November 20, 2012 Regular Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

November 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, Christianson, Erickson, and Nybakken present.  Also present were Highway Engineer Dana Larsen, States Assistant Attorney Sean Kasson, 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. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes from the October 30, 2012 regular meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve 2012 Social Welfare bills of $318,059.64, Human Service bills of $56,952.91 and the Regular bills totaling $684,158.17. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     At 9:10 a.m. Comm. Fjeldahl opened the Public Hearing for road repairs and a grade raise at Rice Lake.  Jason Zimmerman appeared for comment and explained this project would be funded with a Pass through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).  No one else appeared.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to close the Public Hearing and authorize the use of CDBG pass-through funds for road repairs and for a grade raise at Rice Lake Recreation District.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared.  Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to authorize the chairman to sign the Maintenance Certification. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to sign the contract with CDM Smith for services to complete the environmental assessment, abatement, and management of the demolition process on homes the county has acquired through volunteer acquisition of flooded homes.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Larsen updated the Commission on the CR 4 Slide.  FEMA has concurred that the slide on County Road 4 near Kenmare was the result of the 2011 disaster event and is eligible for funds.  Currently they are writing a PW to allow Ward County to hire an engineering firm to complete the geotechnical engineering on the project.

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the lowest and best bid for One (1) 2013 ¾ Ton 4wd Extended Cab Fleetside Pickup, One (1) 2013 Tandem Axle Truck Chassis, One (1) 2013 Side Dump Trailer, Three (3) 2013 Rotary Mowers, One (1) 2013 Hydraulic Excavator, One (1) 2013 Hydraulic Tail Trailer, Three (3) 203 75 PTO HP Tractors.  Larsen is still collecting bids on one (1) 2013 Asphalt Roller.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve Highway Committee to review the eight (8) Bid Tabs from the ND DOT November 16^th letting and bring back recommendations to the board.  Roll Call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Extension Agent Lori Scharmer appeared.  Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the purchase of 2 additional desks with hutches out of the NDSU Extension Services budget totaling $7,070.00.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Director of Tax Equalization Seth Hagen appeared. Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the two property owners that have submitted documents and qualify for the Disabled Veterans Credit; to approve the three properties bought out by the City of Minot due to dike damage; to approve the two properties that are no longer tax exempt entities; City of Minot Airport Lease Site is no longer being leased; to approve the two properties bought out by City of Minot due to flood buy-out; to approve the removal of two property owners two-year construction exemption;  to approve the one property owner that submitted documents and qualify for the two year new construction discount.   To approve Easter Seals Goodwill and Minot Vocational Adjustment Workshop (3) properties are tax exempt entities. Joseph & Marianne Barnes property value was entered incorrectly and required adjustment.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to authorize Kathy Holte as Surrey Township Assessor for 2013.  Ward County assessors will assume responsibility in 2014.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Captain Bob Barnard appeared for Sheriff Steve Kukowski.  Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the Sheriff’s Department to hire two patrol deputies to begin on December 1, 2012.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to allow other county employees to donate vacation to help Cassandra Robin through her maternity leave.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Dana Larsen appeared for Planning/Zoning Administrator Amber Turnquest.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve Clay Hanson, Randy Korslien, Don & Marcia Jessen and Herb & Shirley Meschke for variance applications.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg that the application for a special use permit by Ike Parker be tabled. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Nybakken, seconded by Comm. Erickson to hold a public hearing on December 18, 2012, to recommend terminating Resolution #3-2009 “Property Tax Exemption on New Single Family, Condominium, and Townhouse Residential Property”.  States Attorney Sean Kasson appeared to comment.  Roll call: Comm. Nybakken, Erickson, Gruenberg, and Fjeldahl voted yes.  Christianson voted no; motion carried.

     Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondences:  Professional Veterans Advocates – Training; ND Department of Veteran Affairs – Training; Mitch Holbach – Overcrowding at Jail; City of Minot – Rezoning & Annexations of Property; SWCA – Environmental Assessment; Carroll Erickson – Historical Society; Devra Smestad – Recommendation of ROW values.  Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to comment on the ROW values.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

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

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to recognize Missile Maintenance Association as a Public Spirited Organization.  Roll call:  all voted; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the Raffle Permit for the following: Missile Maintenance Association, Souris River Basin Longbeards, and North Plains Elementary School.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the five Quit Claim Deeds on Tax Foreclosed properties redeemed by Owners. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to appoint Gary Neshem and Loren Johnson to the Ward County Water Resources Board.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

     Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to postpone on paying the GO BOND Payment.  Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared to comment. Dana recommended waiting until they have a scope of the full line of projects for the year 2012 in regards to road repairs.  Roll call:  all voted yes; motion carried.

     Smestad requested a date for the Special Building Committee.  The Ward County Commissioners and the Citizen Committee will be meeting on November 28, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. for the purpose of discussing the new administrative building.  Meeting with Architect Don Davison will follow the meeting at 10 a.m.

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the following payroll amendments:  Julie Eisenbraun – Ward Co Auditor/Treasurer – Data Technician (Level 14); Cory Beckman – Ward Co Sheriff’s Department – Correctional Officer (Level 16); Kelly Bonsness – Ward Co Sherriff’s Department – Correctional Officer (Level 16); Stephanie R. Perez – Ward Co Sheriff’s Department – Office Assistant III (Level 11); Chelsea Modlin – Ward Co Social Services – Temporary Social Worker (Level 19).  Felicia Engel – Ward Co Social Services - Administrative Assistant I (Level 14).

Comm. Fjedahl opened the Public Hearing on a moving permit at 10:27 a.m. Steve Dupre appeared, to request permission to move his garage.  Steve had applied and paid for the moving permit that was approved by the County but needs permission to include the garage.  Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the request.  Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

Comm. Fjeldahl, Nybakken & Gruenberg thanked Comm. Erickson & Christianson for their dedication to the Commission over the past years and honored each with a plaque.

     At 10:32 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

      ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 20th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2012.   

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

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