June 2, 2009 Regular meeting minutes

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Vice-Chairman Gruenberg at 9:06 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Erickson and Nybakken present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad; Engineer Dana Larsen and State's Attorney Roza Larson.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2009 regular meeting, with corrections. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented the bills. With D. Larsen appearing for comment it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the Social Service bills totaling $14,591.50; the flood disaster bills totaling $66.936.86; and the regular bills totaling $129,910.56. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

 

Sheriff Vern Erck and D. Larsen appeared regarding speed limits on the county gravel roads. Erck’s recommendation was to leave the speed limits where they are currently set.

 

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

 

It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson that a request from the ND State Fair to use a county tractor during the State Fair be approved, with the stipulation that the ND State Fair repair any damage to the unit before it is returned. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

D. Larsen then presented a request from RMT to open cut roads for the collector construction of PrairieWinds 1 and Minot Wind 2 wind farms. Also appearing was Hans Hinke with RMT. After much discussion it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson that: 1) the Rushville Township Board authorizes the open cutting of the roads in Rusvhille Township, provided the back-fill and compaction is to the Engineer’s specifications; the road is returned to like or better condition; the work is guaranteed for two years; the name of RMT’s contractor is provided to the County Engineer; and a detour is provided for any residents that may be affected by the closing of the road; and 2) the County Board of Commissioners requires that all other county roads that need to be crossed in the collector construction be bored. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to award the following low bids for pavement repairs: Minot Paving – patching on CR 14, between CR 11 and CR 15; roadway repair on CR 23, north of US 2; patching on CR 10, east of Burlington; and patching on CR 23, north of SH 23; and Bechtold Paving – patching on CR 14, east of US 83 and patching on CR 10 to Des Lacs. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to accept the high bid from ND Port Services for one Motorgrader with the other two being traded-in to Butler. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the County Engineer to advertise for the striping of 94 miles of county paved roads. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

D. Larsen then updated the Board on the 55^th St Overpass and NE Bypass project.

 

Larry Louser with the Ward County Advisory Study Committee appeared to give the Board an update on their committee findings.

 

At 10:01 a.m. the Board recessed for the Board of Equalization hearing.

 

At 10:58 a.m. the Board reconvened the regular meeting with Comms. Gruenberg, Fjeldahl, Erickson and Nybakken present.

 

Jim Neshem, Rolling Green township resident, then appeared regarding the installation of two cattle guards across a section line road. Also appearing for comment were R. Larson and D. Larsen. Board consensus was to provide the Township Supervisors with a copy of the statute which states the installer of the cattle guard is the one responsible for maintenance and liability.

 

William D Johnson, Donnybrook resident, then appeared regarding the installation of an anhydrous ammonia storage tank on his property. It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve Johnson’s request for the SW1/4 of Section 7-158-87. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Vendsel then appeared regarding the remaining Board of Equalization agenda items. It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the assessment roll for Township 151-83 (formerly Rushville Township.) Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to increase the residential values of Berthold City by 12 percent as recommended by the 2008 sales study. Roll call vote: Comms. Nybakken, Erickson and Gruenberg voted yes, Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to increase agricultural land values by 1 percent plus the additional 4 percent approved by the Commissioners on May 19, 2009 in Mandan Township. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to increase residential values by 4 percent in Mandan Township. Roll call vote: Comm. Fjeldahl voted yes, Comms. Erickson, Nybakken and Gruenberg voted no; motion failed.

 

It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to increase residential values by 7.5 percent in Mandan Township. Roll call vote: Comms. Nybakken, Erickson and Gruenberg voted yes, Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to increase the agricultural land values by 1 percent plus the additional 4 percent approved by the Commissioners on May 19, 2009 for Hiddenwood and Surrey Townships. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 11:44 a.m. the Board recessed for the Board of Equalization.

 

At 11:45 a.m. the Board reconvened the regular meeting with Comms. Gruenberg, Fjeldahl, Erickson and Nybakken present.

 

With Vendsel still present it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve a plat application from Souris River Communications for Outlot 12 of NENE, Section 10-151-86. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve a plat application from Norman Sollid on behalf of Elliott, Tammie, Curt and Tammy Braaflat for Outlot 1 of SESE, Section 20-153-87. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared. It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to name Al Reynolds as the Ward County applicant agent for State and Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to forward the White Paper on Ward County E911 budgeting and a recommendation for the funding and operations of the 911 dispatch center to the Liaison Committee meeting. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to accept the low bid of Boger and Son (sweeping only) and Servicemaster (entire facility except sweeping) for the cleaning of the County North Building and Boger and Son (sweeping only) and Steam Brothers (entire facility except sweeping) for the old Burlington Fire Department. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to grant the social service designated area of the County North building for storage of US Army Corps of Engineers sandbags. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items for information and action.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: Ward County Social Services – letter to Bremer Insurance; Bremer Insurance – reply to add student placement to auto policy; ND PERS – Health insurance rates and employer contribution rate change; Kadrmas Lee & Jackson – bridge replacement; NACo President Stapley – voting credentials 2009 conference; Police Chief Balentine – request for Liaison committee; City of Minot - Library handicap parking; and ND Library Coordinating Council – Library vison. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Recorder Sheila Dalen appeared regarding the information from the National Association of Counties.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to pass on first reading a resolution providing financial assistance to townships and cities within Ward County using Ward County emergency funds. Roll call vote: Comms. Erickson, Nybakken and Gruenberg voted yes, Comm. Gruenberg abstained; motion carried. The Board then set a public hearing on the resolution for July 7 at 9:30 a.m.

 

It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following applications: 1) raffle permit for the Ward County Historical Society for August 1, 2009; and 2) event permits for Minot VFW Club Post 753 and Sunday opening permit. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With D. Larsen appearing it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the Chairman’s signature on right of way certification and utility letters for ROM-0300(102) Ward County CMC 5115, 1 mile south of US 52, north. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With D. Larsen appearing it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to apply for the Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve a budget amendment to increase the building equipment account by $9,155.13 for purchase of a Bobcat skid steer loader. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to forward the information regarding voter centers to the Liaison Committee. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

Personnel Director Colleen Houmann appeared regarding health insurance premiums. It was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to leave the percentage of health insurance coverage at 89 percent of single and 65 percent of family plans and to begin immediately researching other insurance options. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

It was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following payroll amendments: James Dockter – Sheriff’s Office (new hire); Matthew Babcock – Highway Department (new hire); Joshua Block – Sheriff’s Office (new hire); Shannen Cullen – Social Services; Ingvald Hanson – Highway Department; Kenneth Hinton – Sheriff’s Office. Roll call vote: all present voted yes; motion carried.

 

With D. Larsen appearing, Smestad informed the Board that the County’s request for another two year variance on paving the parking lot north of the Courthouse was granted by Minot City.

 

Discussion was then held on building space needs. The Board set a date of June 15 at 8:00 a.m. to tour the Cenex downtown building; the Minot building; the IRET building and the St. Leo’s property.

 

Vendsel and D. Larsen again appeared regarding a presentation by The Sidwell Company and their GIS system.

At 12:59 p.m. with no further business it was moved by Comm. Fjeldahl to adjourn. Motion carried and meeting was adjourned.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 16^th DAY OF JUNE, 2009.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County