|
|
|
August 16, 2011 Regular Meeting MinutesMinutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners
August 16, 2011
The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Gruenberg at 9:00 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Erickson, Christianson and Nybakken present. Also present was Highway Engineer Dana Larsen, States Attorney Roza Larson, and Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the agenda with additions or corrections. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the August 2, 2011 regular meeting and August 5, 2011 special meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve 2011 Social Welfare bills of $31,948.67, the Human Service bills of $49,440.33, and the regular bills totaling $545,039.77. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to update the Commission. He discussed the seven projects recently approved at the Highway Committee meeting and the bridges that are being reviewed by the Engineers for flood damage.
Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve sending a request to extend the September 18th deadline by 2 months for emergency road projects Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Larsen discussed that the Assistant Engineer position was offered to 3 different applicants. Two declined the position due to lack of housing in the area and the other declined due to salary and benefits being offered. Larsen requested to re-advertise for this position. Comm. Gruenberg referred the matter to the Personnel Committee to re-evaluate this position to attract individuals to apply and accept.
Larsen asked if the Commission had made a decision on whether or not they would be hiring a Consulting firm to assist with the FEMA paperwork and accounting. Smestad stated that the process has been going smooth for the past 3 years but additional help would be beneficial with the tracking of the accounting. Comm. Christianson would like to see what a consulting group’s review would show them and agreed that an accounting firm or an individual should be hired to assist in the paperwork. Larsen asked if the position for an accountant could be advertised for at the same time the consulting Group is doing their review.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to request Adjustors International to begin with the initial free assessment of the Ward County process and if there are any fees associated with the assessment, final approval would be needed from the Commission. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to refer the flood recovery accounting questions to the Personnel Committee for review and recommendations and be authorized based upon the recommendation to advertise for the position. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Tim Gelston from the ESF-14 showed a video and passed out material to the Commission that explained a timeline of the recovery planning process for Ward County.
Ward County resident Harold Haugstad appeared. He is concerned about the communication from Canada and all those along the Mouse River. He also stated concerns about the debris in the rural areas, such as fields and pasture land. He asked if there was any assistance that these property owners could receive to help with clean up. Comm. Gruenberg stated that a Congressional Delegation is working with the Canadian Government to draw down the levels in the dams to assist in the flood control in the future. Hilary Clinton will also be going to Canada to make sure this does not happen again and that appropriate steps are taken and followed. Debris removal in the fields and pastures is a question that he will discuss with Amanda Schooling and the Army Corp of Engineers to see what can be done.
General Sagsveen appeared. The main issue he is dealing with is self wiring. He let the Commission know that the State Electrical Board will be meeting August 17th, 2011 about this issue and to increase the number of inspectors to help in this area.
Comm. Fjeldahl passed out a couple of ideas/suggestions to the Commission. Chairman Gruenberg asked the Commissioners to review the document and be prepared to discuss it at the next scheduled regular meeting.
Ron Merritt appeared for the Roosevelt Zoo requesting that the Commission consider an agreement with Ward County to keep some of the animals at the North Building. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to allow the zoo animals to remain there, with the cooperation of the Sheriff’s Office, and get an agreement with Ward County to cover concerns. Motion withdrawn by Comm. Erickson. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to consider a draft agreement to continue housing the animals for the Minot Park District and that the existing agreement stay in effect until a final agreement can be approved. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Souris Basin Planning Council Greg Hagen appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the closing out of the Community Development Block Grant for MG Grains as long as the terms and conditions stated in the grant can be fulfilled by the leasing company. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Hagen also stated the Souris Basin Planning Council has applied for a grant through the Economic Development Administration that would enable them to hire a flood Coordinator through a grant for the areas from Burlington to Velva. There is a potential that a part-time position could be established to assist Emergency Managers all along the Mouse River from boarder to boarder.
Rice Lake Recreational Service District Chairman Robert Hargrave appeared. Hargrave let the Commission know that a letter was sent to the residents of Rice Lake on Friday, August 12th stating they had 5 days to stop and remove all watercrafts from the lake. A request for a no wake zone was submitted to the North Dakota Game and Fish but it was denied. The residents of Rice Lake will be self-monitoring the lake. The biggest concern is the safety when watercrafts are on the lake.
Ward County Historical Society representative Dr. J. David Jones appeared. Jones updated the Commission on steps being taken to salvage historical artifacts from the flooded buildings located on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. President Ron Thompson also appeared.
Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the deposit of $14,640.88 of the NDRIN refund into the Recorders Preservation fund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to reluctantly accept the letter of resignation from Recorder Sheila Dalen effective October 1, 2011. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Captain Bob Barnard appeared. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the purchase of equipment/supply bags for the uniformed officers out of the Federal Drug Proceeds Fund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the budget amendment request in the amount of $1,156.85 to the auto expense account for the repair of the transport van which has been received from the other party’s insurance. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared. Vendsel requested direction from the Commission in the refunding of taxes for those mobile homes damaged by the 2011 flood. The Commission requested additional information and if the Commission has the authority to forgive taxes. This information will be presented at the September 6, 2011 regular meeting.
IT Administrator Jason Blowers appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the proposal from Ebel Integrators to wire the Courthouse and Jail in the amount of $195,774.29 with the additional funding in the amount of $36,000 to be obtained from the Building Improvements account. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Christianson to receive and file the following correspondence: Alliance Pipeline – Open house meeting; Crowley/Fleck – Enbridge Pipeline amended route; NDAOGPC – Dues and Annual Meeting; SBPC – Transfer of CDBG funds; Ward Co. Park Board – Letter to Rice Lake Recreational Service District; EPA – Record of Decision and Permit; ND Public Service Commission – Enbridge Pipelines (Bakken Pipeline); ND Public Service Commission – Enbridge Pipelines (Beaver Lodge Loop Project) and approve the NDAOGPC room rate of $99 per night. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Christianson to receive and file monthly reports including the financial report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the request for duplicate warrant to The Vegas Motel in the amount of $485.70. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
The Commission set the Department budget hearing for Monday, August 22nd, 2011 beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Minot and Ward County regarding the Byrne Grant and authorize the Chairman to sign. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the following payroll amendments be approved: Joseph Palkovick – Sheriff’s Department – Correctional Officer (Level 16); Amanda Schooling – Emergency Management – Emergency Management Administrator (Level 23). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the special event permits for M&S Concessions for the Black Eyed Peas Concert on September 3rd with the Grandstand permit running from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and the Party in the Plaza permit running from 12:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad requested reimbursement for her personnel cell phone that is $176.95 over her normal usage due to calls she made during the 2011 flood. Moved Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to reimburse Devra Smestad in the amount of $176.95 for the use of her personnel cell phone. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
At 11:58 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 6th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2011.
s/ Jerome Gruenberg
Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
s/ Devra Smestad
Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County
|
| Copyright © 2011 Ward County. All rights reserved. |
