March 16, 2010 Regular meeting minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

March 16, 2010

 

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

 

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

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2010 regular meeting. Roll call vote: 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 $340,133.96, Human Service bills of $46,188.66 and the regular bills totaling $246,533.07.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Jail Commander Penny Erickson appeared to present the updates to the Ward County Jail Policies and Procedures Manual.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the manual with updates.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Sheriff Vern Erck presented a contract from IDEAL Concrete Contractors, Inc. of Bismarck which would allow them to refinish the floor of the Jail’s sally port.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the contract with IDEAL for $400 using funds from the Building Improvement Account.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Emergency Manager Al Reynolds appeared to provide information on the public sandbag policy.  The Water Resource Board purchased over 20,000 sandbags and is giving them away to the public.  John Pietsch of the Water Resource Board appeared to provide comment.

 

Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to present several items.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following recommendations as shown on the March 10, 2010 bid list, a complete copy of which is available in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to allow the Highway Department to reimburse Highway Department employees required to have a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) for the cost to get or renew required endorsements.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen provided an update on the LiDAR project.  Then the Farm to Market meeting was set for Thursday April 22nd at 3:00 p.m. in the Ex-Servicemen’s room.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following resolution and authorize the Chairman to sign:

 

Resolution to Request Improvements to State Highway 23

 

WHEREAS, western North Dakota has seen a dramatic increase over the last five years in oil production, and the traffic on State Highway 23, from US Highway 83 west to US Highway 85 has also seen a dramatic increase in car and truck traffic, and

 

WHEREAS, this segment of road is identified as a State Corridor on the NDDOT Highway Performance Classification System, and is a vital part of the states intrastate traffic system that is located in the Bakken oil formation, which the USGS estimated that the amount of technically recoverable oil in the formation at 3.0 to 4.3 billion barrels, and

 

WHEREAS, the NDDOT has proposed or completed some safety improvements such as right turn lanes and edge line and centerline rumble strips, but there are no plans to address the concerns with the limited shoulders, steep in-slopes, and limited passing sight distances along this State Corridor, and

 

WHEREAS, some of the traffic that would normally use State Highway 23, have been using local county roads to avoid the current conditions on the state road, but creating additional traffic and damage to local roads, and

 

WHEREAS, the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is a four year transportation improvement program and according to previous STIPs, safety dollars will be prioritized through the Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Comprehensive Highway Safety Program, and by using the analysis from the critical crash rates based on the highway performance classification system, and the fact that increased car and truck traffic has resulted in increased accidents and near misses along this stretch of road;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board of Ward County Commissioners would request that State Highway 23 from US Highway 83, west to US Highway 85 be improved through reconstruction, shoulder widening, in-slope flatting, and sight distance improvements, and that these improvement projects be placed on the NDDOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Program;

 

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the North Dakota Director of Transportation.

 

Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Finally, Larsen notified the Commissioners that the seasonal load restrictions for all Ward County highways went into effect March 15, 2010.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared.  It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson, to approve the following, a complete copy of which is available in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office: 5 applications for abatement or corrections of errors of assessment; 2 properties were annexed into the city of Minot for 2009 and need to be removed from the county tax roll; 1 application for disabled veteran’s exemption; 9 applications for homestead credit exemption; 1 farm exempt property where only the land is to be taxed for 2009; 1 home of a farmer which is exempt from taxes; 3 mobile homes approved for abatement or corrections of errors of assessment.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson, to approve 1 application for homestead credit exemption.  Roll call vote: Comm. Gruenberg, Christianson, Erickson and Nybakken voted yes; Comm. Fjeldahl abstained; motion carried.

 

IT Administrator Jason Blowers appeared to provide an update.  Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the updated contract with NRG Technology Services.  This contract, which was reviewed by the State’s Attorney’s office, will allow NRG to monitor only the County’s four servers at a rate of $400 per month.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Blowers provided details on the request for bids for equipment which was sent out to various local vendors.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to allow the IT Administrator to, after review, accept the best and lowest bid and order the required items.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Blowers then gave further updates including concerns about the outdated cabling and phone system in the courthouse, Ebel Integrators acting as backup support when necessary and a software use policy.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the IT report.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Maria Effertz Hanson of McHenry County then appeared to request support from Ward County in their application for a Garrison Diversion grant for installing electricity in the shelters at Buffalo Lodge Lake.  If there is support from multiple counties, the cost share is 50% versus 25% for a single county.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the letter of support and authorize the Chairman to sign.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 10:29 a.m., the meeting was recessed in order to hold interviews for the open positions on the Planning Commission.

 

At 11:12 a.m., the meeting was reconvened.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the building space proposals for the M and Etelecare buildings as well as a letter from the Social Service Board asking to remain in their current location.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to set a special meeting on April 8th at 9:00 a.m. for the purpose of addressing building space needs.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items to the Board.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondence: US Dept of Interior – weed control/haying in Ward County; SWCA – Environmental Assessments; Alvin Wollan – copy of Senate Bill 2211; Universal Fleet Card+ - credit card; ISC – document management; Assistant State’s Attorney Slorby – letter to Assistant Attorney General Mary Kae Kelsch; Russ Reid – Federal funding for Economic Development Projects; ND DOT – county and local road design standards; RC&D – Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation; Assistant State’s Attorney Slorby – Recovery Zone Facility Bonds; Ward County Commissioners – letter to Industrial Commission.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a raffle permit application from Dakota Elementary PTA for April 30, 2010 with prizes totaling $315 and an event permit application from the Minot VFW Club Post 753 for Olander 50th wedding anniversary on April 24, 2010.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

On the advice of Assistant State’s Attorney Slorby, it was moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to refer taxes paid under protest to the State’s Attorney’s office.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize Chairman to sign the letter to Rath & Mehrer regarding the audit of 2009 records.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve Recorder Sheila Dalen’s attendance of the NACo conference July 16-20, 2010 and pay the additional cost of approximately $1,000 from the Commissioners Contingency fund.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the fund transfer of $300,000 from Emergency Fund (120) to General Fund (001).  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad reminded the Commissioners of the following meetings: Elmer Jesme Conference Quarterly Meeting – March 29th at 10:00 a.m.; Dakota Gasification Company – Underground Contractor & Utilities Appreciation Banquet – April 6th at 6:30 p.m.; ND DOT Public Input Meeting – April 14th at 10:00 a.m.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following application for payroll amendment: Brenna Modin – Social Worker III – Social Services – Level 21.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to appoint Don Siebert and Norman J. Livingston Jr. to a 4-year term on the Ward County Planning Commission.  Roll call vote: Comms. Gruenberg, Christianson, Erickson and Nybakken voted yes; Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

At 11:47 a.m. with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 6TH DAY OF APRIL, 2010.

 

s/ Jerome Gruenberg

Vice-Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County