August 18 2009 Regular meeting minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

August 18, 2009

 

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Christianson at 9:00 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson and Nybakken present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; Engineer Dana Larsen and State's Attorney Roza Larson.

 

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

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2009 regular meeting. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad presented the bills. With D. Larsen appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $291,770.87; Human Service bills totaling $45,730.36; and the regular bills totaling $236,698.40 Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Lisa Clute with First District Health Unit then appeared to present their 2010 budget request.

 

D. Larsen again appeared with items for information and action.

 

It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer to disperse the oil impact funds to Berthold, Des Lacs, Greenbush, Lund, Mandan, Shealy, Spencer and Torning Townships. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

D. Larsen then informed the Board that the closing of 55^th Street between US 2 and CR 12 for railroad crossing upgrades had been postponed until August 25.

 

It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the County Engineer to send a letter and Memorandum of Understanding to Burlington and Harrison townships to formally request their participation of $2,000 each in the upgrading of the railroad crossing at 72 St NW, with the remaining funds coming from the Highway Department budget; and authorize the Chairman to sign the County Agreement for Construction of Federal Aid Project (Safety Program) once the Memorandums of Understanding had been received. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on a blanket overweight truck permit for the Prairie Winds project in place of permitting approximately 480 trucks individually.

 

D. Larsen then presented the Board with information items.

 

Discussion was then held on the Emerson Apartment building. With D. Larsen present it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to direct the Engineer to contact the Brownsfield Coordinator for the US EPA to inquire about grants for asbestos removal. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

Bruce Walker and Bob Horvath, 1st Minot Management; and R. Larson then appeared to discuss 1^st Minot Management’s proposal for an extension on their current Emerson apartment management contract. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl to put the Emerson Apartment building up for sale and work out a cooperative agreement for the parking spaces needed by the apartment building and courthouse. Motion died for lack of a second.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following: 1) 15 applications for abatement and/or correction of error of assessments; 2) one application for wheelchair exemption; 3) one application for blind exemption; 4) one application for homestead credit; 5) two applications for disabled veteran’s credit; and 6) one application for remove mobile home taxes from the tax roll. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Vendsel still present it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following plat application as recommended by the Township Board, the Water Resource Board and the Ward County Planning Commission: Clarence Hulberg for Outlot 2 of SWSW, Section 2-153-83. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad presented items for information and action.

 

With Recorder Sheila Dalen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondence: Recorder Sheila Dalen – report on National Conference; Historical Societies – conversations via email about budgets; ND Emergency Management Association – NDEMA achievement awards; Wind Energy Consulting and Contracting, Inc. – wind and economic review; Personnel Committee – meeting minutes. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the monthly reports, including financial reports. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following duplicate warrant in replacement of warrant assumed lost, mutilated, defaced or destroyed: Clifford & Lois Allen in the amount of $57.00. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the resolution to cancel taxes and special assessments on a sold tax deed property. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to appoint Recorder Sheila Dalen as the 2009 NDACo Conference of Counties delegate. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the 2010 preliminary budget. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

The Board then set Department Head meetings for August 19 from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. and August 20 from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Justin D Beahm – Social Services; Robert Watchus – Jail; Betsy Trumbauer – State's Attorney; Charisse Heim – Recorder; Cedar Gillette – Sheriff’s Office. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

IT Director Leonard Tennyson then appeared regarding a new server for Ward County. R. Larson also appeared for comment. Chairman Christianson directed Smestad and Tennyson to work together to find the additional money needed to proceed with the purchase and return with the information to the September 1 meeting.

 

It was moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to direct 1^st Minot Management to stop re-renting vacated apartments at the Emerson Apartment building in preparation for final vacation on October 15, 2009. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on building space needs.

 

At 11:08 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 1st DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2009.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County