March 2, 2010 Regular meeting minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

March 2, 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 State's Attorney Roza Larson.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson 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 February 16, 2010 regular meeting. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad presented the bills.  It was requested that the payment to Center for Farm Financial Management in the amount of $2,135.95 be pulled for research. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the 2010 Social Welfare bills of $35,732.65 and the 2010 regular bills totaling $584,955.05. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Bruce Walker of Coldwell Banker/1st Minot Realty and Brian Osowski of Osowski Business Consulting appeared to discuss the potential bonding for Beaver Ridge Plaza.  They are working with the MSU Foundation to secure bonds to construct a four-level building which would include one floor of commercial space and three floors of apartments.  Mr. Osowski will prepare the bond application forms which will be reviewed by the State’s Attorney’s office prior to submittal.  Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to apply to the Industrial Commission for $5 million in bonds and to authorize the chairman to sign the application once it has been prepared and reviewed. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 9:27 a.m., a public hearing regarding the Weather Modification Authority was opened.  The following appeared in favor of continuing the Weather Modification Authority for an additional five year period: Patrick Murphy, Darin Langerud, Henry Bodmer, Lynn Martin and Jeff Moen.  The following appeared against: Jim Lee.  Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to close the hearing and approve the resolution on first reading.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to present several items.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to change the existing Yield signs to Stop signs at the intersection of County Roads 10 and 9, and research the cost of installing rumble strips at the intersection of County Roads 10 and 9 and the intersection of County Roads 14 and 9.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Next, Larsen presented the revised Utility Permit Fee Schedule.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to increase fees as recommended by the Highway Committee.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize Highway Department to purchase a 1987 GMC 7000 Tow Truck with 2,800 miles from surplus properties at a cost of $6,000.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Larsen stated that he reviewed the US Census Boundary Validation information and all is in order.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the chairman to sign the letter stating the boundary validations for the county and townships are correct. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Finally, Larsen reminded the Commissioners of the RDO Equipment Company Customer Appreciation Dinner taking place on March 9, 2010.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared.  It was moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl, to approve the following applications for abatement or corrections of errors of assessment, a complete copy of which is available in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office: 7 applications for the homestead credit exemption; 1 mobile home owned by an active duty military member and must be removed from the tax roll; and 1 mobile home which was destroyed and must be removed from the tax roll.

 

Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the application for plat approval by Pecan Pipeline on behalf of Ernest Hoelscher for the following described property:

Plat of Outlot 2 of Lot 4 Section 3-156-84, Kirkelie Township.  This plat contains a total of 4.91 acres and is located just south of County Road 8 in Kirkelie Township.  The plat meets the requirements of Zoning Resolution #6.  The Township Board and the Water Resource Board have recommended approval.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the proposals for office space from Enerbase, St. Leo’s Catholic Church Community Center, River of Life Church and Trinity Hospitals.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Smestad then presented items to the Board.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: SWCA – Environmental Assessment; Jeff Engleson – oil impact grant round for 2010; ND National Guard – error of $1.54 in their billing; ND Department of Human Services – Child Support Enforcement lease; Sheriff Erck – letter to Building Services Supervisor Overly; Steffes Corporation – ETS heating system; The Village Business Institute – annual EAP report.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

There was then discussion regarding the 2009 payroll and benefits correction letter from Auditor/Treasurer Smestad and an email response from Recorder Sheila Dalen.  Chairman Christianson requested it be stated for the record that the fiscal responsibility, including budget reviews, lies with the Auditor/Treasurer not the department heads.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the letters from Smestad and Dalen.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the request by the Minot Committee for the National Day of Prayer to hold a prayer rally during the noon hour on May 6, 2010 on the front Courthouse steps.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve an application for gaming site authorization from Sertoma Club of Minot at the All Seasons Arena for 2010-2011.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to table discussion regarding public sandbag policy until after the Water Resource Board meeting on March 8th.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the low bid, not to exceed $3,320, from The Printers, Inc. for the setup and printing of ballots. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to schedule interviews for the open positions on the Ward County Planning Commission.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to have NRG Technology continue monitoring the County’s four servers on a month-to-month basis for $100 each and terminate the monitoring of 81 computers effective March 15, 2010.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following applications for payroll amendments: Kayla Bertsch – Juvenile Detention Officer – Juvenile Detention – Level 14; Joshua Block – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department – Level 14; Roxanne Houim – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department – Level 14.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the request for duplicate warrant from Physio-Control formerly Medtronic in the amount of $11,760.00.  Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

At 10:37 a.m. with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 16TH DAY OF MARCH, 2010.

 

s/ Bruce I Christianson

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County