July 20, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

July 20, 2010

 

 

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 Smestad, Engineer Dana Larsen & 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. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the July 6, 2010 regular meeting and July 15, 2010 special meeting.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the 2010 Social Welfare bills of $69,570.66, Human Service bills of $46,281.13 and the following regular bills in the amount of $474,872.92. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 9:06 a.m., Chairman Christianson opened a public hearing on a request for a moving permit from Keith & Jami Hegney.  Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel and Keith Hegney appeared for comment. With no one else appearing either for or against the permit, it was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to close the public hearing and approve a moving permit for Keith and Jami Hegney to move a house from New Rockford to 6611 37^th Ave SE, Nedrose Township.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.  The hearing was closed at 9:10 a.m.

 

Engineer Larsen appeared.  Brief discussion was held on topics talked about at the recent Highway Committee meeting, such as right-of-way procedure policies, projects completed and the timeline for projects to be completed.  Conversation then focused on a Eureka Township road site currently underwater. Eureka Township officials, Gary Granzotto, Clarice Granzotto, Paul Laskowski, and Steve Larson were also present, as well as Emergency Manager Al Reynolds.  The road site may apply for FEMA funding for a single grade raise and the township was encouraged to go that route.

 

Vendsel appeared again. By movement from Comm. Gruenberg and seconded by Comm. Erickson, a full and complete copy of which is available for review in the office of the County Auditor, the Board approved the following:   18 applications for abatement of taxes and/or corrections of errors of assessments; two applications for disabled veteran’s credit, and one application for homestead credit. Roll call: all voted yes: motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the plat applications from: Donald Jessen for Outlot 3 of SWNE & SWSE, Sec 23-156-84, Kirkelie Township; Darick Rademacher for Outlot 2 of NWSW, Sec 21-156-84, Kirkelie Township; R James Maxson on behalf of Jamie & Nicole Johansen for Outlot 1 of SE & SW, Sec 17-152-86, Anna Township; and Richard Peckham on behalf of Alan Kuda for Dakota Valley Addition to Ward County being Outlot 4, less Lot A of Outlot 4, Sec 15-156-84, Kirkelie Township.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Chairman Christianson instructed Smestad to add the Department head input on the Advisory Study Committee report as an agenda item to the August 3, 2010 regular commission meeting and suggested department heads be present.

           

Smestad then presented items to the Board.

           

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: NDDOT – Federal Aid Program; Garrison Diversion – matching recreation grant program; SWCA – environmental assessment; Alvin Wollan – housing shortage; Carl Crepps – Jail recreation; Russ Reid – water/sewer project funding; Wold Engineering – Minot minuteman complex graveling preconstruction conference; City of Minot – Special use permit; Rep. Kari Conrad – letter to Governor re: infrastructure issues; ND Dept of Commerce – meeting re: infrastructure development; & Carolyn Stair – road near Beaver Creek Addn.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.  

 

Smestad was instructed to forward the correspondence from Russ Reid to the Ward County Water Resource Board for informational purposes.

 

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

           

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the application for Event Permit from M & S Concessions on July 28, 2010 for wine tasting.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve a budget amendment request to increase the Sheriff’s office salary account by $15,000 with the funds paid by Thunder Mountain Rockfest to cover security for the event.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a fireworks permit from the North Dakota State Fair for July 31, 2010. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Discussion was held on the Gross Production Tax Infrastructure Fund Allocation and Applications.  States Attorney Larson and Engineer Larsen appeared for comment.  It was moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adopt on first

reading the following:

 

GPT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND ALLOCATION

           

Effective July 1, 2009, under the distribution formula for the Gross Production Tax, a portion of the taxes received by Ward County must be deposited in an Infrastructure Fund for further allocations as follows:

 

 

This policy will set forth the procedures for townships and schools to make application for a portion of this fund.

 

Applications must be received in the office of the Ward County Auditor/Treasurer by end of business on November 20 each year.  Allocations will be made at the first commission meeting in December.  The prescribed application forms are part of this policy.  The policy and application forms will be available on the Auditor’s web page under “County Finances”.

 

Applications may be for projects completed in the current year or planned for the coming year.  Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, infrastructure construction or maintenance to offset oil and gas development impact on townships and repair or replacement of school district vehicles necessitated by damage or deterioration attributable to travel on oil and gas development impacted roads.

 

Allocations will not be paid until the project is complete and the township or school submits copies of all related paid invoices.  Entities will have one year from the date of allocation to claim the reimbursement.  Monies allocated but not claimed by the date of the next allocation will become part of the monies available for allocation that year.

           

The method will be as follows:

 

The Board of Commissioners will prioritize applications on the basis of oil and gas development impact and fund the most urgent as funds are available.

            

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the Auditor/Treasurer be authorized to solicit bids for removal of a mobile home in Kenmare City.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

The Board then discussed several recommendations from the Personnel Committee.  With Vendsel & HR Coordinator Colleen Houmann appearing, it was moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to create a Planning/Zoning/Inspector position and research a salary range for the upcoming 2011 budget as recommended by the Personnel Committee.  Roll call: all voted yes except Comm. Fjeldahl; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds appeared.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the Homeland Security Planner contract be renewed for one more year as recommended by the Personnel Committee.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the IT Tech Support position, as recommended by the Personnel Committee, be filled in 2011.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Computer Hardware and Software Inventory Management Policy as proposed by the IT Administrator and recommended by the Personnel Committee.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the annual employee evaluation process be examined further before changing the evaluation cycle as recommended by the Personnel Committee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

The Board then discussed concerns from the Personnel Committee regarding the salary market study and benchmarked positions. Houmann and Larsen appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the following recommendations from the Personnel Committee be approved: Deputy States Attorneys be moved up 2 ranges and benchmark the Assistant State Attorney position for the 2011 study; Superintendent of Schools be moved up 3 ranges to a range 23; Recorder and Deputy Recorder be moved up 2 ranges to 25 and 20 respectively; review of equipment operators at a later date; and Auditor/Treasurer Property Tax Clerk be moved to range 15.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the 2011 Budget schedule be approved and that Department Budget Hearings be set for August 18^th at 8:00 a.m.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.        

           

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for payroll amendment: Katherine Dwight as a Substitute Librarian in the Library at a Level 8 (new hire); Jerald Johnson as a Seasonal Mower/Maintenance at the Highway Department at a Level 9 (new hire); Cathie Haisch as an Administrative Assistant I at Social Services from a Level 9 to 12; Melissa Mosse as an Eligibility Worker I at Social Services from a Level 12 to 13; Renee Tribitt as an Administrative Secretary in the Auditor/Treasurer office at a Level 12 (new hire); and Jessica Mosman as a Temporary Deputy in the Sheriff’s office for $28.00/hr.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to reappoint Jim Muzzy to a three year term, expiring 6-30-13, to the Ward County Park Board.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to appoint Dave Shelkey to a five year term on the Berthold Planning Commission as recommended by the City of Berthold.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

           

At 10:59 a.m., with no further business the meeting adjourned.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County