May 20, 2008 Regular 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, and Lee present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; State's Attorney John Van Grinsven; and County Engineer Dana Larsen.

 

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

 

Smestad presented the Board with a correction to the May 5, 2008 regular meeting minutes. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the May 5, 2008 regular meeting minutes, with correction. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills.  With Van Grinsven appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the Social Service bills totaling $305,628.71; Human Service bills totaling $54,067.41; and the regular bills totaling $348,037.21. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Jeff McElwain of Ackerman-Estvold Engineering then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to: 1) accept the bids for West Hills Acres Paving District No. 1-2008; 2) award the contract to the low bidder of Bechtold Paving, Inc. in the amount of $164,289.75; and 3) authorize the Chairman to sign the Notice of Award, Construction contract and notice to proceed. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Minot Police Captain Al Hanson then appeared regarding a Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant received for the remodeling of Minot Central Dispatch and tower upgrades.  With Emergency Manager Al Reynolds appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept the PSIC grant, in the amount of $796,651, with the County paying the 20 percent match of $199,162.75; and to use Motorola and SRT as the sole source for equipment purchase, installation and service. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Ardis Burtness, Minot, then appeared regarding a mailed tax payment which the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office never received or credited. Also appearing for comment was Van Grinsven. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to give Burntess the five percent discount and remove any penalty and interest accrued on her property for 2007. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 9:39 a.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Don Siebert then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following: 1) plat applications: a) with Water Resource Board approval and Township Board approval and the stipulation that the township will not accept maintenance of the road: Brenda Larson, Dakota Ridge Estates, Section 5-153-81 (Sawyer Township); and b) with Water Resource Board and Township Board approval: Norman Sollid on behalf of Jeffrey Brunner for Outlot 1 of SE & SW Section 27-156-81 (Maryland Township); 2) request for abatement and/or correction of error of assessment: Dale Gehring, RL 10.009.900.0201, reduce the 2007 true and full value from $5,000 to $4,000; 3) the following applications for 2007 disabled veteran’s exemption: Paul Harrison, MI 26.157.000.0014, reduce the true and full value from $140,800 to $56,800; and Stephen Kenny, NE 00.000.506.0160, reduce the true and full value from $165,200 to $93,200; and 4) the following applications for Homestead Credit: Stella Erickson, MI 11.875.000.0020, 60 percent credit for 2006 and 2007; Connie Swensrud, MI 24.146.000.0192, 60 percent credit for 2006 and 2007.  Roll call: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 9:41 a.m. Comm. Lee returned to the meeting.

 

Recorder Sheila Dalen then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to request the District Court to allow the Recorder to use a secure fireproof area on the third floor, in the NE corner of the building, for election ballots and wills; and to take the necessary steps to secure the area. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: Jan Murphy – resignation; NDPERS – Wellness Discount Program; State Auditor – review of audit. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to: 1) receive and file the monthly reports, including financial reports; 2) approve a raffle permit application from Western ND Golf Inc, for August 17, 2008 with prizes totaling $1,000; and 3) to approve a fireworks display permit from Dean Simmons for the Nodak Race Club on July 4, 2008 at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a budget amendment to better track the revenue and expenditures of the 9-1-1 funds throughout the year as follows: 9-1-1 Revenues - $745,000 and expenditures for Central Dispatch; communication tower lines; reverse 9-1-1 and insurance - $742,542.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Sheriff to sell the following vehicles to be sold at auction: 1996 Toyota Camry LEE; 1982 Dodge Custom; 2004 Dodge Neon; 1996 Chevy Cavalier; 1990 Olds Delta; 1993 Pontiac Grand Am; 1999 Ford Explorer; 1996 Chevy CC3090; 1996 Hyundai Accent; 1990 Chevy Lumina; 1989 Honda Civic DX; 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix; 1985 GMC Suburban; 1992 Honda Accord; 1996 GMC Sonoma; 2000 Chevrolet Impala; 2004 Dodge Intrepid.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the request for a duplicate warrant for James Ondracek, in the amount of $256.00, in lieu of a warrant assumed lost, mutilated, destroyed, or defaced. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Personnel Director Colleen Houmann, Sheriff Vern Erck and Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to table a full salary study and return the issue to the Personnel Committee who can bring it forward at a later time. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to have a joint Personnel Committee/Highway Committee meeting to discuss the Highway Department pay rates with Larsen and a Highway Department employee representative; and to bring a recommendation back to the full board at the June 3, 2008 meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to appoint Craig Stein to the un-expired term of the County representative on the Minot City Planning Commission effective immediately until December 1, 2010. Roll call; all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to appoint Linda L Anderson to the position on the Ward County Library Board effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011. Roll call: Comms. Gruenberg, Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes; Comms. Watne and Erickson voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Ingvald Hanson – Seasonal Highway Maintenance – Level 5; Michael Wing – Patrol Deputy – Sheriff's Office – Level 11 to 12; Linda Brunner – Administrative Assistant – Library – Level 7. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing briefly for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept and authorize the Chairman’s signature on a Bond Counsel Fee Agreement with Cook Wegner & Wike PLLP for the four special assessed paving projects. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to deny payment of a bill received from Financial Accounting Foundation for Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) because Ward County did not ask to have them complete any work. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then presented items for information and action.

 

A tour of the County roads was set for Saturday, May 31 at 8:00 a.m. with the Commissioners meeting at the Highway Department.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept the highest bid and award the bid to Kingdom Construction, in the amount of $48,000 for a 1994 Volvo loader. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Engineer to purchase a Dell desktop, in the amount of $1,985.40 and a Dell laptop, in the amount of $2,966.30 for the Highway Department. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the Engineering agreement for the 55^th Street Overpass design. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on informational items.

 

At 10:39 a.m. the Board recessed for the Social Service Board meeting.

 

At 11:34 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to increase the mileage rate to $0.505 per mile effective May 15, 2008 as long as gas price is $3.50 or higher and reduce the mileage rate to $0.45 if gas prices go below $3.50. After discussion an amended motion was made by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to place the discussion of a mileage increase on the June 3 agenda; after consideration, Comm. Lee withdrew his motion.

 

Discussion was then held on building space needs.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds appeared regarding his correspondence about moving to the County North Building.

 

Comms. Erickson and Fjeldahl informed the Board of their recent discussion with the Minot Daily News. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to hire an appraiser for the Minot Daily News property and take the money from the Building Improvement account of the General Fund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to request the architect to review the Minot Daily News property to see how it could be incorporated into the current space needs. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to direct the Auditor/Treasurer to receive quotes for a commercial appraiser for the Minot Daily News property until the June 3 meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Van Grinsven appeared briefly with informational items for the Board.

 

At 12:03 p.m., with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to adjourn the meeting.

 

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 3rd DAY OF MAY, 2008.

 

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

 

ATTEST:

s/Devra Smestad