November 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; State's Attorney John Van Grinsven; and County Engineer Dana Larsen.

 

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

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the minutes of the November 6, 2008 regular meeting. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

 Smestad then presented the bills. With Sheriff Vern Erck and Larsen appearing it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $28,784.89; the Human Service bills totaling $51,299.14 and the regular bills totaling $250,025.11. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Clerk of District Court Susan Hoffer then appeared to request ceiling fans be installed in the Clerk of District Court office. It was moved by Comm. Lee to refer the request to the Building Committee and Building Supervisor. Comm. Lee then withdrew his motion to allow a report by the Building Committee. After receiving the report, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Lee to allow the Clerk of Court to obtain bids for the installation of two ceiling fans and present the bids to the District Court. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried. Hoffer informed the Board that the deadline for the Court Facilities Improvement Grant is December 31. Comm. Gruenberg was directed to inform Building Supervisor Ron Overly that he is to supervise the project.

 

Ward County Water Resource Board Chairman John Pietsch then appeared regarding FEMA’s requirement that all dike systems be certified by an engineer. After much discussion Chairman Erickson requested that the Water Resource Board provide the Commission with monthly updates as to what progress has been made and what, if any, help is needed from the Commissioners.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

With Larsen appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to receive and file the following correspondence: ND DOT – 2009-10 revised Federal Aid program; City of Minot – 2 annexations and 2 re-zoning ordinances; HDR Engineering – proposed pipeline project; Auditor/Treasurer – Otis Elevator re: letter of intent. Comm. Lee moved an amended motion that the County requires Pecan Pipeline to bore under all county roads that may have to be crossed. Comm. Lee then withdrew his motion. Roll call vote on the motion to receive and file: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to require Pecan Pipeline to bore under all county roads that may have to be crossed; and that a letter be sent to the Public Service Commission serving as a written comment on the project. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried. Larsen was directed to write the letter and send it to the PSC.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne: 1) to receive and file the monthly reports, including financial statements; and 2) that the Board hereby approves quit claim deeds for the tax foreclosed properties redeemed by owner prior to sale date. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a budget amendment to increase the Sheriff’s Office training budget by $11,114.26 to cover training expenses reimbursed by the Peace Officer Standards & Training Board. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad informed the Board that the Committee assigned to review the ND Association for Oil & Gas Producing Counties County Permit agreement (Smestad, Erck & Larsen) were still conducting research and requested that they report their findings to the Highway Committee. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to table the permit agreement to allow time for more research. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then informed the Board that someone had requested a chance to bid on County owned land in Spring Lake Township. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to open the property for bids. Comm. Lee then withdrew his motion. With State's Attorney John Van Grinsven and Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to send a letter to Terry Narum (current lessee) informing him that other people are interested in the land; allow him to remove his fence; and bid February 1, 2008. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing for comment, the Board briefly discussed the State's Attorney position.

With Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appearing it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Rebecca Cronis, Social Services; Kristine Westman, Social Services; Paul Metz, Sheriff’s Office; Kevin Slade, Sheriff’s Office. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then presented items for information and action.

 

Larsen informed the Board that he would be touring the missile haul roads used by the Minot Air Force Base and the Board is invited to a meeting with Minot Air Force Base personnel and the ND DOT on Friday to discuss those roads.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to add CR 12A (55^th St) from US 2 to County Rd 12 to the federal aid system and have it classified as a county major collector (CMC) route. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept the low bid of $43,544 for a new skid steer loader from Swanston Equipment; and to award the sale of the old skid steer loader to Robert Patten for $17,565. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept the low bid of $147,135, per machine, for three 140MAWD motor graders from Butler Equipment with savings coming from the reuse of the front lift group and a letter from Caterpillar guaranteeing a five year buyback in lieu of performance bond. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then presented the Board with results from the railroad crossing diagnostic review conducted by the ND DOT, which determined that one crossing, 698935W, needed a new automated signal system. Larsen informed the Board that the ND DOT would only sign a contract with the County, not the township and that the County would have to get reimbursed from the township for the installation costs. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl that once an agreement to install signals at the crossing has been received  to have the Highway Committee meet with the township(s) where the crossing lies to discuss reimbursement for the installation. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to hold any County projects using federal aid dollars until the federal highway bill or a new continuing resolution for funding has been finalized by Congress. Roll call vote all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Chairman’s signature on the 2009-2010 County Federal Aid Program worksheet. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

 

A 11:05 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

Discussion was then held on building space needs.

 

Van Grinsven appeared briefly regarding the Local Advisory Committee. Smestad informed the Board that it was on the agenda for the December 2 meeting.

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the action of the Social Service Board to advertise for a new member of the Social Service Board, requesting only female applicants per state statute, with a deadline of December 1, and interviews to be set by the new Board. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Comm. Lee then spoke to the Board regarding his years of service as a Commissioner.

 

At 11:21 a.m. the Board recessed until 1:00 p.m. to conduct the Department Head evaluations.

 

At 3:55 p.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to adjourn sine die. Motion carried.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 2nd DAY OF DECEMBER, 2008.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County