November 1, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

November 1, 2011

 

      The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission 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. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson 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 from the October 20, 2011 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve 2011 Social Welfare bills of $32,303.78 and the following regular bills totaling $337,087.45. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to adopt the updated Title VI policies and forms and authorize the Chairman to sign. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to appoint the Building Supervisor as the County ADA Coordinator, and the Park Superintendent as the Ward County Park ADA Coordinator. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to award the purchase of the two tandem axle trucks to Westlie Truck Center, the purchase of one bidirectional tractor to Magic City Implement, and two ½ pickups and one ¾ ton pickup to Ryan Chevrolet. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Larsen updated the Commission on the ER Projects currently being worked on in Ward County. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the Houston Engineering, Inc. ER Projects 1-18 solicitation of views. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to advertise the three equipment operator positions at the salary range of $16.62 - $18.28 per hour. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Emergency Manager Amanda Schooling appeared. Schooling stated concerns regarding the 2-mile jurisdiction and whether Ward County or the City of Minot is to take care of the demolition of houses condemned by the First District Health Unit. Comm. Gruenberg asked if there is any wording in the North Dakota Century Code that could assist in this matter. Deputy States Attorney Robert Slorby stated that the wording is very vague. Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad stated that there have been issues with this for many years. The Liaison Committee at one point was working on this issue but nothing was resolved. A draft form of a resolution needs to be presented to the Liaison Committee so progress on matters like demolition, nuisances, building permits, etc. can be addressed.  Comm. Gruenberg asked Schooling to speak with Attorney Howard Swanson regarding the above stated issues.

 

      ESF-14 Deputy Branch Director Steve Greene appeared and presented the Commission with a Power Point presentation on the Recovering Planning Process.

 

      Minot Housing Authority Director Tom Pearson appeared and presented the Minot Housing Authority Annual Report.

 

      Brian Berg, UND Center of Family Medicine Business Manager appeared. Berg stated that the contract with UND is up for renewal but they would like the contract to be adjusted to the amount of $30,000, effective November 1, 2011. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the Coroner agreement with UND at $30,000 with the additional $5,000 in funding source to be determined at a later date. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Christianson to amend the original motion to state the new contract, in the amount of $30,000, begin January 1, 2012 instead of November 1, 2011, and to negotiate the annual renewal rates in July rather than October. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Roll call on motion as amended: Comm. Nybakken, Fjeldahl, Erickson, and Gruenberg said yes; Comm. Christianson voted no; motion carried.

 

      Comm. Gruenberg presented the resignation letter from Social Services Director Rob Kondos effective November 30, 2011. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the correspondence. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Ward County Water Resource Board Chairman Tom Klein and Emily Huettl from Ackerman Estvold appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the $100,000 loan, to be repaid by June 30, 2012 at the going interest rate (currently 1.5%), for repair on the levy/dike system near Burlington. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to provide up to $50,000 grant to the Ward County Water Resource Board, after January 1, 2012, for the application and the research required to file the mitigation application for Puppy Dog Coulee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Captain Bob Barnard appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Sheriff’s Department to call for bids for eight new patrol vehicles. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Barnard explained due to the lack of officers currently on staff and the increased amount of activity in Ward County, many officers have been unable to use comp or vacation time. He explained that per policy, the officer will identify whether the overtime should be paid or compensated at the time it is earned.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Sheriff’s Department to auction the old FEMA trailer donated to Ward County. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Sheriff Steve Kukowski appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the Chairman to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Grand Forks County for assistance in patrolling during the 2011 Flood. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to accept the grant from North Dakota Game and Fish in the amount of $1,000 to pay 50% of officers’ overtime while patrolling the parks. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

   Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applicants that have submitted documents and qualify for the disabled veteran’s exemption:

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The following have submitted documents and qualify for the homestead credit exemption:

 

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 6 applications for Mobile Home tax abatements in the amount of $322.49. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to enter into contract with Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. to reassess commercial property and vacant land in Ward County to be completed by 2015 and authorize the Director of Tax Equalization to sign. Roll call: Comm. Christianson, Erickson, Nybakken, and Gruenberg voted yes; Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.

 

      Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector Mitch Flanagan appeared.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to deny the special use permit requested by Michael Bursey for the following described property: NESW of Section 3-155-84, Burlington Township. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the following correspondence: SWCA – Environmental Assessment; REAP Investment Board – HUD Grant Application; Sheriff’s Department – Letter to Lake Region LE Center; Professional Veterans Advocates of ND – Training; NDIRF – Change in uninsured/underinsured coverage; Enbridge – Pressure test of underground pipeline; Ackerman-Estvold Engineering – Surrey Safe Routes to School; Ron Thompson, Ward County Historical Society – Update on Flooded Property. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Comm. Christianson expressed his gratitude to Lake Region LE Center for their generosity during the 2011 Flood.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the Board hereby approves the quit claim deeds for the following tax foreclosed properties redeemed by owner prior to sale date:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      The Department Head Evaluations were set for Wednesday, November 16, 2011 beginning at 8:00 a.m.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl that the following payroll amendments be approved: Joseph Palovick – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Dept. (Level 16); Pamela Sherrodd – County Library – Substitute Librarian (Level 8). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.  

 

      Comm. Christianson asked States Attorney Roza Larson about the review of the NDCC 27-03-7 from the October 18, 2011 meeting. Larson stated that the statue did not apply to Ward County and the 2011 Flood Declaration for the new Courthouse Annex.

 

      Comm. Christianson asked Larson to have ready the information concerning the policy on motion making for the next meeting, November 15, 2011.

 

      At 11:15 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.  

 

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

s/ Jerome Gruenberg

Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

ATTEST:

s/ Devra Smestad

Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County