September 21, 2012 Regular Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners

September 18, 2012

 

The regular meeting of the Ward County Commission was called to order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 9:03 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. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the agenda with corrections. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the minutes from the September 5, 2012 Building Space Needs Special Meeting, September 10, 2012 Special Commission Meeting and the September 4, 2012 Regular Meeting. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Devra Smestad presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Erickson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve the 2012 Social Welfare bills of $43,762.30 and the following regular bills totaling $209,971.88:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared. Larsen provided copy of official letter sent to Bismarck ND, regarding the 2011 Emergency Relief projects in Ward County.  Letter provides the status of the 18 ER projects, bid date (spring 2013) and tentative schedule of completion by fall 2013. Larsen also spoke of the 2013-2014 County Federal Aid Program for projects identified how the information on this form would have to be updated before the annual conference in Bismarck. 

 

Sheriff Steven Kukowski appeared.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the $22,000 grant from the North Dakota Department of Transportation for Occupant Protection Enforcement ($2,000), Impaired Driving Enforcement ($12,000) and Video Camera Surveillance Equipment ($8,000). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenberg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve the budget amendment in the amount of $6,024.86 to be placed in the account # 00159-01420-4020 (auto expense) for the reimbursement of vehicle repairs. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to reconsider the motion during the Regular Commissioner meeting on September 04, 2012 by Comm. Erickson, Seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to accept the grant of $1,000 from Wal-Mart and authorize a budget amendment to the Sheriff Office Equipment Fund from the General Miscellaneous Fund. Roll Call on reconsideration: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to accept the grant of $1,000 from Wal-Mart and authorize a budget amendment to the Sheriff Office Equipment Fund from the General Miscellaneous Fund. Roll Call: all voted no; motion failed.

 

Director of Tax Equalization Mike Vendsel appeared.

 

Foreclosure Assessment meeting was set for 8:00 a.m. on October 2, 2012.  Comm. Erickson and Comm. Nybakken will review and approve the urban properties and Comm. Fjeldahl and Comm. Christianson will review and approve the rural properties. 

 

            Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the following applications for abatement and/or correction of errors of assessments:

 

The following has provided paperwork and qualifies for the homestead credit exemption:

Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenburg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file correspondence from the Office of State Tax Commissioner stating that there are no changes to the true and full real property valuations in Ward County. Roll call vote: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Auditor/Treasurer Director Devra Smestad appeared.

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to receive and file the following correspondence: ND Dept of Transportation – SRF Projects; ND Dept of Commerce – Supplemental CDBG; ND Dept of Trust Lands – Fall Open Grant Round; NDDOT – Grant Awards to Sheriff’s Office; Carroll Erickson – Cloud Seeding Operations; Swanson & Warcup, LTD – Mitigation and Voluntary Acquisitions Bills. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

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

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the North Plains PTA Raffle Permit. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenberg to approve the M&S Concessions special event permits. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to apply for the Hazard Mitigation Grant funding to update the Hazard Mitigation Plan that expires at the end of 2012 and that the local cost share come from the General Fund rather than the EMP Grant as previously directed. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Erickson to approve the Tax Deed Sale for contract for deed of the Sawyer City property Cassedays Addn to Sawyer Lot 10 Blk 9 to Aaron L Miller. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Commissioners approved four interviews of Library Board applications for Tuesday, October 2, 2012 to start after their Regular Commissioners meeting.

 

Commissioners approved the moving of the Regular Commissioners meeting on November 6, 2012 to October 30, 2012, due to 2012 General Election and Canvassing Meeting on November 13^th. 

 

Moved by Comm. Christianson, seconded by Comm. Gruenburg to approve the following payroll amendments:  Cole Krueger – Juvenile Detention – Juvenile Detention Officer (Level 16); Dessa Krebsbach – Ward Co Social Services – Social Worker III (Level 19); Felicia Engel – Ward Co Social Services – Administrative Assistant I (Level 14); Jeremy Ensrud – State’s Attorney – Assistant State’s Attorney (Level 24); Nikos Berkowitz – State’s Attorney – Assistant State’s Attorney (Level 24); Jerry Hammer – Highway Department – Equipment Operator (Level 18); Wendy Kinn – Auditor/Treasurer – Data Technician (Level 14) Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenburg, seconded by Comm. Nybakken to approve Kevin’s Plumbing and Heating bid to replace and repair cast line and faucet in jail shower area with a ceiling of $1,800.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Moved by Comm. Gruenburg, seconded by Comm. Christianson to approve Craig’s Carpet & Vinyl bid to replace tile walls, floor and shower pan in the amount of $2,650.00 and Minot Welding to repair exhaust vent and replace vent cover in the amount of $1,100.00. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried.

 

Comm. Erickson, will be attending the First District Board of Health meeting on September 27, 2012. 

 

Human Resources Director Colleen Houmann appeared to discuss the salary range, date range for job posting, review application date and interview date for the Tax Equalization vacancy position.

 

Smestad provided list of acquisition homes to meet the 2 day notification requirements. 

 

 At 10:13 a.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 

 

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED THIS 2nd DAY OF OCTOBER, 2012.  

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

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