February 17, 2009 Regular meeting minutes

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Christianson at 9:02 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson and Nybakken present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; County Engineer Dana Larsen; and State's Attorney Roza Larson.

 

It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the agenda as presented. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. Sheriff Vern Erck and Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly appeared for comment. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the Social Welfare bills totaling $318,472.93; Human Service bills totaling $48,834.89 and the regular bills totaling $405,919.60. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Family Nutrition Program Extension Agent Holly Arnold appeared to present an update on the Parent Resource Center.

Father Austin Vetter appeared regarding the former YMCA property owned by St. Leo’s Catholic Church.

 

Sheriff Erck appeared regarding replacement of the Sheriff’s Office transport van. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Sheriff to accept the only bid received, from Minot Chrysler Center, in the amount of $21,715 less $1,500 trade-in, with the money coming from the Sheriff’s auto purchase fund. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

R. Larson then appeared regarding reclassifications for the support staff in the State's Attorney office. With Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the reorganization and reclassification of the following positions in the State's Attorney office effective March 1, 2009: Legal Technician/System Administrator; Legal Technician; File Clerk/Receptionist/Legal Technician; and Legal Technician/Receptionist. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

At 9:38 a.m. Chairman Christianson recessed the regular meeting.

 

At 9:38 a.m., past the time set, Chairman Christianson opened the public hearing on Resolution #1-2009 regarding two-year property tax exemption on new single-family residential, condominium or townhouse construction.  Appearing for comment were Bruce Brooks, Nedrose Township resident; Bruce Walker, Minot resident and developer; Vicky Flagstad, Minot Association of Builders Executive Officer; and Jim Lee, Newman Township resident. With no one else appearing it was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to close the public hearing. Roll call vote: all voted yes and the public hearing was closed at 9:58 a.m.

 

The regular meeting reconvened at 9:58 a.m. with all members present.

 

With Assistant State's Attorney Tim Wilhelm and Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to pass on 2^nd reading Resolution #1-2009 regarding two-year property tax exemption on new single-family residential, condominium or townhouse construction. Roll call vote: all voted yes, except Comms. Fjeldahl and Gruenberg; motion carried.

 

With Vendsel still present, it was moved Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following: 1) four applications for abatement and/or correction of error of assessments; 2) nine applications for disabled veteran’s exemption; 3) three applications for Homestead Credit; 4) seven applications for two year new construction exemption; 5) nine mobile homes that are not connected to utilities and need to be removed from the tax roll; 6) four mobile homes that were duplicated and need to be removed from the tax roll; 7) three mobile homes that were destroyed in 2008 and need to be removed from the tax roll’ 8) three mobile homes that were moved in 2008 and need to be removed from the tax roll; and 9) two mobile homes that were attached to permanent foundation in 2008. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Chairman Christianson then requested that Vendsel prepare an application form for the two-year new construction exemption for review at the next regular meeting. Minot City Assessor Kevin Ternes, who was present, agreed to help Vendsel with the form.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. With D. Larsen and Water Resource Board Chairman John Pietsch appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the use of the County North Building for the storage of US Army Corps of Engineers sandbags, and if a flood emergency is declared, to use the emergency funds to pay for any sandbags used. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Reynolds still present, and R. Larson appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the State's Attorney and Emergency Manager to request an Attorney General’s opinion for the application/disbursement of emergency funds to the cities and townships within Ward County. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to remove the following motion from the table: “With Reynolds and D. Larsen appearing regarding the snow emergency declaration, it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson distribute $2,000 to each Ward County Township and City under 5000 people; and $10,000 to the City of Minot to help with snow removal costs using money from the Emergency fund. After discussion it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Christianson to table the matter until the February 17 meeting. Roll call vote to table: Comms. Erickson, Christianson and Nybakken voted yes, Comms. Fjeldahl and Gruenberg voted no; motion carried.”  Roll call vote to remove from table: all voted yes; motion carried. It was then moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to amend the above motion to table the matter until after receiving an Attorney General’s opinion. Roll call vote to amend: all voted yes; motion carried. Roll call vote on motion as amended: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action. With D. Larsen and Molla B. Romine appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondence: ND State Land Department; NDACo;  Roger Bullene; Oil & Gas Division; ND Insurance Dept.; City of Minot; Court Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee; Fisher Equipment Finance; and Ron Port. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to receive and file the monthly reports. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2009 contracts with Kenmare Community Economic Development Corporation #2 and the Makoti Development Corporation. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Erck appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a contract with the Souris Valley Animal Shelter for stray animals. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 10:55 a.m. the Board recessed for the Social Service Board meeting.

 

At 11:59 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

With Houmann and R. Larson appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the policy changes to Employee Files; Changes in Departments; Promotions/Demotions/Lateral

Moves/Reclassifications; Discipline; and Exit Interview policies as recommended by the Personnel Committee. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to amend the above motion to leave the phrase in the Employee Files policy and strike the word “not.” Roll call vote on the amendment: all voted yes; motion carried. Recorder Sheila Dalen then appeared regarding the policy of changes in departments. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to amend the motion to change the word “may” to “shall” in the Changes in Departments policy. Roll call vote on the amendment: all voted yes, except Comms. Nybakken and Christianson. Roll call vote on the motion as amended: all voted yes, except Comm. Nybakken who voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to deny the request of LoriMae Reynolds for repairs to her van that were incurred while her husband was traveling to work at Ward County. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With R. Larson and Houmann appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following payroll amendments: Bradford Peterson – States Attorneys Office (new hire); LeAnn Westereng – States Attorneys Office; Lynnae Rudland  – States Attorneys Office; Betsy Trumbauer – States Attorneys Office; Deb Westby - States Attorneys Office; Jennifer Schlecht - States Attorneys Office; Kenneth Hinton – Sheriff’s Office (new hire.) Comm. Fjeldahl then moved an amended motion to table the State's Attorney payroll amendments until Public Sector Consultants have approved the changes. The amended motion died for lack of a second. Roll call vote on original motion: all voted yes, except Comm. Fjeldahl who voted no; motion carried.

 

D. Larsen then appeared to present items to the Board.

 

D. Larsen presented the Board with an update on snow removal, including costs incurred in January for the County and in Rusvhille Township.

 

The Board then briefly discussed the stimulus package and projects that may be ready to bid from the 2009 and 2010 farm to market projects.

 

At 12:30 p.m. with no further business it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjourn. Motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 10^th DAY OF MARCH, 2009.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County