JUNE 26, 2012 SPECIAL MEETING

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

Special Meeting

June 26, 2012

 

A special meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 9:02 a.m. with Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson & Nybakken present.  Also present were Don Davidson of DLA Architects, States Attorney Roza Larson and Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad. Citizen Committee members also present were: John MacMartin, Greg Hagen, Jerry Chavez, Molla Romine, and Chuck Leet. 

 

Comm. Gruenberg advised there are no new updates at this time regarding the adjacent lots.  Gruenberg will be setting up a meeting with Comm. Christianson to discuss their options.  There was discussion on whether the Ward County Library would be part of the new building or not and the possibility of building in the parking lot across 3^rd Street or another location.

 

Davidson of DLA Architects will continue to investigate what options there are for the movement of the MDU Substation Structure and report back in the next meeting.  Other options discussed were to move it underground, to the north or west and to identify if there is an easement right away in the alley between the current parking lot and the City Fire Department.  The solution once identified would be built into the overall cost of the project. 

 

The committee discussed the financial options of placing on the 2012 General Election ballot an increase of a half of a percent to sales tax to pay for the new building, remodel of the current facility and jail expansion.  States Attorney Rosa Larson advised that in order to get this done, we would have to know the final cost, a start and stop date for the project and a sun set date.  Comm. Gruenberg agreed with this option as it does not have an impact to land owners.  John MacMartin advised that we should show the public a comparison between land and sales tax difference and how long it would take to pay it off. Many committee members agreed that the best way to fund the project would be to increase the sales tax but also to provide the public with a well thought out plan so they could see what they are buying and how long the project will take. The total cost should include the new building, remodeling of the current facility and expansion of the jail.

 

Comm. Gruenberg left meeting at 10:02 a.m.

 

Finance funding options continued to be discussed between committee members and remaining Ward County Commissioners. 

 

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 10^th at 9:00 a.m.

 

At 10:35 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 3rd DAY OF JULY, 2012.    

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

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