November 6, 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, and Watne 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. Watne to approve the additions to the agenda. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2008 Commission meeting. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Service bills of $10,226.43 and the regular bills totaling $104,815384. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then requested who was to pay for the advertisement for the Public Administrator position. Board consensus was to have the County pay for the ad.

 

With Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appearing it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following applications for plats as recommended by the respective Township Boards, the Water Resource Board and the County Planning Commission: Wallace Johnson, Section 7-155-84; and Wallace Johnson Section 21-155-85. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Vendsel still present it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following: 1) seven applications for disabled veteran’s exemption; 2) one application for two year new construction exemption; 3) one application for farm exemption; and 4) one application for mobile home exemption. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly and Pete Lien with Otis Elevator then appeared regarding the Jail elevator. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to submit a letter to Otis Elevator informing them that Ward County intends to modernize the jail elevator within one year. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Overly, Larsen and Horn of Plenty Coordinator Dick Leavitt then appeared to update the Board on Leavitt’s request to use the County North Building for compiling the Horn of Plenty items. Overly and Larson informed the Board that there were no records stored at the County North building which require removal. Leavitt also supplied the Board with a copy of their liability insurance. Comm. Gruenberg requested that Overly track the extra costs incurred by their use of the facility.

 

Overly then updated the Board on the jail boiler and the Library roof.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to receive and file the following correspondence: Houston Engineering; ND DOT; Emergency Manager Al Reynolds; State's Attorney John Van Grinsven; NW Judicial District Court; US Dept. of Interior. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Larsen, Van Grinsven and Sheriff Vern Erck appearing for comment the Board requested addition information on the County Permit Agreement from the ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties.

 

Discussion was then held on extra-territorial zoning and the costs charged for building permits and inspections.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to authorize the Juvenile Detention Administrator to pursue the FY 2008 allocations from the City of Minot and grant the City of Minot’s and Ward County’s allocations to the Ward County Juvenile Detention facility. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize Rath & Mehrer to conduct the audit for the year ending December 31, 2008. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to recognize the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary as a public spirited organization. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following applications: 1) raffle permit for VFW Ladies Auxiliary; and 2) bingo permit for Blue Line Club. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Jennifer Meslow – Patrol Deputy – Sheriff’s Office (PT to FT); Jason Kraft – Patrol Deputy – Sheriff’s Office (PT to FT); Wendy Schaefer – Administrative Assistant I – Social Services (new hire); Nicole M Berger – Social Worker III – Social Services (new hire); and Kristi Dump – Patrol Deputy – Sheriff’s Office. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appearing, the Board set Department Head evaluations for Tuesday November 18 beginning at 1:00 p.m.

 

With Houmann still present it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the recommendations of the Personnel Committee to change to Magnum Dental plan with a December 1, 2008 starting date. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Comm. Gruenberg requested that discussion regarding FEMA be added after the next agenda item. The item was added with no objections.

 

At 10:00 a.m. the time set for a public hearing, Chairman Erickson opened the hearing. No one appeared either for or against the tax foreclosure appraisals. Van Grinsven appeared briefly to update the Board on the Berthold foreclosed property that had a federal lien. At 10:03 a.m. it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to adjourn the public hearing. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven and Houmann appearing for comment, the Board discussed the resignation of Van Grinsven. It was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept, with regrets and thanks for outstanding service, the resignation of State's Attorney John Van Grinsven. Roll call vote: Comms. Watne, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes, Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to advertise for a State's Attorney with a December 1 deadline, using the minimum and maximum salary range. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Comm. Gruenberg then informed the Board about a meeting between the Corps of Engineers and FEMA in which FEMA is requiring that all dikes be inspected and certified by an engineer or the landowners will have to purchase flood insurance. With Larsen appearing for comment it was recommended that Larsen contact Ackerman-Estvold Engineering and request Alan Estvold and/or the Water Resource Board return to the November 18 meeting with more information about FEMA guidelines.

 

Larsen then appeared to present the board with information items.

Comm. Erickson introduced Commissioner-Elect Jack Nybakken.

 

With no further business, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 10:36 a.m.

 

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 18th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2008.

 

s/ Carroll W Erickson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County