October 4, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

October 4, 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, and Nybakken present.  Also present were Highway Engineer Dana Larsen, States Attorney Roza Larson, and Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad.

 

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

 

      At  9:03 a.m. Comm. Christianson joined the meeting via telephone.

 

      At 9:04 a.m. Chairman Gruenberg opened a public hearing regarding the 2012 Budget. With no public comment, at 9:05 a.m. Chairman Gruenberg adjourned the public hearing.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the minutes of the September 20, 2011 regular meeting and the September 27, 2011 special meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve 2011 Social Welfare bills of $39,209.72 and the following regular bills totaling $498,198.93. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Emily Huettl and Mike Mueller of Estvold Engineering appeared to discuss the hazard mitigation grant program. The average application for a project is between 100 and 300 pages. Estvold Engineering is asking the Commission to fund the grant application projects and assist the Engineer in selecting priority projects. The Commission asked Estvold Engineering to bring back the estimated cost(s) in preparing the applications. Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared and suggested that a subcommittee be formed. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to form a joint committee with two Ward County Commissioners and two Ward County Water Resources Board members to review the proposal for the mitigation grant application process. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the Federal Aid Program Sheet with changes and authorize the Chairman to sign. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Highway Department to receive bids for the purchase of two (2) Tandem Axle Gravel Trucks, one (1) Bidirectional Tractor, one (1) ¾ ton 4X4 Pickup, and one(1) ½ ton 4X4 Pickup. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Auditor to disperse oil impact funds in the amount of $12,750 to the following townships: Berthold, Burt, Des Lacs, Greenbush, Lund, Mandan, Shealy, Spencer, and Torning. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Larsen presented the proposed 2011 Resolutions for the upcoming North Dakota Association of Counties Annual Conference. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to have the States Attorney draft a resolution to allow tax exemptions to all property damaged by a disaster, not only those homes older than 25 years to be submitted at the Association of Counties Annual Conference. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Deputy States Attorney Robert Slorby and Tax Equalization Director Mike Vendsel appeared for comment.

 

      Larsen also updated the Commission on the status of ER Road repairs and completions. Comm. Christianson asked about the old Bison Plant Road. Larsen has yet to receive information from the Township or the Ward County Water Resources Board but will try to get someone to attend the next Commission meeting and report on it.  

 

      ESF-14 Deputy Branch Director Steve Greene appeared to update the Commission on the Community Recovery Vision meetings.

 

      FEMA Housing Specialist Tim Butler appeared with an update on the number of FEMA trailers located on private sites are approximately 951 and at Site 9A there are approximately 50 trailers that are ready to be moved into. Comm. Gruenberg stressed concerns about families that were told they were getting a FEMA trailer but now are being told they will not be getting one. Butler stated that when a situation like this arises, the Commissioners should call him directly.

 

      Ward County Water Resources Engineer Alan Estvold appeared to discuss the drainage from the FEMA Site 9A to the Countryside Villas and Whispering Meadows developments. He stated that the FEMA Site will slow the flow of water in the area but it still increases the overall flow by 2%. Estvold has been in touch with the Corp of Engineers and stated that this increase of 2% is unacceptable and is awaiting a response. Estvold stated that at the October 10^th regular meeting of the Ward County Water Resources Board, they will address the drainage issues in the area and hope to resolve these problems.

 

      Estvold and Emily Huettl addressed the levy repair/restoration issues in Ward County. Huettl stated that the Corps has designated several stages in which they will be doing repairs. Class I stage includes breaches in the Robinwood area, Talbott mobile home park area, and a location downstream of the Colton Avenue Bridge. Class II includes all pump-stations and some of the erosion areas being repaired. Class II will begin once Class I is complete, and only if funding is available.

 

      Estvold also commented on 54^th Ave SE, the old Bison Plant road, and stated that this will also be discussed at the October 10^th meeting.

 

      Resident Jamie Decent appeared from Countryside Villas with concerns about the expected snow fall this winter and the potential runoff problems with FEMA Site 9A. Larsen stated that there are no retention ponds in the area and the ditches and culvert system will be handling the runoff.

 

      Huettl also handed out information on the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Preliminary schedule.

      Sheriff Steve Kukowski appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the budget amendment in the amount of $750 to account 00159-01420-4019 for crime prevention materials, with the money coming from a Verendrye Electric donation. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve a budget amendment in the amount of $1,000 from a Public Safety grant to the Sheriffs account 00159-01420-7001 for the purchase of public safety equipment. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the agreement with Sandy Reinhardt for providing medications Assistant I course training and supervision of medication dispensing for the Ward County Jail and the Ward County Juvenile Detention Center. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      NDSU Extension Agent Lori Scharmer appeared.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve a purchase from Rough Rider Industries in the amount of $8,060 for two brochure cabinets, a desk, and a desk hutch. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

The following properties have been purchased from the County and now need to be added to the 2011 tax roll:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the 59 applications for Mobile Home tax abatements in the amount of $6,937.20. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the tax foreclosure appraisals made October 4, 2011 and direct the Director of Tax Equalization, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s office, to evict persons living in the residences and to post “No Trespass” notices. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector Mitch Flanagan appeared.  Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the plat applications for:

 Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the Variance application for Darrel Wilkerson on the following described property Lot 1 Whispering Meadows 4^th Addn Being Por of Lot 7 Whispering Meadows 2^nd Addn Section 34-155-82, Nedrose Township. Roll call: Comm. Fjeldahl, Erickson, Nybakken, and Gruenberg voted yes; Comm. Christianson voted no; motion carried.

 

      Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared to discuss several tabled/referred items from prior meetings.

 

      State’s Attorney Roza Larson appeared to discuss the Eight Elements of Effective Board Motions, presented in a prior Commission meeting by Major General Sagsveen. Larson stated that the meeting in which Sagsveen and she were to discuss this was canceled and will be rescheduled.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the lease agreement with Minot Park District and Ward County as amended and presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondence: Ulteig – ND Hwy 28 grade raise; ND Dept of Health – Modification of permit for a Solid Waste Management Facility; ND Dept. of Health – Fred Fisher Trucking Inc.; Sheriff Kukowski – August Report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following Duplicate Warrant request for Peggy Nelson for $7.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Nybakken, that the Board hereby approves the action of the County Auditor/Treasurer in making the following sales of property purchased at private sale, and authorize the issuance of the County Deed(s) in fulfillment of the contract thereon:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to appoint Kandi Mikkelson and Kenneth L Gillespie to a one year term expiring December 31, 2012 to the North Dakota State Fair Association. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to set the effective date of the increase in permit/petition fees on January 1, 2012. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to change the next commissioner meeting from October 18^th to Thursday, October 20^th at 9:00 a.m. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the following Ward County budget for calendar year 2012 be adopted:  

County Board................................................................................................ $118,569

County Auditor/Treasurer................................................................................. 571,769

State's Attorney .............................................................................................. 872,847

Director of Tax Equalization ............................................................................ 316,786

District Court .................................................................................................... 86,675

County Recorder.............................................................................................. 246,120

Courthouse Janitors......................................................................................... 207,167

Utilities & Janitorial Supplies............................................................................ 283,500

Publishing & Printing......................................................................................... 10,500

Elections......................................................................................................... 120,000

Office Supplies & Equipment............................................................................. 40,700

Postage, etc..................................................................................................... 55,000

Annual Audit....................................................................................................... 9,850

County Board Contingency................................................................................ 30,000

Miscellaneous General....................................................................................... 36,876

Road Repairs ............................................................................................. ... 380,000

 

County Sheriff............................................................................................. $2,655,209

Jail Operations.............................................................................................. 1,852,895

County Coroner................................................................................................. 45,000

Emergency Management Agency...................................................................... 148,824

Property & Liability Insurance........................................................................... 229,800

Domestic Violence Crisis................................................................................... 25,000

Community Service & Restitution........................................................................ 16,171

Juvenile Detention Center................................................................................. 263,634

Housing Juveniles/Industrial School..................................................................... 3,700

E911/Communications................................................................................... 1,254,413

 

(District Health)

 

 

County Park.................................................................................................. $ 120,700

Library/Bookmobile......................................................................................... 291,045

Historical Society.............................................................................................. 45,120

 

Extension Agent............................................................................................ $212,083

Souris Basin Planning and RC&D....................................................................... 20,703

Weed Control.................................................................................................. 245,179

 

 

Veterans Service Office................................................................................. $ 103,876

Emergency Fund............................................................................................. 361,000

County Buildings, Repairs & Improvements....................................................... 350,000

Technology purchase/maintenance................................................................... 125,900

Township Oil Road Payments............................................................................. 13,000

Property Tax Maintenance.................................................................................... 2,000

Nuisance Abatements.......................................................................................... 8,000

 

 

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl that the following resolution be adopted:   BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with the 12 month budget for 2012 for Ward County adopted this date and filed with the County Auditor/Treasurer, there be and there is, hereby levied for the 12 month period ending December 31, 2012 for:

            General Fund................................................. 2,566,452

            Social Security................................................. 262,657

            County Agent................................................... 212,083

            Veterans Service............................................... 103,876

            Historical Society............................................... 45,120

            Advertising & Promotion..................................... 90,250

            Comprehensive Health Insurance....................... 412,668

            Farm to Market................................... 1,902,580

            Road & Bridge....................................... 47,500

County Health (1^st Dist. Health Unit)................................................................... 463,460

Bookmobile – Library....................................................................................... 200,865

 

Emergency...................................................................................................... 359,380

County Park...................................................................................................... 61,135

Weed Control.................................................................................................. 127,170

Jail Operations................................................................................................ 857,058

Insurance Reserve............................................................................................. 88,158

 

 

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the following 2012 budgets be approved and tax levies spread against the taxable property of Ward County:    

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad also presented information about an alternate Emergency Operations Center (EOC). She stated that there are grants available for brick and mortar to build an EOC. Comm. Gruenberg asked that more information be presented as soon as possible in the application of these grants for Ward County.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson that the following payroll amendments be approved: Cynthia Altschuler – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department (Level 16); Kristin Kowalczyk – Deputy Recorder – Recorder (Level 20); Ted McDaniel – Seasonal – Highway Department (Level 12); Ross Olson – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Department (Level 16); Lynda Opp – Assistant/UCC Processor – Recorder (Level 14); Elizabeth Pietsch – Admin. Assistant/Records Processor – Recorder (Level 14). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     

      Comm. Gruenberg asked for volunteers for the Joint Committee between the Ward County Commission and the Ward County Water Resources Board. Comm. Fjeldahl and Comm. Nybakken volunteered.

 

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