June 1, 2010 Regular meeting minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

June 1, 2010

 

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Christianson at 9:00 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Erickson and Nybakken present.  Also present were Auditor/Treasurer Smestad, Engineer Dana Larsen and Assistant State's Attorney Robert Slorby.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl 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 May 18, 2010 regular meeting. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad presented the bills.  Chairman Christianson asked her to double-check the charge from Owen Dunn for $771.65 which was approved at the May 18 meeting.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the 2010 Social Welfare bills of $37,322.22 and the regular bills totaling $201,831.54. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Bruce Walker and Brian Osowski appeared to present information on the Beaver Ridge Plaza bond issue.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve Ward County, North Dakota Resolution Designating Recovery Zone (a full and complete copy of which is available for review in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office).  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to set the public hearing for July 6, 2010 and pre-approve the Resolution Relating to a Project Under the Municipal Industrial Development Act, Giving the Project Preliminary Approval, Subject to a Public Hearing (Beaver Ridge, LLC Project) (a full and complete copy of which is available for review in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.).  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to present several items.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that a request from the ND State Fair Association 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 voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Department to purchase a Kawasaki 4010 Trans 4x4 Mule UTV from Action Cycles for $9,700 and sell its current 4 wheeler to the highest bidder with a minimum bid of $2,500.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the Highway Department be authorized to accept a low bid from Ernie’s Concrete Construction in the amount of $679,319.40 for Project ROM-0300(100) and authorize the Chairman to sign the associate resolution from the ND Department of Transportation.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the Highway Department be authorized to accept a low bid from Northern Improvement in the amount of $29,680.00 to overlay 2,000 feet of CR 9, 1.25 miles north of State Highway 23 and to accept a low bid from Bechtold Paving in the amount of $20,895.00 to overlay CR 15 just west and east of the 83 Bypass.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 9:30 a.m. Chairman Christianson opened a public hearing regarding taxes paid under protest by Amanda Wegner.  Comm. Gruenberg joined the meeting at 9:31 a.m.  Assistant State’s Attorney Slorby appeared to provide background.  The tax abatement requested was denied by the Minot Park Board during a hearing on April 20, 2010.  For the record, no one appeared for or against the abatement Ms. Wegner requested.  Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to close the hearing and deny the abatement.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared.  It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson, to approve the following applications for 3 abatements or corrections of errors of assessment; 1 approved for disabled veteran’s exemption; 2 approved for homestead credit exemption. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve 1) the following plat application as recommended by the Water Resource Board and the Planning Commission: Delvin Fannik for Outlot 1 of SE of Section 26-151-83, Rushville Township; 2) the following plat application as recommended by the Township Board, Water Resource Board and the Planning Commission: Chase Latendresse for Outlots 45 & 46 being Outlots 13 and 37, Section 4-154-82, Sundre Township; and 3) application for variance by Howard and Linda Anderson on their property located at 343 North Rice Lake Road which was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Chairman Christianson to approve the following plat application against the recommendation of the Township Board: Dan Conlin, on behalf of Robert and Katy Schaefer, for Outlot 3 of SW of Section 28-156-82, McKinley Township.  The following appeared in favor of approval: Katy Schaefer, Dan Conlin and Gary Kramlich.  The following appeared against approval: Naomi Haye, Kris Stratton, Rex Weltikol and Amy Vovilla.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken to deny the special use permit request by Robert and Katy Schaefer and Pro-Tank Properties for Outlot 3 of SW of Section 28-156-82, McKinley Township.  Motion died for lack of second.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Chairman Christianson to approve the special use permit request by Robert and Katy Schaefer and Pro-Tank Properties for Outlot 3 of SW of Section 28-156-82, McKinley Township contingent upon the water retention study being completed and the road issue being referred to the Highway Committee for final action.  Roll call vote: Comms. Fjeldahl and Christianson voted yes; Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson and Nybakken voted no; motion failed.

 

At 10:35 a.m. the meeting was recessed.

 

At 10:42 the meeting was reconvened with all Commissioners present.

 

At 10:42 the Board recessed for the Board of Equalization hearing.  Chairman Christianson left the meeting at 10:49 a.m.

 

At 11:49 a.m. the Board reconvened with Comms. Gruenberg, Fjeldahl, Erickson and Nybakken present.

 

Smestad then presented items to the Board.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondence: Sheriff’s Office – Thunder Mountain Rock Fest deposit; Attorney General – gaming site violation; Mitchell Holbach – letter to commissioners; Department of Veterans Affairs – Corrected copy of CVSO Report Card; City of Minot – property tax exemption hearing; ND Atmospheric Resource Board – suspending rain enhancement activities.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken that the following application for gaming site authorization be approved:

 

North Dakota Leadership Seminar, Inc.        Wildwood Country Club

 

Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the application for fireworks display permits for the North Dakota State Fair Association for July 23 supervised by Premier Pyrotechnics and July 31 supervised by Pyrotechnic Displays in the Grandstand “pit” area on the State Fair grounds.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following requests for duplicate warrants: Deering Rural Fire District in the amount of $1,251.97 and Judy Traxinger in the amount of $142.00.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a budget amendment for the Wellness Committee in the amount of $500 which will be taken from the Commissioners Contingency fund.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Chairman to sign the North Dakota Correctional Institution Memorandum of Understanding which facilitates the continuous incarceration of individuals when a facility is unable to house them due to accident, natural disaster and/or terrorist attack.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Minot and Ward County regarding the 2010 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Award.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl that Muriel Peterson be reappointed to a three year term on the Ward County Public Library Board.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

As there were no applications for the Park Board position, Smestad was directed to readvertise the position.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson that Jim Blomberg, Ernie Medalen and Nancy Neshem be reappointed to a three year term on the Ward County Reorganization Committee.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

As there were four applications for the one open Water Resource Board position, the Commissioners will hold interviews beginning at 1:00 p.m. on June 15, 2010.

 

Smestad reminded the Commissioners that there will be a public hearing for the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch bond issue at the June 15th regular meeting.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to send a letter of support to the City of Minot for the Renaissance Zone.  Roll call vote: Comms. Erickson, Nybakken and Gruenberg voted yes; Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the following applications for payroll amendments: Raymond Burckhard – Seasonal Highway/Park Maintenance – Highway Department – Level 13 (new hire); Renelou Gonzalez – Social Worker III – Social Services – Level 17 (new hire); Richard Kremer – Seasonal Highway/Park Maintenance – Highway Department – Level 13 (new hire); Jenny Striha – Social Worker II – Social Services – Level 19; Nicholas Boys – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department – Level 14 (new hire).  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 12:12 p.m. with no further business, Comm. Nybakken moved to adjourn the meeting.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 15TH DAY OF JUNE, 2010.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County