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May 1, 2012 Regular Commission MeetingMinutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners
May 1, 2012
The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 9:00 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. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes from the April 17, 2012 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve Social Welfare bills of $34,809.71 and the regular bills totaling $226,566.13. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared. Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the low bid from J&J Striping in the amount of $109,078.20 for the center and edge line striping and the low bid from ASTECH in the amount of $187,940.24 for crack sealing. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Larsen updated the Commission on the 55th St Overpass and the NE Bypass Project. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the update report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Emergency Manager Amanda Schooling and PA Coordinator Curtis Helm presented a PowerPoint presentation of continued flooding in the southwest part of Ward County. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to declare a flood Emergency in Ward County. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Schooling updated the Commission on the Home Acquisition Guidelines. She stated that Highway Engineer Dana Larson and she still needed to modify some sections with Swanson and Warcup before presenting it to the Commission.
Schooling stated that Swanson and Warcup sent the State Water Commission revisions on the Agreement between Ward County and the Commission. The Agreement is at the Commission’s legal department pending review.
Larson and Schooling also updated the Commission on using the CBDG dollars for property acquisition.
Schooling informed the Commission that Cities within Ward County were awarded a 50/50 Flood Impact Grant totaling $18,835,995 and awarded as follows:
The Rice Lake Recreational Service District has not provided the Commission a copy of the State Permit that allows them to pump water from May 18, 2012 to May 17, 2013 . The Commission asked for Smestad to notify the District that their agreement with Ward County expires on May 17, 2012 and will not be renewed unless a copy of the permit is provided. Building Supervisor Ron Overly appeared to discuss upcoming EPA requirements for the Courthouse and Jail generators. Overly stated that the information will need to be reviewed again during budget times.
Overly introduced the new Building Supervisor Todd Helseth.
Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for abatement and/or correction of errors of assessments:
Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve paying the 20% retainer in the amount of $5,442.80 to American Builders for completed demolition work. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Vendsel presented a zone change from R-1 to C-2 applied by Richard and Nancy Sundhagen and Jerry and Lisa Vendsel for the following described properties: Outlot 7 S2NE, Outlot 10 SENW, Outlot 11 SENW, Outlot 3 S2SW less Sublot B, NESW less East 630’ and Outlots 1 and 2, Section 18-155-83. The following residents appeared in opposition to the zone change: Nichole Bernsdorf, Shelly Weppler, Freeman Pascal, Gary Summerfield, and Max Weppler. They provided the Commission with photos and health concerns about the company that is currently renting a garage from the Sundhagen’s. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to table the item until further research can be done. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the zone change from A-1 to R-1 submitted by Jonathan Lochthowe for the following described property: Lochthowe Subdivision of N2SESE, section 6-155-83, Harrison Township. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the variance application submitted by Brenda Buri for the following described property: Outlot 3 of Section 15-156-84, Kirkelie Township. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the variance application submitted by Edward Bolton for the following described property: Outlot 15 of Government Lot 1 & 2, Section 10-152-85, Rice Lake Township. 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 to discuss the Building Moratorium for Ward County. He stated the he received a call from a gentleman that lives and owns property in the Robinwood Area. His current home is located in the footprint of the levy, but he would like to build on his other lot located across the street from his present home. Due to the Moratorium, his is unable to do so because the property had about 1 foot of water on it. Comm. Gruenberg asked if the Commission should begin considering lifting the Moratorium. Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared and stated that Ackerman Estvold will be providing a minimum flood elevation level for new construction soon. Also, the Ward County Water Resource Board is establishing a new 100 year flood plain and will sending that recommendation to the Planning Commission for review. The Commission hopes to be able to lift the Moratorium in a month or so.
Smestad presented a recommendation from the Liaison Committee. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to support placing a question on the November 6th (2012 General Election) ballot to increase the 9-11 fee from $1.00 to $1.50, with the actual wording to be determined. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Smestad presented several recommendations from the Personnel Committee. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the policy change for the verbal and written warnings; verbal Warnings would change from six years in one’s file to one year and the written warnings be reduced from six years in one’s file to two years; an employee may request for the department head to have a warning removed from their personnel file after the allocated time. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the recommendation that a Social Worker I working a Social Worker III under-fill position be paid at the same level as a Social Worker III. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the recommendation for a $3.00/hour, across the board, in the Highway Department and to allow Engineer Larsen to advertise his open positions between $19.62 and $21.28. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the recommendation that the seasonal highway employees be hired at Level 15 with a pay range of $14.35 – $15.97, and to pay seasonal equipment operators with a CDL a rate of $16.62/hour. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the recommendation of paying the part time sworn officers with a POST license $17.45/hour and those without a POST license, $15.07/hour. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondence: NDSU – Extension Quarterly Report; SWCA – Environmental Assessment; Cobalt Community Research – Nonprofit research coalition; Carlson McCain – Development of oil & gas extraction locations; Mitch Holbach – Request for open records and Auditor’s response; ND Water Education Foundation – Upcoming tours; Swanson & Warcup - Revised draft agreement with NDSWC; Minot Association of Builders – Invitation to MAB Annual Appreciation Picnic; ND Dept. of Veterans Affairs – TVSO/CVSO report card; Dept. of the Air Force – Easements around Missile Sites; City of Minot – Annexations; ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties – Crew Camp Best Practices. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Raffle Permit application for North Dakota State Fair Foundation. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the Gaming Site authorization for the American Foundation of Wildlife. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
The Commission scheduled a Building Space Needs meeting for Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commission Room.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following payroll amendments Cleo Berven – (Acting) Director V – Social Services (level 33); Ray Burckhard – Seasonal Highway/Park Maintenance – Highway Department (Level 15); Ingvald Hanson – Seasonal Highway/Park Maintenance – Highway Department (Level 15); Casey Kenny – Juvenile Detention Officer (Level 16); Ted McDaniel – Seasonal Highway/Park Maintenance – Highway Department (Level 15); Gavin Weiand – Juvenile Detention Officer (Level 16). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.
Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the City of Minot Finance Committee meeting minutes excerpt.
Smestad handed out the 2011 Audit Report for Ward County to all of the Commissioners to be reviewed, received, and filed at the next regular meeting.
At 11:48 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 15th DAY OF MAY, 2012.
s/ John Fjeldahl –Chairman, Ward County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST: s/ Devra Smestad - Auditor/Treasurer, Ward County
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