ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING, RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSION
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2004
9:00 A.M.
The meeting was called to order by Wayne Simon, Chairman. Roll call was taken and the following members were present: Commissioners Belford, Brekke, Berg & Simon. Absent: Commissioner Freije.
The board and visitors present recited the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Belford to approve the minute of the February 17, 2004 meeting. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
After auditing the following bills, motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Berg to approve all bills as submitted & that warrant checks be drawn in payment thereof:
and further that the fees received of the various offices be placed on file as follows:
County State
Sheriff $1,220.68
Clerk of District Court $690.00
County Recorder $6,818.67 $261.00
Roll call vote was taken and the following members voted “AYE”: Commissioners Berg, Brekke, Belford & Simon. Motion carried.
Brenda Langerud, presented information to the board on Kids Voting for the General Election 2004 & the individuals who volunteered to help with the programs are: Wendy McAllister, Jeannie Aasand, LuAnn Stromme, Amy Heilman & Brenda Langerud. They are planning a dance for October 30, 2004 from 9-12 p.m. in the Memorial Building for grades 9-12 with all schools in Ramsey County invited. The board approved the use of the Memorial Building for the dance.
Motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Berg to approve Kids Voting in the election precincts in Ramsey County. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Commissioner Simon updated the board on information received from Duane Hauck, Acting Director, NDSU. NDSU will be sending the commission a letter on their concerns, about hiring a County Agent for Ramsey County. They also would like to have the Food Nutrition Program back in the County Agent’s Office. A committee of Commissioners Berg & Brekke will do the County Agent Office Staff evaluations with Margaret Tweeten.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to pay all payments to Northern Escrow Inc, West St Paul MN, for Cameo Homes Inc. Roll call vote was taken and the following members voted “AYE”: Commissioners Brekke, Berg, Belford & Simon. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Brekke, seconded by Commissioner Berg to approve Abatement #591, in the name of Floyd Anderson, ID#20-0000-06355-000. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Belford to approve Abatement #590, in the name of Paul & Nancy Ellertson, ID#05-4140-02213-000, with land @ $8,500 and structure @ $66,300, as per the recommendation of Creel Township Board & County Tax Director. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Belford to approve Abatement #581, in the name of Clayton & Darla Dammen, ID#28-0000-07626-001, for years 2001 & 2002. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Discussion was held with Mike Hart, Cameo Homes Inc, Grand Forks ND, via telephone, on the following: payments that will be sent to Northern Escrow Inc; the job will be finished 2 weeks from the starting date of May 1, 2004 if weather permits; the cement on landing in front of Memorial Building has shale that is breaking loose. Mike will look at & replace if necessary; remove center sidewalk from plans – this would be a deduct on project; make changes to City Code for railings; review of letters drafted to commission; Mike will fax information to Frank at Lightowler Johnson & Associates on the change order, deducted completion date & extend the agreement to May 15, 2004 on contract, excess shale will be checked by March 16 & reviewed at the March 16, 2004 meeting.
Jerry Ratzlaff, County Tax Director, presented the board with information on Vanguard Appraisals Inc. Workshop to be held in Mankato MN on April 7, 2004. Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Belford to approve Jerry Ratzlaff, County Tax Director to attend the workshop. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
The board was in favor of letting the State Water Commission take the original township field records of Ramsey County for the purpose of copying or scanning for preserving.
The Home Rule Charter Committee members met with the board to discuss which direction they want the committee to proceed, to start from the beginning or move forward from where the last committee left off? Commissioners Belford, Berg, Simon & Brekke recommended the committee move forward and they would support what the committee presented to the board. Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Belford to support the Home Rule Charter Committee. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to approve up to $1,000.00 out of the General Fund for the Home Rule Charter Committees expenses. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Bill Keith, Senior Meals & Services, Rick Anderson & Mike Connor, Senior Meals & Services Board members, discussed with the board the possibility of central locating Health Maintenance/Footcare for the Senior Citizens to Devils Lake. Donna Olson, Region Director, presented her concerns about the smaller Senior Centers & Title III Program. Trudy Ertmann, RSVP, asked that this be studied more. The board will review before any decision is made.
Rick Anderson, North Central Planning, presented a Devils Lake Flood Land Analysis study to the commission on property owners that have lost their land due to the flood waters of Devils Lake. This report was sent to Governor Hoeven, Representative Pomeroy, Senators Dorgan & Conrad.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Belford directing the chairman to write a letter to the Congressional Members on the Devils Lake Flood Land Analysis Study. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Kory Boehmer, on behalf of Bob Homan & Devils Lake Youth Activities Association, spoke with the board on the possibility of having a dance in the Memorial Building, on Saturday April 3, 2004, for the Elks Basketball Tournament, ages 15-20 year olds with a picture identification required. Motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to grandfather in the Elks Basketball Tournament/Dance with no charge for the use of the building. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Brekke, seconded by Commissioner Berg to request a financial report from the Elks Basketball Tournament to determine if non-profit organization. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
The commission decided to visit the Cities of Hampden on March 30, 2004 @ 10:00 am and Crary on April 1, 2004 @ 7:00 pm. Kevin Fieldsend, County Highway Superintendent will contact the cities & townships.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to approve the advertisement proposal on cutting edges for April 6, 2004 @ 11:00 am. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Berg to approve the advertisement proposal for graveling of RC#9 Gravel Project – from RC#3 East 7 miles to RC#4 for April 6, 2004 @ 10:30 am. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to approve weight limits on all county roads to go into effect the same time as the State Highway System. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Discussion on purchasing a used 1997 Ford F150 with 110,000 miles from the Ramsey County Rural Utilities. Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Belford to approve the purchase of the 1997 Ford 150 in the amount of $5,000.00 for the Highway Department. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Berg to table the Northeast Education on Services Cooperative (NESC) discussion until the March 16, 2004 meeting. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Berg to approve the raffle permit submitted by the Landowners Association of North Dakota, drawing to be held December 17, 2004. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to call the Refunding Improvement Bonds of 1995. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Chairman Simon read a letter received from Altru Clinic, Lake Region, that Dr. Rayer has been selected to receive the “Outstanding Rural Health Provider Award” for 2004 from the Dakota Conference on Rural & Public Health, on March 25, 2004 at the Holiday Inn, Fargo ND.
Motion was made by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to hold a class on Open Meetings/Open Records and all appointed boards & Department Heads attend this class. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
Commissioner Belford is setting up a class with the Attorney General’s Office for an open meeting for open record class. He will let the board know when they can present this class.
Motion was made by Commissioner Belford, seconded by Commissioner Brekke to adjourn the meeting until Tuesday, March 16, 2004. All members voted “AYE”. Motion carried.
/s/Wayne Simon
Chairman, Ramsey County Commission
ATTEST:
/s/Elizabeth V. Fischer
Ramsey County Auditor