April 17, 2012 Regular Commission Meeting

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

April 17, 2012

 

      The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 9:04 a.m. with Comms. Gruenberg, 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. Nybakken to approve the agenda with additions or corrections. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes from the April 3, 2012 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve Social Welfare bills of $398,597.14, Human Services bills of $59,890.42, and the regular bills totaling $689,850.73. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to set the rate for a motorgrader and operator to be $120/hr for blading and $130/hr for snow removal. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Larsen presented the GIS Parceling selection committee findings from their April 4, 2012 meeting. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to select Sidwell to perform the GIS Parceling Project for Ward County and authorize the staff to work with Sidwell to develop a contract/agreement for services, payment outline, and schedule that will be brought back to Commission for final approval. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Larsen updated the Commission on all Emergency Road and FEMA Projects currently being worked on or awaiting information.

 

      Larsen advised the Commission that a selection committee had scored several proposals put forth for three Department of Defense (DOD) Projects, located north of the Air Force Base near the north gate. The actual engineering projects will be with both Ward County and the North Dakota Department of Transportation. This is a pass through project and all funding will be paid by the DOD through the ND DOT. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to select Kadramas, Lee and Jackson as the engineer for the Department of Defense Projects on Transporter Erector (TR) routes in Ward County and authorize the chairman to sign the preliminary engineering agreement. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize Ward County employees to donate vacation time to Jim Mertz, a Highway Department employee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Emergency Manager Amanda Schooling presented to the Commission information regarding Home Acquisition Guidelines/Recommendations. She stated that the information is in the very beginning stages and hopes to have many of the proposed questions answered for the Commission for their next regular meeting. Attorney John Warcup from Swanson and Warcup also appeared to comment.

 

      Rice Lake Recreational Service District Board member Steve Zaun appeared. Zaun updated the Commission that on April 18^th, the State Water Commission will be holding a phone conference to discuss final authorization for the 2012-2013 pumping of water. He will reappear before the Commission once that authorization has been finalized, to renew the resolution with Ward County. Zaun also stated that the Board, at their last regular meeting, determined that it will not be requesting a no-wake zone on the Lake for 2012. The residents and the Board understand how difficult it would be to enforce such a request and are going to be asking those on the lake to use wise judgment.

 

      The Commission began to re-review items tabled from the last meeting. Smestad presented information requested at the last meeting on “carry over” or unencumbered funds.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to bring forth the tabled motion from the April 3, 2012 regular meeting: “Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to do a budget amendment to allocate $17,500 to the Kenmare Economic Development from the Commissioner Contingency Fund.” Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to amend the 2012  account (001 6800 41980 04) Area Economic Development from $90,250 to $107,750 with the increase coming from the 2011 unencumbered balance in the General Fund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to amend the Tax Equalization budget in the amount of $55,000 to the following line items for the new Planning/Zoning Administrator position:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Jail Commander Penny Erickson appeared. Sheriff Kukowski also appeared to comment. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the updated Jail Policies for 2012. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

The following properties were annexed into the City of Minot and need to be removed from the tax roll:

The following have provided documents and qualify for the disabled veterans exemption:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the application for Mobile Home tax abatements in the amount of $314.77. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the following plat applications:

 Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Comm. Gruenberg asked Vendsel to look into two properties that have begun building in the Robinwood area. Neighbors are questioning these builds because of the Building Moratorium. Vendsel believes permits were issued prior to the moratorium being instituted. Highway Engineer Dana Larsen also appeared to comment.

 

      Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the Chairman to sign the ND Dept. of Trust Land Grant acceptance letter for Community Ambulance. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: ND Dept. of Trust Lands – Approval of Energy Impact Grant for Community Ambulance; Denial of Grant funds for Remodeling Douglas Fire hall; New Grant Applications Due; Swanson & Warcup – Letter to ND State Water Commission; SWCA – Environmental Assessment; NDIRF­ – 2012 Conferment of Benefits; NDACO – Federal GSA personal vehicle mileage reimbursement rate; SBPC – ND CDBG Program Changes; Garrison Diversion Conservation District – Meeting Notice (April 23, 2012). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Attorney John Warcup appeared to clarify a typo in their correspondence. He stated that it should say County/City throughout the document, not just City.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to receive and file monthly reports, including the Financial and Sheriff Reports. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to receive and file the 2011 Department Annual Reports. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the Gaming Site authorization for ND Leadership Seminar for the remaining 2012 year. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following event permits for M & S Concession: May 6 – 13 & 20 - 28(Nodak Races); June 2 & 3 (Wedding Reception); June 3 – 10 & 17 – 24 (Nodak Races); July 1 – 9 (Nodak Races); August 12 – 19 & 26 – Sept 3 (Nodak Races). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to appoint Kevin R Nelsen to the Surrey Planning Commission for a 5-year term. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendments:  Karoline Gessner – Correctional Officer – Sheriff’s Dept. (Level 16); Roxanne Houim – Juvenile Detention (Level 16); Tanya Triplett – Social Worker III/Child Abuse & Neglect – Social Services (Level 23). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Human Resources Director Colleen Houmann appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the donated leave request for Joan Leiphon, a Social Services employee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      The Commission scheduled a Personnel Committee meeting for Friday, April 20, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commission Room.

 

      Attorney John Warcup updated the Commissioners on the volunteer acquisitions. Seventy-two proposals were sent out: 27 were returned as yes, 14 purchase orders were prepared, and 16 are appealing the price offered.

 

       At 10:46 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 

 

      ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 1st DAY OF MAY, 2012.           

        s/ John Fjeldahl –Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners

        ATTEST: s/ Devra Smestad - Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County