July 15, 2008 Regular meeting minutes

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Erickson at 9:01 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; State's Attorney John Van Grinsven; and County Engineer Dana Larsen.

 

At 9:02 a.m. Comm. Watne joined the meeting.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the July 1 regular and July 2, 2008 special meetings. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the additions to the agenda. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. Appearing for comment was Juvenile Detention Director Allison Hughes. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $280,959.16; the Human Service bills totaling $150,415.54; and the regular bills totaling $131,515.95. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Gary Mehrer 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 tax for 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Chief Deputy Dave Bosh appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Sheriff's Office to purchase a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix from Ryan Chevrolet in the amount of $12,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Bosh still present it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize a budget amendment of $8,000 to the Sheriff's Office auto purchases account, with the funds received from the insurance for the patrol vehicle totaled near Carpio in 2007.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Van Grinsven and Weather Modification Authority members Hank Bodmer and Pat Murphy appeared regarding a possible loan between Ward County and the Weather Modification Authority. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to extend a loan of $70,000 to the Weather Modification using unexpended funds from Regional Child Support line item in the general fund. After discussion an amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to require that the loan include an interest rate at the same rate the money is currently generating. Roll call on the amended motion: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes; Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted no; amended motion failed. Roll call on the original motion: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

With Sheriff Vern Erck and Bosh again appearing it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to rescind the above motion authorizing the purchase of a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix since the vehicle was already sold; and authorize the Sheriff's Office to purchase a 2007 Ford 500 from Westlie Motor Company in the amount of $13,390. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Minot City Assessor Kevin Ternes then appeared.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the request of Delwyn Groninger, to reduce the 2008 true and full value on one parcel. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to table the request of the Minot River of Life Assembly of God, Inc., until Ternes is able to provide more information to the Board regarding square footage of the property. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee to set the value of Wheeler Contracting, Inc. at $20,000 per lot. Motion died for lack of a second.

It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to set the value of Wheeler Contracting, Inc. on MI 24.037.030.0170, at $45,000. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Jail Commander Penny Erickson and Building Supervisor Ron Overly then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the updated proposal from Otis Elevator and Main Electric for an upgrade to the jail elevator system. It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to table the proposal and invite a representative from Otis Elevator to the next meeting. Roll call to table: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Erickson and Overly present it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to direct the Building Supervisor to contact the architect of the Jail building and request them to design a solution to the cracked liner and concrete floor on the outside jail recreation area. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Overly then presented the need for new floor covering the main jail areas. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Building Supervisor to call for bids for floor covering in the Jail. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Erickson still present it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a contract with Motorola for a yearly maintenance contract for the Livescan Fingerprint machine, at a cost of $1,946.00, split between Ward County and the City of Minot. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

With Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: McHenry County – letter to State Officials re: highway funding; Sam Wahdat – government webcast; ND PSC – Certificate of corridor compatibility and route permit; ND State Fair – Special Friends reception; Social Service Director Richter – student placement; Church of God Cemetery – cemetery access. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the monthly reports, including the financial reports. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2009 budget schedule. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Smestad requested that the Board select a date for budget hearings. Board consensus was to decide at the August 5 meeting.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a budget amendment to reimburse the Sheriff's Office budget funds from a bulletproof vest grant. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the June 30, 2008 pledged securities report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to send a letter to Governor Hoeven, Ward County Legislators and the NDACo regarding requested changes to legislation for highway funding. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to inform Granicus, Inc. that Ward County is not interested in their product for audio or video webcasts of public meetings. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Special Assessment Commission’s certifications of Robinwood Estates, West Hills Acres, Apple Grove Additions and Meadowbrook Estates paving districts and set public hearings for August 5, 2008. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to recognize the North Dakota Right to Life organization as a public spirited organization. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following applications for raffle permit: North Dakota Right to Life; and Minot Elk Lodge #1089. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept the following recommendation of the Personnel Committee to place the following advertisement: “The County of Ward, North Dakota, is requesting proposals of qualified firms for the development of a salary study and the implementation of the system. The County will budget funds to conduct this salary study and has committed to allocating funds to support the study. The objectives of this request are available for review in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Erickson again appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Adam Allan – Juvenile Detention; Laurie Schachtschneider – Sheriff's Office; Jaime Bristol – Sheriff's Office; Kathy Holte – Extension Service; Jared Johnson – Engineering Construction Tech; Justin Traeger – Sheriff's Office; Stephanie Melin – Social Services. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 10:43 a.m. the Board recessed for the Social Service Board meeting.

 

At 11:13 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Watne that the four employees who manage help desk back-up for the Comprehensive Child Welfare Payment System have their extra pay ($50) suspended, and reinstate the pay once a new agreement between the Ward County Social Service Board and the Department of Human Services has been signed.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then appeared to present items for action and information.

 

With Carpio area resident Jeff Moen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to establish an agricultural load permit to allow maximum loads of up to 90,000 pounds on all county roads. The permit would cost $100 and run from June 15^th through March 15^th unless seasonal road restrictions are posted. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to have the Auditor/Treasurer disperse the oil impact funds.  Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on transferring the County share of oil impact money to the Highway Department budget. With Recorder Sheila Dalen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Watne to transfer any remaining oil impacts funds, after distribution to the schools and townships, to the Highway. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Park Superintendent/Operator position from a level 8 to a level 9 due to an oversight when he was placed on the state scale. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Highway Department employees to donate vacation time to a Highway Department employee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve Newman Township’s request for the County to begin maintenance work on their township roads. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Highway Engineer to advertise for seasonal highway maintenance workers up to $11.21/hour with the current seasonal highway maintenance worker getting the same pay rate as the new hire plus $0.50/hour due to his years of service.

 

At 12:08 p.m. Chairman Erickson passed the gavel to Vice-Chairman Fjeldahl and left the meeting.

 

At 12:09 p.m. Chairman Erickson returned to the meeting and the gavel was passed back to him.

 

Discussion was held on the Minot Daily News building appraisal and architect’s report, neither of which were available at this time.

 

Smestad then informed the Board about the interviews for Director of Tax Equalization and inquired as to which two Commissioners wanted to sit in on the interview process. Comms. Erickson and Lee volunteered and interview times were set for Friday July 18 beginning at 9:00 a.m.

 

At 12:19 p.m. with no further business it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn. Motion carried.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 5th DAY OF AUGUST, 2008.

 

s/ Carroll W Erickson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County