February 3, 2009 Regular meeting minutes

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; County Engineer Dana Larsen; and State's Attorney Roza Larson.

 

Smestad presented the Board with additions to the agenda. It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, 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. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2009 meeting. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. With D. Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Social Service bills totaling $15,564.41 and the regular bills totaling $161,430.72. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Water Resource Board Chairman John Pietsch then appeared to update the Board on the FEMA dikes.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve, with the recommendation of the Township Board, the Water Resource Board and the County Planning Commission, a plat application for Roger Kolling on behalf of the ND State Water Commission, and to authorize a size variance, for Outlot 1 of SE Section 16-160-88. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With D. Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following: 1) five applications for abatement and/or correction of errors of assessments; 2) six applications for two year new construction exemption; 3) three applications for disabled veteran’s exemption; and 4) three applications for homestead credit. Comm. Fjeldahl then moved a substitute motion that the Director of Tax Equalization would develop a method of tracking the amount of taxes that are exempt. After discussion Comm. Fjeldahl withdrew his motion. Roll call vote on the original motion: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Building Services Supervisor Ron Overly then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to accept the bid of Swanston Equipment for a new Bobcat with accessories, at a price of $19,155.13 with trade, using funds from Overly’s equipment purchase budget and general fund carryover. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to designate Reynolds as the applicant agent for the State Snow Removal Assistance (2009) program. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Reynolds then informed the Board about wind damage done to the Berthold 9-1-1 tower.

 

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.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

With R. Larson appearing for comment, it was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: City of Minot; North Central Rural Water; Domestic Violence Crisis Center; State’s Attorney Larson; Badlands Environmental Consultants, Inc.; Michael DuPaul. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the December monthly report. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With Vendsel appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to: 1) receive and file the 2008 Building Permits annual report; 2) approve a request for duplicate warrant in replacement of warrant assumed lost, mutilated, defaced or destroyed from Home of Economy in the amount of $252.00; and 3) approve an application from Local 1157 Minot Firefighters for a raffle on April 2, 2009 with prizes totaling approximately $10,753. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the contract with the Ward County Historical Society for 2009. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

With R. Larson and D. Larsen appearing for comment the Board discussed the offer from Donnybrook City to purchase a tax foreclosed home in Donnybrook. Chairman Christianson requested holding the matter until the Director of Tax Equalization could appear with more information.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve a gaming site authorization for 2009-2010 from the Sertoma Club of Minot at the All Seasons Arena. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to advertise the open positions on the Ward County Planning Commission and the Special Assessment Commission, with a deadline of March 4 and interviews, if needed, being conducted on March 10. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Heather Roberts – Social Services; Connie Haider – Auditor/Treasurer Office. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 10:55 a.m. the Board recessed.

At 11:00 a.m. the Board reconvened with all members present.

 

With R. Larson appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the offer from Donnybrook City to purchase the following tax foreclosed property: Powers First Addition to Donnybrook less Highway Lots 2 & 3 Block 1 for $200.00. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

D. Larsen then appeared to present items for information and action.

 

It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the County Engineer to purchase a SBX240 Snow Blower from Swanston Equipment in the amount of $7,789.80. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the County Engineer to purchase two Honda 5000 watt generators, in the amount of $1,330 each, from Tool Crib. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the County Engineer to purchase a used oil distributor from ND Surplus Property in the amount of $5,000. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to allow the County Engineer to attend the National Association of County Engineer’s convention in April and accept the offer of Caterpillar for free transportation to and from the convention. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Discussion was then held on the snow removal efforts within the county. Reynolds also briefly appeared regarding obtaining sandbags.

 

Gruenberg updated the Board on the Courthouse Facilities meeting that he had attended. R. Larson and District Court Administrator Carolyn Woolf also appeared for comment.

 

At 11:37 a.m. with no further business, it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Christianson to adjourn.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 17^th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2009.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson, Chairman

Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer

Ward County