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January 17, 2012 Regular Meeting MinutesMinutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners
January 17, 2012
The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 9:03 a.m. with Comms. 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. Erickson to approve the agenda with additions or corrections. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the minutes from the January 3, 2012 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve 2012 Social Welfare bills of $21,078.38, the Human Services bills of $52,441.79, and the regular bills totaling $1,033,824.72. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared. Larsen reviewed the NDDOT letter about Emergency Road funding with the Commission. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the County Engineer to send a letter to the NDDOT in response to Federal Aid Reimbursement for the Statewide Disaster 11-2, and requesting that the NDDOT treat all the funding for emergency repair work completed in 2011 in the same manner, and not reduce funding for emergency projects completed after September 18, 2011. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the Highway Department to purchase one full size, medium duty truck from Westlie Truck Center for $58,282.00 and the purchase and installation of a sign body, hydraulic boom, and miscellaneous items from Bert’s Truck Equipment for $45,595.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Larsen presented the narrow banding radio proposal from TEAM Electronics. Comm. Christianson asked about the tower and why we are leasing a tower if the County owns one. Captain Barnard appeared and stated that the towers are two different towers and does not know if the tower owned by the County would work for this particular need. Christianson asked if Larsen could review and see if it would be cost effective to switch to the Ward County Tower instead of leasing the one they currently have. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the proposal from TEAM Electronics in the amount of $11,542.00 to purchase 20 mobile radios, and labor to narrowband the Highway Departments existing radios, and install a new repeater on the Berthold site. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Veteran Services Director Dale Braun appeared. Dale presented the 2011 Veteran Services Annual Report.
Brenda Bergsrud appeared and asked the Commission to declare March 2012 as Women Veterans Month. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the proclamation proclaiming March 2012 as Women Veteran’s Month. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the 2011 Veteran Services Annual Report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, 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 disabled veterans exemption:
Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the 3 applications for Mobile Home tax abatements in the amount of $239.17. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Vendsel presented the 2012 Ag Land Valuations. Comm. Christianson commented that even if a County disagrees with the valuation, because it is a law, there is nothing that can be done. Comm. Fjeldahl also disagrees with the valuation number. He stated that the increase has been almost 50% over the past 2 years and believes a new system of evaluating needs to be found. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to accept the recommendation to certify the average value per acre to the township assessors at $474.12. Roll call: Comm. Christianson, Nybakken, and Erickson voted yes; Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.
Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector Mitch Flanagan appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the final plat application for Jerome Walsh for the following described property: Prairie Trail Acres, being an unplatted portion located in the SWSW SESW S35-1569-82, McKinley Township. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to have Ward County apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Funding to update our Multi Hazard Mitigation Plan that expires at the end of 2012, and the local cost share of $7,500 come out of the EMPG (Emergency Management Program Grant) reimbursements. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Attorney John A. Warcup from Swanson & Warcup appeared. The Commission reviewed the recommendations from Swanson & Warcup for the Voluntary Acquisition Policies. Comm. Fjeldahl disagreed with the Eligible Owners recommendations. He stated that he does not believe if the property was purchased after the flood for a devalued amount, that the new owner should get pre-flood value for the property in this process. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Volunteer Acquisition Policies with the following change: Page 4; #2 Paragraph 2: The second stage appeals panel will be composed of 3 members – one Commissioner, one local realtor, and the Ward County Auditor. During the discussion period: Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl to Amend the proposed policy under the Eligible Owners section to state as follows: the owner of the property, that purchased post flood, be compensated at the purchase price and any associated costs in the improvement of the property not to exceed the pre flood price. Motion died due to lack of second. Roll call on original motion: Comm. Christianson, Nybakken, and Erickson voted yes; Comm. Fjeldahl voted no; motion carried.
Warcup then presented a draft of a Resolution, that was presented to the City of Minot, for funding from the State Water Commission. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to direct Swanson & Warcup to prepare a Resolution on behalf of Ward County in regards to the home acquisition and fund. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the January 11, 2012 correspondence from Swanson & Warcup regarding the Adjustments to fees and charges for provision of acquisition services. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: ND Dept. of Trust Lands – 2012 Jan/Feb/March Grant Round for Emergency Services and Response; ND Department of Emergency Services – Narrow banding Transition Planning Meeting; SWCA – Environmental Assessment; ND Pipeline Assoc. – 2012 local meeting; Sheriff Kukowski – December 2011 Report; Ward Co. Social Service Board – Student Placement. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the budget amendment for the Equipment and Supplies Account 001-6700 in the amount of $3,588 with the money coming from the General Fund carry-over balance. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to amend the 2011 Ward County Park Board budget from $88,850 to $117,350, the increase covered by the excess camping fees collected. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file monthly reports, including the financial report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson to accept the offer for the purchase of the Sawyer property. Motion withdrawn.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to accept the offer from Century21 Action Realtors for the foreclosed property located at 103 2nd Ave E (Lot 10 Block 9 Casseday’s Additions to Sawyer) for the amount of $10,000, pending the approval of the States Attorney. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad presented the Commission with information from the National Association of Counties about a CGI video program that would feature Ward County for Economic Development. Comm. Christianson stated that he would research and find out any additional information about the program and report back to the Commission.
Paige Zietz appeared to present an agreement to the Commission to provide Coroner Transport services for Ward County. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to have the States Attorney review the presented agreement and return to the next meeting (February 7th) with a new agreement or approval on the one presented. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
The Community Ambulance has requested Ward County act as the pass through agent for their application for the Energy Impact Grant. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the County to act as a pass through agent for the Community Ambulance grant application. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
At 10:54 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 7th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2012.
s/ John Fjeldahl, Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
s/ Devra Smestad, Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County
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