A conflict with the North Dakota Century Code prevented Ward County Commissioners from acting on one item of their proposed agenda during Tuesday's regular session.

A public hearing was scheduled for a proposed change to the county's Home Rule Charter. The proposed amendment was submitted by State's Attorney Roza Larson during the Nov. 3 regular meeting. However, commissioner John Fjeldahl informed fellow commissioners at the beginning of Tuesday's meeting that the county was not in compliance with state requirements for holding a public hearing on the matter and therefore the issue could not be resolved at Tuesday's meeting.

In discussion that followed, Larson told the commissioners that the state requires a minimum of a 20-day notice from the time of first reading of a proposed change to the county's Home Rule Charter until a public hearing can be held. During the discussion, chairman Bruce I. Christianson admonished County Auditor Devra Smestad.

"It is imperative that all public notices be accurate. There's no excuse they not be," said Christianson. "Please proof your notes."

The proposed amendment to the Home Rule Charter would allow the commission to conclude tax levies and tax rates during "October meetings" rather than "not later than the 1st day of October" each year.

A public hearing on the proposed change to the Home Rule Charter will be scheduled at a later time.

In other matters, commissioners accepted a bid approved by County Engineer Dana Larsen for the purchase of three motor graders and one three-quarter ton survey vehicle. All had been included in the 2010 budget.