March 1, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

March 1, 2011

 

      The regular meeting of the Ward County Commissioner was called to order by Chairman Gruenberg at 9:00 a.m. with Comms. Fjeldahl, Christianson, Erickson, and Nybakken present.  Also present were Highway Engineer Dana Larsen, States Attorney Roza Larson, and Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the agenda with additions or corrections. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes of the February 15, 2011 regular meeting and February 17, 2011 special meeting.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 2011 Social Welfare bills of $36,885.54 and the following regular bills totaling $205,298.89.Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Highway Engineer, Dana Larsen appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to bid the overlay of County Road 19 and County Road 8 and to authorize the chairman to sign the utility and ROW certifications, along with the construction and maintenance agreement. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to bid the overlay of County Road 14. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to bid the seal coat of County Road 14 and County Road 19 with the option to include an addition 1.5 miles on CR 14 that was paved in 2010. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to allow the Highway Department to advertise for two blade operators with a salary up to $18.84. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      The Annual Farm to Market Meeting will be scheduled for April 12, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room.

      The Commission discussed a uniform permit program. The Commissioners thinks it is a good idea to have a uniform policy between the Counties.

 

      Dana presented a handout regarding a flood mapping project.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to move forward with the proposed flood plan mapping program and to pay the bill from the Emergency Fund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Library Administrator, Julie Burkhart appeared. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Library Board recommendation to accept the bid submitted for a new bookmobile from Meridian with 50% down and the remaining balance to be paid upon delivery for the amount of $178,292.14. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Sheriff, Steve Kukowski appeared and presented the MOU and Interim Agreement with the USAF 5^th Security Forces. No action was needed.

 

      Captain, Bob Barnard appeared and requested a Courthouse Security Committee be formed. The Commission agreed that a Committee could be formed and would jointly meet with the Building Committee.

 

      Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared.   Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for abatement and/or correction of errors of assessments:

 

 

The following have submitted documents and qualify for the two year new construction exemption:

 

The following qualify for disabled veteran exemption:

 

The property owner qualifies for the homestead credit exemption:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Vendsel presented the plats recommended for approval by the Ward County Planning Commission. Motion by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following plat application as recommended by the Township Board, the Water Resource Board and the Ward County Planning Commission: Robert and Donna Irwin, Outlots 26 & 27 Being a Portion of Outlot 6 in the NE, Section 10-154-82, Sundre Township. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      At 10:09 a.m. the meeting was recessed.

 

      At 10:17 a.m. the meeting reconvened with all members present.

 

      Financial Consultants Mike Manstrom from Dougherty and Co. LLC (10:20 – 10:38 a.m.) and Myron Knutson from Public Financial Management (10:40 – 11:00 a.m.) did presentations for the Commission. The Commissioners will decide which consultant to hire during the next scheduled Building Space Needs meeting on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

 

      At 10:45 a.m., Comm. Fjeldahl left the meeting.

 

      Smestad then presented items to the Board. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: Dept. of Army – County Road projects impacting US Waters (DA Application); ND Dept. of Health – Minot Landfill; ND Dept. of Health – CHS Application for Air Pollution Control Permit; Barnes County – Invitation to Commissioner Day; NDDOT – New Local Government Engineer.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following resolution:

 

WHEREAS, Section 24-05-01 N.D.C.C. provides that 20% of the tax levy made by the County for road and bridge purposes on properties assessed and taxed within the boundaries of incorporated cities shall be remitted to the respective city treasuries; and

 

WHEREAS, tax collections never reach the 100% level because of discounts granted for early payments and also because of abatements and permanent delinquencies and result in approximately a 95% collection; and

 

WHEREAS, the 2010 County levy for road and bridge purposes is .25 mills and the cities' 95% share of the 20% would be $5,350.08; and

 

WHEREAS, it would be helpful for the cities to get their shares in a lump-sum payment and the remittance of such lump-sum payment would not create an undue burden on the County to make such an advance at this time, and such a payment would cut down on the administration of accomplishing the intent of the law;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Auditor be authorized and directed to remit 95% of the calculated 20% share of the County road and bridge levy in each City to each City Auditor, as follows:

 

      Minot City Auditor                                         $5,031.91

      Kenmare City Auditor                                        79.96

      Berthold City Auditor                                        40.50

      Burlington City Auditor                                      89.11

      Sawyer City Auditor                                          22.95

      Surrey City Auditor                                           85.65

 

      TOTAL                                                       $5,350.08

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following resolution:

 

WHEREAS, sales of the tax deed properties have been made in the office of the County Auditor with the approval of the board of County Commissioners, and the purchase price thereof has been made in full and tax deeds thereto have been issued to the purchasers; and

 

     WHEREAS, the purchase prices thereof were less than the delinquent taxes on the respective properties, with the result that the proceeds of the tax sale left an unpaid balance on the taxes on the descriptions listed as set forth in a certificate of the Deputy Auditor/Treasurer under dates of March 11, 2010.

 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that under and pursuant to Section 57-28-21 of the North Dakota Century Code, the unpaid balances as set forth be canceled and the County Auditor/Treasurer is hereby authorized to remove said balances from the records.

 

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the Raffle Permit for the Triple R Saddle Club. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the request for Sheriff’s Office auto purchase budget to be amended in the amount of $22,475, the reimbursement amount from Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company for the loss of the 2007 Ford Expedition. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the Special Event Permits for the VFW for March 12^th and for March 19th. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      There will be a meeting on March 8^th at 10:00 in Bismarck for all Oil and Gas Producing Counties. Comm. Bruce Christianson and Highway Engineer, Dana Larsen will attend.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the following payroll amendments be approved: Kyleigh Pfau – Social Services – Social Worker III (Level 21); Karen Pfeifer – State’s Attorney – Office Assistant (Level 10); Kayla Bertsch – Sheriff’s Department – Correctional Officer (Level 16); Kevin Larson – Sheriff’s Department – Correctional Officer (Level 16); Laura Bergren – Sheriff’s Department – Correctional Officer (Level 16); Roxanne Houim – Sheriff’s Department – Correctional Officer (Level 16). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

       At 11:12 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.  

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 15^th DAY OF MARCH, 2011.

s/ Jerome Gruenberg

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County