Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners. February 5, The regular meeting of the Ward County Commissioner was called to order by

Transcription

1 Minutes of the Board of Ward County Commissioners February 5, 2013 The regular meeting of the Ward County Commissioner was called to order by Chairman Nybakken at 9:00 a.m. with Comm. Fjeldahl, Walter, and Weppler present. Also present were Department Heads; Dana Larsen, Devra Smestad, Betty Braun, Amber Turnquest, Mark Schrader, Steve Kukowski and Seth Hagen. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Weppler to approve the agenda with additions. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the minutes of the January 15, 2013 regular meeting and the special meeting on January 24, Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Smestad then presented the bills. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Walter to approve the 2013 Social Welfare bills of $63, and the regular bills totaling $2,188, Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared. Larsen proposed a rendering of the proposed addition, copies of site floor plans, and an estimate for the remodeling and addition to the Highway Department. Larsen requested a motion to move forward with bids. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Weppler to authorize EAPC to advertise the Ward County Highway Department addition and remodel project. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Larsen brought up the issue of oversize and overweight applications. The current Self-Issue Uniform Permit has been used since One of the issues with 1

2 the Uniform Permit is that it does not require the hauler to put down a route and does not require authorization from the office. Larson would like to mimic other counties that require authorization from the county before they move. This is done so the county knows how much the load is and where it is going. Larsen would like to implement an online permitting process. With doing so, the permitted movements by the county would be added to an online calendar and this information would be available to the Sheriff s Office. The cost for equipment, software, set up training would be around $14,000 with an annual maintenance fee of around $1,300 each year. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the Highway Department to implement an on-line Oversized or Overweight permitting system. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to authorize the auditor office to issue four checks totaling $3,550 for the application of the H-1V Visa for Amber Turnquest. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Larsen stated with the influx of new contractors, many new gravel crushing companies inquired if Ward County requires a permit before they open a gravel pit. Currently Ward County does not have a permit process or require a change in zoning when opening or operating a gravel pit. Larsen presented a rough draft of an ordinance to control site mining and excavation operations. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Weppler to send the ordinance draft to the States Attorney for review of the classifications and requirements. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 2

3 Larsen updated the Commission of the ROM projects and ER projects on the November bid letting. After several interviews the following engineering firms were selected: Job # Type of Project Road Engineering Comp. Project Number 14 HBP Overlay TWP KLG Engineering ROM-0300(115) 15 Bridge CR 6 KLG Engineering ROM-0300(118) 16 Grade Raises CR 13 & 22 KLG Engineering ROM-0300(119) 17 Grade Raises CR 10 Houston Engineering CER-5138(058), CER-5138(059) & CER- 5138(060) 18 Grade Raises CR 16 Ackerman-Estvold Eng. CER-5146(053) & CER-5146(054) 19 Grade Raises CR 20 Ackerman-Estvold Eng. CER-5154( Grade Raises CR 22 & 13 Houston Engineering CER-5162(050), CER-5162(051), CER- 5162(052) & CER-5131(053) 21 Grade Raises CR 24 Houston Engineering CER-5166(052) Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the engineering firms for the Construction Engineering on the projects as listed and authorize the Chairman to sign the contracts. Roll call: all voted yes except Comm. Walter who abstained; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Walter to develop or extend State Highway 28 and pass a Resolution in support of House Bill Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Highway Engineer Dana Larsen appeared on behalf of Emergency Manager Amanda Schooling. Discussion was held about the properties acquired from the 2011 flood event where the proposed levy is projected to be built. Items discussed were the abatement of asbestos, if the county wants to auction the homes, demolish, and/or salvage useable items within the homes. Houses that are deemed appropriate by CDM Smith will be auctioned and must be moved. Homes that are not bid or sold, any salvageable materials will be allowed to be obtained by Non-Profit Organizations for distribution. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Walter to approve the 3

4 work done by CDBG Committee and to allow CDM Smith to determine which properties are up for abatement or sold for auction. Of properties not sold, any salvageable materials removed are to go to Non-Profit Organizations for re-building purposes only. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Captain Bob Barnard appeared. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Weppler to give the Sheriff s Department authority to call for bids for the purchase of 6 (six) model year 2013 patrol vehicles per set bid. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Juvenile Detention Administrator Mark Schrader appeared. Schrader informed the Commission that two part time openings are still available within the Juvenile Detention Center. Additionally, the facility had their annual inspection completed and is in full compliance. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the 2013 Certificate of Compliance. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Veterans Services Officer Dale Braun appeared to report the 2012 annual report. The Ward County Veterans Service office continues to have the second highest compensation and pension activity in ND, behind only Cass County. This has been accomplished on approximately one-half the budget of the big four counties in the state. The Ward office also had the highest return on investment of any county in ND for Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Walter to receive and file the 2012 annual report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Director of Tax Equalization Seth Hagen appeared. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Weppler to approve the following properties have been affected by the 2011 flood: 4

5 Dorothy Collins Margaret Lackey Jaxon-Jaeger Rental, LLC Thomas & Virginia Ripplinger Russell & Nancy Parizek Chris & Dawn Schoedel Alex & Gloria Maragos th Ave NE MI $121,400 $54, th Ave NW MI $109,500 $76, nd Ave NW MI $38,200 $26, th St SE MI $280,500 $240, th Ave NW MI $96,500 $88, th Ave NW MI $21,500 $19, st Ave NW MI $78,800 $72, st Ave NW MI $78,800 $71, th Ave SW MI $89,700 $82, th Ave SW MI $71,100 $65, Burdick Expy E MI $93,400 $77, th St SE MI $139,300 $127, Burdick Expy E MI $21,800 $20, th St SE MI $120,400 $50, Burdick Expy E MI $38,400 $35, st Ave SE MI $123,900 $60, County Rd 19 S SR $203,000 $57,600 Following properties are now tax exempt entities: Minot State Univ. Little Flower Church Souris Basin Trans. Board Minot State Univ. Minot State Univ. Old True and New True and th St NW MI $10,299 $0 822 W University Ave MI $16,100 $ st St SE MI 20B $105,600 $0 709 University Ave MI $46,300 $26, th St. NW MI $26,600 $15,000 MI 37A $8,200 $0 MI 37A $5,200 $0 5

6 NDDOT 605 N Broadway MI $7,800 $0 Following properties qualify for a Disabled Veterans discount: Garry Lodoen Melissa Ova Richard & Jeanne Lemay Winifred Kinney Winifred Kinney Exemption % nd Ave SE MI 36B % th ST NW MI % 3410 County Rd 19 S NE % th St SE MI % th St SE MI % Following properties deal with the 2 year new construction credit: Jara Ramon & Irma Lopez Jay Klabunde Fill th St SE MI 31B $281,500 $206, nd Ave SE MI 36B $226,000 $251,000 Following properties were entered erroneously in the system: Minot State Univ. Peter & Kristin Kowalczyk Shelia Hattel Andrew Hoffelt Peter & Kristin Kowalczyk th Ave NW MI $147,200 $13, th Ave SE SR $142,200 $5,600 Dakota Park S #123 MI $57,500 $27, N Project Rd KK $0 $62,200 SR A 2012 $49,200 $32,500 Following properties qualify for a Homestead Credit: Della Swartout Exemption % st Ave SW SY % 6

7 Hattie Shaw Velma Hansen Rodney Hell Rodney Hell Rodney Hell Lucille Fiest Judith Allen Robert Heilman June Vanwinkle Marven Getzlaff Lyle & Ruth McDermott 1530 Burdick Expy E MI % nd Ave SW MI % th Ave SE MI % th Ave SE MI % th Ave SE MI % rd St NW MI % ½ Ave SW MI % PO BOX 160 SY % rd Ave SE NE % th St NW MI % th St SE SR % Following properties are no longer livable: Walter & Kara Peters KLC of Willmar, LLC KLC of Willmar, LLC Fill Sec 4 SUBL 2 of L5 OLT SR $4,200 $0 MI 10C $60,000 $25,000 MI 10C $20,000 $9,600 Following properties have been replatted: Little Flower Church Daniel & Regina Feist Fill 810 W University Ave MI 14C $63,400 $0 MI 13B $110,000 $0 Following properties have either been split or combined: Microsleep Minot, LLC Fill th Ave SW MI $287,500 $1,487,200 7

8 Microsleep Minot, LLC Robbie Operude Michael & Nicole Opland Michael & Nicole Opland th Ave SW MI $1,446,700 $322,600 BD $0 $88,000 BD $0 $14,100 BD $0 $14,100 Following property qualifies for a wheelchair discount: Wanda Wigness Fill th Ave NW MI $200,500 $100,500 Following property is new for 2013, but was taxed for 2012: Mitchell Keiser Roll Call: all voted yes; motion carried. Fill, Sec 22 SW BE $57,200 $0 Hagen presented Building Inspector Mike Larson s 2012 year end update. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Weppler to receive and file the Building Inspector s year end update. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Walter to receive and file the sales ratio study prepared by Vangard on land values. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. IT Administrator Jason Blowers appeared. He updated the current status of Ward County s IT department and what is to be expected for the 2013 year for technological advances and software updates. The 2008 server with windows is reaching maximum capacity. The last server was ordered with windows 2011 and he will need technical support in migrating certain data. Blowers requested a subscription 8

9 to Tech Net which includes 4 support calls in the amount of $1, for this year. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Walter to approve the Tech Net subscription with funds from the commissioner contingency account. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Social Services will require new fiber cabling and switch installations as well. Main Electric will handle those installations. Additionally, the Ward County website is in need to be redesigned. After discussion on our website, Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to allow Ward County IT department to advertise and solicit proposals for the needed updates to the website. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Auditor/Treasurer Devra Smestad appeared. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Weppler to receive and file the following correspondences: Central Power Electric Cooperative Environmental Review; Office of AttorneyGeneral Gaming Tax; NDDOT Traffic Count Operations; Annexations; Sheriff Kukowski December Monthly Report; C&C Snow & Gravel Available Services; Mike Hanson Interim Extension Office Chair; CP Rail Proposed bid. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the pledged securities report. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Walter to authorize cancellation on all outstanding checks over one year. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to adopt the Resolution to cancel unpaid tax balances on tax deed properties as follows: 9

10 WHEREAS, sales of the tax deed properties have been made in the office of the County Auditor with the approval of the board of County Commissioners, and the purchase price thereof has been made in full and tax deeds thereto have been issued to the purchasers; and WHEREAS, the purchase prices thereof were less than the delinquent taxes on the respective properties, with the result that the proceeds of the tax sale left an unpaid balance on the taxes on the descriptions listed as set forth in a certificate of the Deputy Auditor/Treasurer under dates of January 28, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that under and pursuant to Section of the North Dakota Century Code, the unpaid balances as set forth be canceled and the County Auditor/Treasurer is hereby authorized to remove said balances from the records. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Walter to adopt the Resolution to cancel unpaid tax balances on volunteer acquired properties as follows: WHEREAS, sales of the voluntary acquisitions due to the 2011 flood have been made in the office of the County Auditor with the approval of the board of County Commissioners, and WHEREAS, the amount of tax collected at closing thereof was less than the delinquent and current taxes on the respective properties, with the result that left an unpaid balance on the taxes on the descriptions listed as set forth in a certificate of the Deputy Auditor/Treasurer under dates of January 28, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that th e unpaid balances as set forth be canceled and the County Auditor/Treasurer is hereby authorized to remove said balances from the records. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Weppler to appoint Molla Romine to North Central Human Services Advisory Committee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. 10

11 Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Weppler to approve the following 2013 Contracts and to pay the appropriate allocation: Domestic Violence Crisis Center $30,000 Berthold Economic Development Corporation $18,172 DeSour Valley Economic Development Corporation $12,213 Kenmare Community Development Corporation #2 $15,340 Ward County Historical Society $26,125 Lake County Historical Society $12,000 UND Center of Family Medicine (Coroner) $30,000 Makoti Threshers Association $6,480 Ryder Historical Society $6,000 Indigent Defense $33,075 Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to approve the raffle permit for Fire Fighters Union 1157 on April 4, Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Smestad updated the Commission of the Personnel Committee report and recommendations. The committee recommended that three positions be benchmarked: the Planning/Zoning Administrator, Account Budget Specialist, and Building Inspector for the 2013 salary survey. Human Resources Colleen Houmann appeared to clarify the structure of the positions. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Weppler to add the Account Budget Specialist, Planning/Zoning Administrator and Building Inspector as bench marked positions. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. The committee recommended adding new comparatives to replace those companies no longer in business or who do not want to participate in the salary survey. The additions are Keller Paving, Gratech, Minot Paving, Cass County, West Fargo, Codinton County SD and Cognizant. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Walter to remove businesses that are no longer in business and who wish to not 11

12 participate and add Keller Paving, Gratech, Minot Paving, Cass County, West Fargo, Codinton County SD and Cognizant to the roster. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. The committee recommended approval of changing the sick leave policy for Ward County departments and Social Service Employees. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Walter to approve a policy stating departments can accept up to 40 hours unused sick leave for new employees hired within one year of termination from previous full-time service with the State of ND or another ND County, and to increase hours of independent sick leave from 40 to 80 hours per year. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Additionally, the committee requested a complete roster of departments to be provided for consideration of commission appointments to each individual department. A roster was presented by Smestad. Chairman Nybakken will make appointments based on input he receives by the fellow Commissioners. Appointments will then be reassigned on a yearly basis. Moved by Comm. Walter, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to receive and file the roster and to have the Chairman appoint each Commissioner to individual departments. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. The requested special meeting of the Building Space Committee has been rescheduled from February 14 th to February 21, 2013 at 9 a.m. Moved by Comm. Fjeldahl, seconded by Comm. Walter that the following payroll amendments be approved: Crystal Barbey Correctional Officer (Level 18); Tammy Sattler Correctional Officer (Level 18); Derek Just Juvenile Detention Officer (Level 18); Casey Kenny Correctional Officer (Level 18); Janace Walker Juvenile Detention 12

13 Officer (Level 18); Ismael Liriano Juvenile Detention Officer (Level 18). Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded by Comm. Fjeldahl to appoint Alan Walter to Vision West Committee. Roll call: all voted yes; motion carried. Update was brought forth of House Bill 1298 concerning the funding of the Ward County Jail. Smestad attended the Legislature meeting in Bismarck with several other County officials who spoke on behalf of Ward County. At 12:10 p.m., with no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 13