MI 14.259.050.0013, reduce from $8,200 to $2,800; ND DOT, the 2008 true and full values as follows: on MI 14.261.000.0072, reduce from $400 to $0; MI 14.261.000.0060, reduce from $400 to $0; MI 14.079.000.0090 reduce from $14,600 to $1,200; and MI 14.079.000.0080, reduce from $14,600 to $1,200; Michael Jessen, MI 10.894.010.0040, reduce the 2008 true and full value be increased from $130,400 to $186,600; Wheeler Contracting, Inc. MI 24.037.030.0170, increase the 2008 true and full value from $0 to $45,000; and Neighborhood Development Enterprises, Inc. reduce the 2008 value on MI 14.470.000.0021 from $159,400 to $66,400; and MI 14.470.000.0030, reduce from $123,800 to $51,600.

 2) increase the following properties that no longer qualify for two year new construction exemption: Daniel Keller, MI 11.A43.000.0050, increase value from $60,200 to $135,200; and Christina Chung, MI 11.A43.000.0020, increase value from $60,200 to $110,200; 3) applications for disabled veteran’s exemption: Leroy Schoffstall, MI 11.230.040.0050, reduce the 2007 true and full value from $140,000 to $44,000 and 2008 true and full value from $141,000 to $45,000; Chad Tobey, MI 11.033.050.0140, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $112,000 to $49,000; Stacy Wiegers, MI 11.252.030.0250, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $171,200 to $99,200; Thomas Konchan, MI 11.033.0403.0060, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $136,600 to $40,600; Buddy Hanrahan, MA 18.009.900.0010, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $77,000 to $32,200; Ruby Hood, MI 26.243.040.0120, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $177,000 to $105,000; and Sharon Webb, SY 00.003.400.0470, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $101,200 to $9,400; 4) applications for Homestead Credit: Jennifer Keaton, MI 35.960.000.0030, 100 percent credit on 50 percent interest for property in 2008; Connie Swensrud, MI 24.146.000.0192, 40 percent credit for 2008; Rosella Wilkerson, MI 13.210.250.0081, 100 percent credit for 2008; Sandra Sitch, MI 13.016.000.1400, 100 percent credit for 2008; Juliet Lee, MI 15.525.013.1589, qualifies for 80 percent credit for 2008; Clifford Lyght, MI 19.092.000.0260, 20 percent credit for 2008; Margaret Abel, MI 24.073.100.0130, 100 percent credit for 2008; Dennis Amundson, MI 25.594.000.0070, 60 percent credit for 2006, 2007 & 2008; and Edna Kurth, SW 00.001.702.0010, 100 percent credit for 2008; and 5) applications for mobile home abatement for 2008: Eric Anderson, BA 51.034.05, remove value of $7,504; Robert Sanders, WA 51.034.28, remove value of $18,554; and Adam Wack, NE 51.005.93, remove value of $32,928. After discussion an amended motion was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to hold the following applications pending more information from the Minot City Assessor Kevin Ternes: Delwyn Groninger, MI 27.288.153.0304, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $76,400 to $50,000; Minot River of Life Assembly of God, Inc., MI 11.953.040.0120, reduce the 2008 true and full value from $2,344,800 to $869,200; Wheeler Contracting, Inc. MI 24.037.030.0170, increase the 2008 true and full value from $0 to $45,000. Roll call on the amended motion: all voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on the motion as amended: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared regarding the ND Emergency Management Conference to be held in Minot. Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne, to authorize the Chairman to appoint a representative from the Commission to present welcoming remarks at the opening conference. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Chairman Erickson informed the Board that he would attend and deliver the welcome.

 

Discussion was then held on the Gowan land case and suit against the county. With R. Larson appearing for comment, Smestad was directed to contact our attorney at the ND Insurance Reserve Fund to inquire if he ordered a transcript of the hearing and if he did, to request a copy be made available to the Commissioners.

 

Discussion was then held on the cost of living adjustment/department salary studies. The Board discussed the following tied motion from the June 17, 2008 meeting: “Discussion on a 2009 cost of living adjustment continued with Richter and Bosh reappearing. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson, to have the Department Heads budget an eight percent cost of living adjustment for 2009 per their recommendation. Roll call: Comms. Watne and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting.” Roll call on the tied motion: Comms. Watne and Erickson voted yes; Comms. Lee, Fjeldahl and Gruenberg voted no; motion failed. It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl, to call for bids to acquire professional assistance with a salary study. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Watne who voted no; motion carried.

 

The Board then discussed a date and time to conduct an in-depth salary review with the individual County departments. With D. Larsen appearing for comment it was set for Wednesday July 2 beginning at 8:00 a.m.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the following correspondence: Secretary of Interior – PILT (payment in lieu of taxes); Garrison Diversion – recreation matching grant; FEMA – EOC grant program; ND DOT – 2009-2010  Federal Aid Program; ND Assn of Oil & Gas Produce Counties – interim taxation committee meeting; EAP – 1^st Quarter management report; Enbridge Pipeline – water-pressure test of pipeline between Berthold and Minot; ND State Tax Commissioner Cory Fong – agricultural land values ; NDACo – Committee participation; and Richard Wilson – Waterford Township road maintenance problem. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Erickson to call an official meeting for Wednesday July 2, 8:00 a.m. for the review of the individual department salary study information. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following applications for event permit from the Minot VFW Club Post 753: John Bauer birthday party on July 13; Deideman birthday party on July 19; and Eaton wedding reception on July 25 – all events from Noon to 1:00 a.m. serving beer and liquor; and a Sunday Event Alcoholic Beverage Permit for the Minot VFW Club Post 753 for August 17, 2008 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 a.m. serving beer and liquor, on and off sale. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Chairman and Auditor/Treasurer’s signature on the following closing documents for County bond issue for the special assessment paving projects: IRS Form 8038-G; Closing Certificate; Tax Certificate; Warrants (for each district) and Book of Registry. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to advertise the open positions on the Ward County Planning Commission and the NDSF Association board. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to budget for the continuation of the Employee Assistance Program for 2009. Roll call: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes; Comms. Fjeldahl and Lee voted no; motion carried.

 

With D. Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to have Larsen prepare a report on the dollar amount an extra mill levy would produce for the Farm to Market program and what amount the federal dollars would be. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to set the 2009 Farm to Market levy at 10 mills. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Jennifer Schlecht – Office Clerk/Administrative Assistant – County Recorder – Level 6-1 (new hire); Brittany N Valdez – Administrative Assistant I – Social Services – Level 6 (new hire); Heather Ofsthun – UCC Clerk/Administrative Assistant II – County Recorder – Level 6 to 7; and Daniel Richter – Social Services Director – Social Services – Level 15 to 16. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

D. Larsen then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve Waterford Township’s request for the County to begin maintenance work on their township roads. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

A Highway Committee meeting was set for Wednesday July 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Highway Department.

 

D. Larsen then presented informational items to the Board.

 

Smestad informed the Board that to date, she had not received any applications for the position of Director of Tax Equalization. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to re-advertise the position up to the first quartile, if no applications are received by the July 8, 2008 deadline. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With R. Larson appearing for comment, discussion was held on the number of cases handled by the Ward County State's Attorney office compared to other ND Counties and the possibility of Ward County assessing higher fees in the State's Attorney office.

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to ask Minot City the status of the City/County prosecution contract study. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 11:15 a.m. with no further business it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

 

s/ Carroll W Erickson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer