March 20, 2012 Regular Commission Meeting

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

March 20, 2012

 

      The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 9:00 a.m. with Comms. Gruenberg, Erickson, and Nybakken present.  Also present were Highway Engineer Dana Larsen, Assistant States Attorney Robert Slorby, and Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad.

 

       Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg 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 March 6, 2012 regular meeting and the March 7, 2012 special meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve Social Welfare bills of $16,539.84, Human Services bills of $76,840.71, and the regular bills totaling $323,908.54. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Emergency Manager Amanda Schooling appeared to introduce the new Assistant Emergency Manager Daniel Greene.

 

      Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize the Highway Department to sell a 1998 International Gravel Truck and a 1977 AC Forklift at Northern Auction. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the low bids from Anderson Western in the amount of $5,267,115.60 for the overlay of County Road (CR) 9 & 14, starting at State Highway 23 north 16 miles to CR 14, then east 6 miles to CR 11; the low bid from Mayo Construction in the amount of $670,653.69 for the paving of CR 17, starting at CR 14 north to CR 12; and the low bid from Mayo Construction in the amount of $994,786.30 for the graveling of 15 miles of Country Roads that include CR 14, 20, and 11. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the recommendation as shown on the “March 9, 2012 Bid List”:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize the Highway Department to bid the Hot Bituminous Overlay of CR 15, 17, and 10, between Minot and Burlington, and for the Chairman to be authorized to sign the Utility, ROW, and Construction Agreement documents from the NDDOT. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to bid the 2012 crack sealing and roadway striping projects. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Larsen asked the Commissioners if any of them would like to participate in the GIS Parceling project and the forming of a selection committee to review the proposal, interview the top two or three companies and make a recommendation. Comm. Fjeldahl and Comm. Gruenberg stated that they were interested. Larsen would contact both of them to see which one would be attending.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize Dana Larsen to submit the grant applications, in the following priority order, for Flood-Impacted Political Subdivision Infrastructure Grants for County Roads 4, 16, and 2. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      At the next regular Commission meeting, April 3^rd, 2012, the Farm to Market Meeting will be set.

 

      Steve Zaun of the Rice Lake Recreational Service District Board appeared. Zaun updated the Commission on the 2011 pumping efforts at the lake. As of March 19, 2012, the lake is 4 inches higher than the peak in 2011. The greatest concern right now is the central sewer system. The system is being inundated by lake water from those homes that were not able to get their systems plugged before they were consumed by the water.

 

      Zaun informed the Commission of the engineer working on the pipeline project that would take water from Rice Lake and transport it south 12 miles to Douglas Lake. They are currently working on obtaining easements with local farmers and with the Corp. Once more information is available and additional decisions made, a Rice Lake Recreational Service District Board member will come and update the Commission.

 

      He also informed the Commission that they had begun pumping already this spring. Comm. Fjeldahl asked if a lease agreement with Mr. Magandy had been renewed. Zaun stated that it had and that he would get a copy for the Commission.

 

      Zaun also stated that in a January 2012 meeting, the Service Board decided to keep the lake open. They have submitted a requested with the North Dakota Game and Fish to have an idle only (no wake) zone on the lake. This would be enforced and patrolled by Game and Fish. Sheriff Kukowski appeared and stated that he understands that the Game and Fish are currently facing staffing issues. He estimates that his staff will be called out to enforce the idle only, but currently do not have the proper equipment to do so. He also stated that there is funding available through a grant that could be used to patrol the lake and obtain the proper equipment.

 

      Sheriff Steve Kukowski appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the grant from the ND DOT for 2 in-car video cameras in the amount of $8,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept the 75/25 grant from the ND DOT for 2 Radar/LIDAR Units in the amount of $3,000. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following properties are owned by a tax exempt entity and need to be removed from the tax roll:

The following properties no longer qualify for the two-year new construction exemption as they all have been sold to the second owner:

The following properties qualify for the two-year new construction exemption:

The following have submitted documents and qualify for the Disabled Veterans credit:

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

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector Mitch Flanagan Appeared. Kristin Boen with Signal Realtors and Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to discuss a plat submitted by Bruce Livingston for the following described property: Outlot 7 and 8 of the SE, S32-156-82. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the plat application. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Flanagan presented a plat for Sharon Palmer. Larsen appeared and stated that he received the engineering storm water study and traffic analysis report but has a few questions for the engineer. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the plat application submitted by Sharon Palmer for the following described property: Palmer’s 2^nd Subdivision to the City of Minot, being the SW less Outlots 1 &2, S29-156-82, contingent upon the storm water study and traffic analysis results found by Larsen and the filing of covenant for the road maintenance. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the plat application submitted by Aaron Bergan for the following described property: NE, S31-156-84. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Flanagan and Smestad presented information to the Commission regarding the demolition of homes in Ward County. Smestad asked if the costs for these demos would be assessed to the individual properties. The Commission discussed waiting to see if funding from grants or other resources would be available to offset the costs to the property owner.

 

      IT Administrator Jason Blowers appeared. Blowers stated that the network and phone switches are now done in the Courthouse and the Jail. He also stated that an update would be completed this week for the phone system. He contacted SRT about the previous phones and the phone switch. They stated that they do not need the items back into their inventory. Blowers asked if he could sell the equipment and place the proceeds into a separate fund for odd IT purchases that are needed. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize Blowers to sell the old phones and phone switch and to have Smestad research setting up a fund for the IT Department. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Blowers asked the Commission if the IT Department could pursue linking the Highway Department, Jail, and Courthouse phone systems together. The Commission stated that the department could pursue this and update the Commission on their findings.

 

      Blowers stated that there are 32 phones extra after installation was completed. He would like to keep 16 phones for spares and exchange the others for additional equipment, i.e. conference phone system. The Commission discussed and agreed for exchanging the phones would be a good idea.

 

      Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the following correspondence: Carlson McCain – Proposed Well Pad & Environmental Assessment; USPS – Postal Service Change; City of Minot – Public Hearing on Plat Annexation & Rezone; City of Minot – Annexation; ND Dept of Commerce – MG Grains; Xcel & Verendrye – Appreciation Banquet; Ward County Historical Society – Newsletter . Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Raffle Permit application submitted by Friends of NRA. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize Smestad and the Chairman to sign the letter to the Auditors Rath and Mehrer. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to receive and file the 2011 Property Inventory. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad presented an offer to purchase the foreclosed property located at 621 7^th Ave NE in the City of Minot. Tax Equalization Director Mike Vendsel and Deputy States Attorney Robert Slorby appeared to answer questions by the Commission. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to reject the offer submitted by Todd Helseth for the property located at 621 7^th Ave NE in Minot until further research can be done. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to allow Smestad to accept the invitation to join a Stakeholder Advisory Group from the ND League of Cities. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

      Smestad presented information from MuniciPay that would allow Ward County to accept credit cards, debit cards or electronic checks in house. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to authorize Smestad to submit the application to MuniciPay.

 

      Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendments:  Cleo Berven – Administrative Staff Officer II – Ward County Social Services (Level 22); Todd Helseth – Building Services Supervisor– Building Services (Level 21); Kimberly McCarty – Social Worker III – Ward County Social Services (Level 24); Cassandra Robbins – Juvenile Detention Officer – Juvenile Detention (Level 16).Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

       At 11:00 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 

 

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

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

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