January 19, 2010 Regular meeting minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

January 19, 2010

 

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Christianson at 9:03 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg, Erickson and Nybakken present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Smestad, Engineer Dana Larsen and State's Attorney Roza Larson.

 

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

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the January 5, 2010 regular meeting, the January 12, 2010 special meeting and January 13, 2010 multi-county board meeting. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

Smestad presented the bills.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Social Welfare bills of $328,103.93, the Human Service bills of $51,194.80 and the regular bills totaling $258,281.82. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to present several items.  Hilton Township has requested assistance for snow removal and gravel blading.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve request to provide maintenance services for Hilton Township.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the purchase of a used propane tank from Cenex of Kenmare.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the purchase of a Quick Coupler system for the 644 John Deere loader at a cost of $8,500.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen then requested that Unit 4, a 1999 ¾ ton Suburban, be transferred to the Park Board instead of auctioning it off.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the payment of $2,000 from the Park Board and transfer Unit 4 to the Ward County Parks.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Finally, Larsen notified the Commissioners of two meetings: 1) Highway Committee meeting on January 28th at 7:00 a.m. and 2) a Public Input Meeting on January 27th at 2:00 p.m. to discuss changing the directions of the yield signs on County Roads 9 and 10.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds then appeared.  He stated that a few townships are requesting FEMA payments for partially completed sites.  He suggested that this not be allowed as FEMA would view the site as non-compliant and the money would have to be paid back to FEMA, possibly creating a hardship for the township or a financial liability for the county.  If townships have special requests, the Commission will review them on a case-by-case basis.

 

Next Reynolds reported on the December 2009 blizzard.  He stated costs were currently totaling $859,000 which does not meet the $1 million threshold to declare an emergency.

 

Comm. Fjeldahl asked how many of the sirens are operational.  Reynolds said he believed all except Berthold and Des Lacs were working and Minot Central Dispatch is monitoring them.  Chairman Christianson requested a report for the next meeting.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel then appeared.  It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson, to approve the following: 1) building on property was removed and must be taken off tax roll: David Parizek, NE 26099 000 005 0, reduce 2009 true and full value from $36,200 to $5,500; 2) lots were sold to tax exempt entity: Robert Dunnigan, MI 25429 000 007 3, reduce 2009 true and full value from $101,000 to $59,200, prorated from date of sale March 26, 2009; 3) adjustments due to errors made on split properties: Bradley Haugen, RL 18005 U01 000 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $39,100 to $57,300; Donald Haugen, RL 19005 U02 000 0, decrease 2009 true and full value from $36,500 to $18,200; Real Mercier, RL 10005 010 008 1, increase 2009 true and full value from 0 to $80,800; Michael Mosser, RL 10005 000 009 1, increase 2009 true and full value from 0 to $36,600; 4) properties which escaped assessment for 2009 and must be added to tax roll: Glen Lorshbough, KM 20006 210 018 0, increase 2009 true and full value from 0 to $46,200; Glen Lorshbough, KM 20006 210 022 0, increase 2009 true and full value from 0 to $4,200; Glen Lorshbough, KM 00001 060 002 3, increase 2009 true and full value from 0 to $4,000; 5) properties with corrections to land square footage: Premiere Development 2, LLC, MI 36138 000 001 1, reduce 2009 true and full value from $119,600 to $74,800; Premiere Development 2, LLC, MI 36138 000 001 2, reduce 2009 true and full value from $43,200 to $27,000; Premiere Development 2, LLC, MI 36953 030 032 0, reduce 2009 true and full value from $1,636,400 to $1,549,200; 6) property qualifies for two year new construction exemption: Melvin Hoover, MI 25A45 040 011 0, reduce 2009 true and full value from $194,800 to $188,500, prorated from sale date of November 24, 2009; 7) properties qualified for two year construction exemption through City of Minot but did not return application and must be correction on tax roll: Jeffrey Halland, MI 27A07 040 004 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $162,300 to $237,300; Mitchell Belger, MI 11A78 000 011 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $49,200 to $124,200; Joshua Jeffreys, MI 23021 870 010 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $56,600 to $131,600; Dennis Wunderlich, MI 27A77 000 002 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $78,000 to $153,000; Phillip Armstrong, MI 25789 000 008 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $359,000 to $434,000, Kelly Gange, MI 15826 000 008 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $165,200 to $240,200; Shari Mock, MI 26696 000 001 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $168,800 to $243,800; Waywardly Holdings, Inc., MI 14791 000 022 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $30,000 to $59,400; Scott Kopp, MI 23468 000 032 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $142,000 to $192,000; George Zinck, MI 31B31 040 007 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $38,000 to $94,900; Duane Johnson, MI 31B31 050 007 0, increase 2009 true and full value from $40,000 to $66,300; 8) homestead credit: Cecil Brown, BN 02012 000 011 0, qualifies for 100% credit for 2009; Beverly and Tamara Ward, KM 18007 180 002 0, qualifies for 100% credit for 2009; 9) veteran’s exemption: Aisha Vadell, MI 14375 030 010 1, reduce 2008 true and full value from $138,400 to $78,400, reduce 2009 true and full value from $165,300 to $105,300; Steve Edwards, MI 15049 030 009 0, reduce 2009 true and full value from $128,900 to $47,500; Jonathan Janowski, BT 03099 000 012 0, reduce 2009 true and full value from $92,800 to $51,500.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Vendsel then presented the Agricultural Land Values memo which was originally presented at the January 5, 2010 meeting.  He recommended implementing the 14% increase which was 96% of the 348.33 certified by the State Tax Commissioner.  Comm. Fjeldahl stated he had done some research and the reason for the large increase from 307.29 in 2009 to 348.33 in 2010 was due to the legislature changing the capitalization rate.  He then asked what power the county has to set the value.  Vendsel stated the value must be between 95-100%.  If not set within that range, the state can set it at the maximum 100%.  State’s Attorney Roza Larson then appeared.  She stated not following the statute would make the county out of compliance with state law.  She suggested going to the legislature during session to get the formula adjusted.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to adjust Agricultural Land Values 7% over last year’s state certified number.  Roll call vote: Comms. Fjeldahl, Gruenberg and Erickson voted yes; Comms. Christianson and Nybakken voted no; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items to the Board.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the following correspondence: ND PSC – Basin Electric & Prairie Winds ND1 certificate; ND Supreme Court – NW District Judgeship No. 1; Domestic Violence Crisis Center – annual report; Ward County Historical Society – annual report.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.  Chairman Christianson requested Auditor/Treasurer Smestad review the Historical Society’s report.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken 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. Fjeldahl that Auditor/Treasurer Smestad be authorized to accept a low bid from Hoffarth Sanitation Inc. not to exceed $240 per month for the Courthouse/Jail and $75 per month for the Highway Department.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve contracts with Ryder Historical Society, Berthold Development Corporation and Minot Area Development Corporation as well as an Agreement to Provide Assistance with the Domestic violence Crisis Center, Inc.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to reject the health insurance bid provided by Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the pledged securities report from First International Bank.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the IT site survey provided by Dell-Comm, Inc. of Bismarck.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following applications for raffle permits: North Plains Parent Teacher Association on 2/19/2010 with prizes totaling $1,000; Minot Fire Department Local 1157 on 4/1/2010-4/2/2010 with prizes totaling $10,000.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adjourn the meeting at 10:13 a.m.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 2ND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2010.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County