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Mercer County Commission
Minutes
April 16, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM MT by Chairman Latimer
with all members present, including Commissioner Bitterman and
Commissioner Entze.
Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman
to approve the agenda as presented. All members voted “Aye”, motion
carried.
Motion made by Commissioner Bitterman, second by Commissioner Entze
to approve the minutes of the April 2nd meeting as presented. All
members voted “Aye”, motion carried.
Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman
to approve the payment of bills in the total amount of $68,807.46.
All members voted “Aye”, motion carried. A detailed list of
expenditures by check is available for review at the Auditor’s
Office during regular business hours.
Motion made by Commissioner Bitterman, second by Commissioner Entze
to approve the March Sheriff’s Fee Report in the amount of
$18,843.75. All members voted “Aye”, motion carried.
Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman
to approve the march Recorder’s Fee Report in the amount of
$14,758.46. All members voted “Aye”, motion carried.
Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman
to approve the liquor license application of Mel Roth for Hazen Bay
Express, semi-annual off-sale beer with Sunday opening. All members
voted “Aye”, motion carried.
Motion made by Commissioner Bitterman, second by Commissioner Entze
to approve the liquor license application of Kit Henegar, Captain
Kit’s DBA Lago Vista Cantina, annual on-sale beer. All members voted
“Aye”, motion carried.
The commission reviewed the monthly NDSU Extension Highlights. No
further action taken.
The commission reviewed the outstanding road accounts report. One
account is approaching six months with no payment activity. This may
be addressed further at the next meeting.
The commission reviewed the monthly financial statements. No further
action taken.
The commission reviewed the written quarterly reports of the County
Health Nurse and Superintendent of Schools. No further action taken.
The commission reviewed proposed election board compensation amounts
and comparisons from neighboring counties for the 2008 Primary
Election. Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner
Bitterman to approve election board compensation at the rate of
$7.25/hour for election clerks, $8.50/hour for election judges, and
$9.00/hour for election inspectors. Compensation will be reduced for
anyone who does not attend the training session as required. All
members voted “Aye”, motion carried.
Richard Sorenson, Public Administrator, reviewed zoning matters with
the commission. Paula Gores, Dakota Westmoreland Corporation,
appeared before the commission to answer questions that may arise
and display detailed maps regarding a temporary use permit
application. Motion made by Commissioner Bitterman, second by
Commissioner Entze to approve Temporary Use Permit Number 402 to
Dakota Westmoreland Corporation for installation of ground
monitoring wells, as required by the Public Service Commission,
located in Sections 21 and Section 22, T143N, Range 88W. Three sites
will include three wells at each with work limited to daylight
hours, and when no longer in use all wells to be filled and
reclaimed in accordance with state mining regulations. Permit
expires when the wells are no longer required by the Public Service
Commission. All members voted “Aye”, motion carried. Ms. Gores will
be attending upcoming meetings to present setback waiver requests
and other matters as they arise.
The commission received an appraisal report with regards to possible
easement purchase. The report will be reviewed and if the matter is
to be pursued further the next step would be to prepare deeds for
presentation to affected property owners.
The commission was informed that the Conferment of Benefits from the
ND Insurance Reserve Fund has been received in the amount of
$22,584.00 based on premium, length of membership and claimed
losses.
Motion made by Commissioner Bitterman, second by Commissioner Entze
to amend the 2006 Sheriff’s Game & Fish Budget in the amount of
$2,174 to maintain compliance with the ND Century Code. Expenditures
exceeded appropriations as a result of increased contributions and
costs to the program.
Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman
to approve Resolution Authorizing Intergovernmental Agreement and
Intergovernmental Agreement between McLean County, Mercer County,
the City of Underwood, and Stutsman County at the request of Great
River Energy for purpose of issuing bonds to refinance the costs of
several projects. The agreement was approved by McLean County on
April 15, 2008. All members voted “Aye”, motion carried. The
resolution and agreement are filed in the office of the County
Auditor and are available for review during regular business hours.
Motion made by Commissioner Bitterman, second by Commissioner Entze
to approve two (2) Quit Claim Deeds conveying property taken by
county tax deed to the City of Beulah at a cost of $1.00 per parcel.
Property is described as Lot 4, Blk 7 Prairie Hills 3rd Addition to
Beulah and Lot 5, Blk 5, Prairie Hills 3rd Addition to Beulah. All
members voted “Aye”, motion carried.
Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman
to open the public hearing requested by Basin Electric Power
Cooperative as required by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility
Act relating to bond issuance. All members voted “Aye”, motion
carried. Mark Foss, Attorney for Basin Electric Power Cooperative,
appeared to request the commission consider a Resolution Approving
the Issuance of Bonds. No public comments were received. Mr. Foss
indicated a definite time frame has not been established to issue
the bonds due to volatile market conditions. Motion made by
Commissioner Bitterman, second by Commissioner Entze to approve the
Resolution Approving Issuance of Bonds as requested by Basin
Electric Power Cooperative. All members voted “Aye”, motion carried.
The resolution is filed in the office of the County Auditor and is
available for public review anytime during normal business hours.
Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman
to close the public hearing. All members voted “Aye”, motion
carried.
The commission recessed at 10:08 AM MT.
The commission reconvened at 10:23 AM MT with all members present.
The commission reviewed road issues with Roy Braun, Highway
Department Superintendent, Joe Retterath, Highway Department Project
Manager, and Steve Mamer, Interstate Engineering. Motion made by
Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner Bitterman to approve
Utility Occupancy Application and Permit #1122(08) of West River
Telecommunications for bored installation of telecommunication
facilities to a new house 71st Ave NW. All members voted “Aye”,
motion carried. Motion made by Commissioner Bitterman, second by
Commissioner Entze to approve Utility Occupancy Application and
Permit #1123(08) of Roughrider Electric Cooperative for installation
of underground line on through 8th Street SW approximately 4 miles
west of Beulah. All members voted “Aye”, motion carried. Braun
estimated approximately one more week for the crews to finish
tarring the county highways and they would then address repairs to
the Schields Bridge as the new plank has arrived. Braun also
informed the commission of a letter received from the Coteau
Properties Company regarding an upcoming application for bond
release of areas of T145N, R86W, and the opinion and acceptance of
matters required by the Public Service Commission. This matter will
be reviewed in more detail in the future. Retterath informed the
commission he has been watching the vehicle market for a
truck/tractor-tanker for water purposes. The commission asked him to
keep watching and that he specifically watches for anything with a
6000 gallon capacity or greater. Chairman Latimer asked Braun to
review the cemetery property maintained by the county for
maintenance prior to the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. Mamer
addressed the commission with concerns relating to the recent fire
which did damage to the building housing county radio equipment. He
asked the commission to consider some type of scoria/gravel buffer
zone around the building to try to avoid similar damage in the
future. Motion made by Commissioner Entze, second by Commissioner
Bitterman to approve the County Township Road Mileage Certification
of 419 miles of “unorganized” township miles. All members voted
“Aye”, motion carried.
Joe Friedlander, Jim Melchior, and Jerry Becker, The Coteau
Properties Company, met with the commission to update them on the
upcoming movement of the dragline from the north mine area to the
west mine area. The planned move will cause County Road 15 to be
closed to through traffic from approximately May 9th – 13th. The
dragline then is proposed to cross County Road 26 from May 15th –
19th however a detour route will be established for this proposed
road crossing. Coteau has been making contact with affected
landowners and is publicly noticing all individuals of the proposed
road crossings and its effects on travel. Coteau will work with the
county to make sure necessary repairs to the roadways are completed
as soon as possible after the dragline has crossed.
There being no further business before the commission, on motion
duly made and seconded the meeting was adjourned at 11:28 AM MT.
The next regular meeting of the commission will be May 7, 2008, at
the Mercer County Courthouse, Stanton, North Dakota.
Approved: ____________________________
Lyle L. Latimer, Chairman
Attest: ______________________________
Monte J. Erhardt, Auditor
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