October 7, 2008

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.

 

Smestad presented additions to the agenda. It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve the agenda as amended. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the September 16 regular and September 30 special meetings. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Watne that effective October 15, 2008 the motion adopted by the Ward County Social Service Board regarding mileage (set at 50.5 cents per mile, as long as gas is above $3.50 and reducing to 45 cents per miles once gas went below $3.50) be adopted for all county departments; and review the price of gas in two weeks. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. With Larsen, Van Grinsven and Sheriff Vern Erck appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Service bills totaling $26,189.00 and the regular bills totaling $325,229.49. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appearing it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve: 1) 13 applications for abatement and/or corrections of errors of assessments; 2) six applications for two year new construction exemption; 3) two applications for wheel chair exemption; 4) four applications for veteran’s exemption; and 5) three applications for homestead credit. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize Overly to prepare bid specifications, with the help of Engineer Lon Drevecky, and call for bids for replacement of a boiler located in the Jail. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 9:30 a.m., the time set for the opening of bids on the demolition of a tax foreclosed house located in Donnybrook, Smestad informed the Board that no bids had been received. With Larsen and Vendsel appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Department to schedule demolition of the house. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the following correspondence: Chairman Erickson – letters to Minot Daily News & City Manager David Waind; Courthouse Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee – grant application; LyCox Enterprises – packer/roller; Heinrich & Co. – insurance adjustment to library roof; Don Longmuir – Minot Ag complex; ND Oil & Gas Division – permit; ND Oil & Gas Producing Counties – uniform truck permit fall meeting; ND DOT – Local Road Coordinators’ Conference; Bart Leath, Minot Daily News – building; Coldwell Banker 1^st Minot Management – available properties; Capitol Solutions Bancorp – “Fund Your Growth” business roundtable; and Mark Johnson, NDACo  - County Employers Group premium dividend credits. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2009 tax foreclosure schedule. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing for comment, the Board briefly discussed the City Prosecution contract.

It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve a gaming site authorization for MSU Beaver Boosters, Inc. for NDSF – TJ’s restaurant. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comm. Lee who voted no; motion carried.

 

With Recorder Sheila Dalen appearing, it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to approve a budget amendment totaling $16,156.59 for the following accounts in the Recorder’s budget: Salaries - $10,587.18; PERS - $965.55; Social Security - $656.41; Health Insurance - $438.00; Life Insurance - $2.00; Medicare - $153.52; and Office equipment - $3,353.93. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Dalen still present the Board discussed the NDACO Convention delegate packet. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to draft a resolution to the NDACo and ND County Commissioners Associations to address the unfunded mandates passed down by the State to the Counties. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to draft a resolution to the NDACo and ND County Commissioners Association that each taxing authority has the veto power over tax exemptions and abatements on their respective portion of taxes. Roll call vote: Comms. Lee, Fjeldahl, and Gruenberg voted yes, Comms. Watne and Erickson voted no; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to approve the resolutions as presented for the 2008 NDACo Convention. An amended motion was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to take no position on amendment #11 – regarding Ballot Measure #2. Roll call vote on the amendment: Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted no; motion to amend failed. Roll call vote on the original motion: Comms. Gruenberg, Watne and Erickson voted yes, Comms. Lee and Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Chairman Erickson then appointed Comm. Lee and himself to a committee to draft the two proposed resolutions for the NDACo Convention.

 

The Board then discussed the various boards with terms expiring in December. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl that effective January 1, 2009 the Ward County Social Service Board consist of a 5 member board with a minimum of 4 Commissioners and one at-large appointee. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and approve tax foreclosure appraisals made October 7, 2008 and direct the Director of Tax Equalization, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office, to evict persons living in the residences; post no-trespassing notices; and to secure the buildings as needed.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Van Grinsven appearing briefly for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Rebekah J Hoots – Social Services; Valorie Eslinger – Auditor/Treasurer’s Office; Betsy Trumbauer – State's Attorney; Tracie L Lindquist – Social Services. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to amend motion #1 of the 2009 budget by reducing the County Buildings, Repair & Improvements by $291,500 and the Interim Fund by $291,500 with each department being decreased equally. Roll call vote: Comms. Lee, Watne and Fjeldahl voted yes; Comms. Gruenberg and Erickson voted no; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Lee to adopt the following amended budget for calendar year 2009. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Watne to adopt the resolution, reflecting the changes made to the County Buildings, Repair & Improvements and Interim Fund line items, setting the following levies. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to adopt the motion setting the 2009 budgets and spread tax levies. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 10:42 a.m. Comm. Lee left the meeting.

 

At 10:43 a.m. the Board recessed.

 

At 10:50 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adopt the following Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase and maintenance of the electronic poll books. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then appeared with items for information and action.

 

It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Watne to accept and approve the preliminary 55^th Street Overpass concert report, and addendum, and submit it to the ND DOT and Federal Highway for approval. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Road Superintendent Rick Melchert appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Watne, seconded by Comm. Lee to authorize the Highway Engineer to accept the low bid from West River Striping, in the amount of $19,916.16, for the white edge line pavement striping on County Roads 9, 13 & 20. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Engineer to advertise for three motor graders and one skid steer loader, with bids to be opened in November. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then presented items of information.

 

The Board then discussed building space needs. It was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to request a representative of the District Court meet with the Building Committee regarding requested changes to the third floor. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to move the regularly scheduled November 4 meeting to November 6 due to the election. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

Van Grinsven appeared briefly with information for the Board.

 

At 11:53 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Lee, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn. Motion carried and meeting was adjourned.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 21st DAY OF OCTOBER, 2008.

 

s/ Carroll W Erickson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County