March 18, 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; County Engineer Dana Larsen; and State's Attorney John Van Grinsven.

 

The Board discussed revisions to the agenda and it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the revised agenda. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the March 12, 2008 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Larsen, Van Grinsven, and Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $285,104.49; Human Service bills totaling $43,013.23 and the regular bills totaling $242,428.21. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. Reynolds and the board discussed available office space for a regional response coordinator; and a plaque of appreciation for SRT Communications.

 

Discussion was then held on Citywatch (reverse 9-1-1.) It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to purchase Citywatch for an initial cost of $47,500; annual update fees of $4,300 per year; and 16 dedicated phone bills per month, with $28,000 to come from a homeland security grant and the balance from wireless 9-1-1 fee funds. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Reynolds then presented the Board with a letter informing them of his decision to cancel National County Government Week event that he had been planning.

 

At 9:55 a.m. Comm. Watne left the meeting.

 

At 9:57 a.m. Comm. Watne returned to the meeting.

 

After much discussion and with Van Grinsven, Larsen and Auditor/Treasurer Administrative Assistant Barbara Curren appearing for comment it, was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to cancel the event per Reynold’s request. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Recorder Sheila Dalen then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the Recorder to accept a quote from Information Systems Corporation for additional digitization of marriage license and military discharge records. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg that the additional work will be paid in 2008. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

At 10:25 a.m. the Board recessed for Social Service Board meeting.

 

At 11:02 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

With Larsen appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the following correspondence: Williston Basin Pipeline – appreciation banquet; ND Oil & Gas Division – Geophysical Exploration report; USDA Rural Development – Proposed Prairie Winds wind turbine generation public scoping meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to: 1) receive and file the monthly reports, including financial statements, and the Lake County Historical Society 2007 Expenditures; and 2) to approve the request for duplicate warrant for Melissa Robbins in lieu of warrant assumed lost, mutilated or destroyed, in the amount of $107.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve an application for a 2008 – 2009 gaming site authorization from Sertoma Club of Minot. Roll call: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven and Sheriff Vern Erck appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve a traffic safety contract with the ND DOT to participate in a seatbelt blitz campaign. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept the resignation of Clifton Lee from the Minot City Planning Commission and to advertise the open position. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to interview the eligible applicants for the Water Resource Board beginning at 1:00 p.m. on April 1^st at ½ hour intervals. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Comm. Watne requested that the State's Attorney research the eligibility of applicant Kenneth Radenz.

 

Smestad then informed the Board that an Elmer Jesme Conference of Counties meeting had been set for Monday, March 31. Comm. Watne informed Smestad that she would be attending.

 

Discussion was then held on following tied motion: “After discussion it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adopt the following resolution authorizing the Joint Powers Agreement for purchase of e-pollbooks

WHEREAS various counties of North Dakota have entered into a JPA for the centralized and coordinate acquisition and delivery of essential and optional services by participating member counties (hereafter referred to as the “Master JPA”);

 

AND WHEREAS, the undersigned county (“County”) is a participating member of the such Master JPA;

 

AND WHEREAS, the North Dakota Association of Counties (NDACo) has secured the joint acquisition of the services described below on behalf of those participating members of such Master JPA;

 

AND WHEREAS, the County has determined that the joint acquisition of this specific service is in its best interests;

 

SERVICE PURCHASED: Electronic Poll Book (e-pollbook) Implementation

 

NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby RESOLVED:          

1.    That the County recognizes the potential benefits of automating the process of voter identification at election polling places, and

2.    That the development and effective use of early or election day vote centers involving multiple precincts is only realistic if automated voter identification has been implemented by the County, and

3.    That a joint purchase of the hardware, software, training, and maintenance of this technology is the most cost-effective means of implementation, and

4.    That the North Dakota Association of Counties is willing to enter into an agreement with the vendor selected by the participating counties for the lease and purchase of this hardware, software, training and/or maintenance, and

5.    That the County agrees to pay their apportioned cost pursuant to this agreement, based on the number of “e-pollbook” installations, and

6.    That the County may rescind this acknowledgement without terminating the Master JPA, by the notifying the NDACo in writing prior to October 1^st of the year preceding termination.

7.    That the County accepts that if it terminates this acknowledgement, all costs incurred on behalf of the County will be the responsibility of the County, and

8.    That NDACo shall notify the County in writing, and the County’s participation in this service will be terminated, at such time as there is a statewide alternative with temporary partial or full-funding available through the State of North Dakota.

Roll call: Comms. Watne and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion tied to be revoted at the next full Board meeting.” With Van Grinsven and Curren appearing for comment, an amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to increase the number of rural polling places. Roll call: all voted no, except Comm. Lee who voted yes; motion failed. Roll call on the original motion: Comms. Watne, Erickson and Gruenberg voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Larsen then appeared with items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve and accept the gravel crushing bid from Sundre Sand and Gravel for the Andreson pit in the amount of $2.55/cy and the Arndt pit in the amount of $2.10/cy; and to re-bid the crushing of the Green pit with a new completion date of December 1, 2008. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept the following bids for supplies: Ennis Paint and Diamond Vogel – paint/glass beads; Johnston Fargo Culvert and Cretex Concrete Products – culvert; Bechtold Paving and Minot Paving – paving materials; Sundre Sand & Gravel – gravel; NW Tire Store – tires; Minot Paving, Bechtold Paving, Sundre Sand & Gravel, Coughlin Construction, Don Brown Construction, Harris Construction, Excavating, Inc., and Quality Construction – equipment rental; and RDO Equipment, Butler Machinery and Sweeney Bros. – equipment rental/no operator.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to declare two 1983 Heil pup trailers as surplus and sell them at auction, with a minimum sales price to be determined prior to sale. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to set a Park Board meeting for 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15^th.

 

Discussion was then held on building space needs. Comm. Watne requested that any discussion be postponed until the April 15^th meeting since the architect requested more time to complete the space needs assessment and the Board would be meeting with the Minot Daily News again.

 

At 12:24 p.m. with no further business it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn the meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 1st DAY OF APRIL, 2008.

 

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

 

ATTEST:

s/Devra Smestad

Ward County Auditor/Treasurer