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Legal Notices 10-25

Minutes of the Board of Ward

County Commissioners

Budget Hearing

July 14, 19, & 27, 2021

Chairman Fjeldahl called the special

budget hearing meeting to order at

8:08 a.m. on July 14, 2021. The purpose

of the meeting was to hear the

2022 Department budget requests.

Present were Comm. Weppler,

Comm. Rostad, Comm. Anderson

and Comm. Pietsch.

County Sheriff Robert Roed appeared

with his departments preliminary

budget. Drug Task Force Grant

matched $11,000 last year but this

year there was no match. Sheriff

Roed is unsure if there will be a

match next year so budgeted

$11,000 for this. In-car cameras

went up $2,000 due to them being

older and having maintenance. Incident

Command trailer up $500 due

to maintenance. The interview room

video and audio recording warranty

ran out so budget includes a maintenance

plan for $1500.00. New World

Maintenance Agreement with the

city increased $6,000. Reserves line

item is new. In prior years it was in

the Emergency Management department

but will now fall under the

Sheriff’s Department in the amount

of $7,500.00. Tower lease of $7,000

was removed as it has not been

used in 7 years. Transports and Civil

Warrants Communications went up

$3,000 in order to issue cell phones

for the investigators as the phones

can become evidence after taking

pictures and be placed as such.

Would like to decrease the part-time

Court Securities budget of $55,419

by half and add a second full-time

position in order to have one-full

time licensed officer on duty at all

times.

Jail Commander Paul Olthoff appeared

with the preliminary budget

for the Juvenile Detention Center.

Office supplies have gone up

$5,000. Since COVID, masks and

gloves are significantly more expensive

leading to this increase. Guardian

software maintenance increased

$2,845. Office equipment increased

$1,300. Looking to add a position to

help with 24-hour scheduling.

Mr. Olthoff continued with reviewing

the County Jail Budget. Office supplies

are up $10,000 as the supply

of shoes and blankets are being depleted.

Uniform increased $50,000

to purchase Officer Safety Gear in

the form of vests to protect staff. Eaton

UPS maintenance for the server

is new at $8,350. New contract with

Trinity is up $24,000. Prisoner

board/meals up $25,000. Jail capacity

is 286 and currently we are

averaging 144 prisoners. Nurse

practitioners would like the jail to

have a nurse on staff which may be

looked at next year with Trinity.

In regard to 24/7, Mr. Olthoff stated

the only changes are increased

salary.

Randall Johnson, Senior Vice

President of Hays Company,

presented a health insurance comparison.

If no changes are made to

the current insurance, Sanford is

proposing a 30% increase.

NDPERS shows a $82,000 increase.

A BCBS option shows a

20.6% increase with $5,000 out of

pocket. BCBS through NDPHIT,

which is a pool, has a 13% increase

with a reserve amount of

$463,056.28 needing to be covered.

If the county went with a self-funded

option, cost would be approximately

$333 per employee but with a pool,

it would be $121 per employee. To

help cut costs, the out of pocket

maximum can be adjusted as well

as high deductible and HRA plans

can be offered. Will plan to work the

NDPHIT option into the budget at

this time and build around it for preliminary

figures.

A 15-minute recess was called at

11:03 AM.

Meeting reconvened at 11:18 AM.

Human Resource Director Tammy

Terras appeared with the preliminary

HR budget. Office supplies and office

equipment have come down due

to the time and attendance project

being mostly completed in 2021.

Contingency is reduced $7,220.95

due to the salary study. Remainder

of budget change is salary and

benefits. Ms. Terras is asking to reclassify

the payroll technician to an

HR generalist with an increase of

$12,427. This will enable Ms. Terras

to cross train duties as well as having

a backup for the other HR generalist.

Kristin Kowalczyk, County Recorder,

presented the Recorder’s Office

2022 preliminary budget. Her budget

remains basically the same with increase

in salary. There are two Administrative

Assistant II positions

and Ms. Kowalczyk would like to

have the positions to be closer in

pay. Rather than a 6% gap she

would prefer a 3% gap which would

be an increase of $1309.

Recess for lunch was called at 11:53

AM.

Session was reconvened at 1:07

PM.

Library Director Kerrianne Boetcher

presented the County Library preliminary

budget for the 2022 calendar

year showing a decrease in book

materials by $2,000. This $2,000

was shifted to library automation to

cover Office 365. Salaries and benefits

are up.

Facilities Management Director Leona

Lochthowe discussed her department

budget with the Commission.

There are 14 full time employees in

her department and she would like

to add another staff to the jail due to

continued increase in maintenance.

Janitorial supplies are up due to COVID.

Ms. Lochthowe stated she added

$32,500 to purchase a new

pickup with a Tommy lift. The 2002

pickup needs a lot of repairs and the

2003 pickup does not have a Tommy

lift. In order to discourage employees

from bring tools from home,

she added $5,000 to the tool budget

to purchase/rent tools. Another addition

in the budget are water fountain

fill stations at $15,600. Repair and

maintenance budget is down.

IT Director Jason Blowers presented

his department’s budget. Overall the

preliminary budget is up $10,000

from last year. Cisco phone system

server upgrade of $25,000 is a new

charge as they no longer support the

hardware in this building. Server

maintenance is due to extended

warranty on the servers rather than

replace the servers at this point for

$4,200. Storage servers for backups

are needed for an amount of

$15,500. Mr. Blowers is requesting

to add an IT Specialist as workflow

is increasing due to expanded personnel,

and server maintenance. Total

budget is up $87,000.

State’s Attorney Roza Larson

presented her departments budget.

Increases include the expert witness

fees and non-expert fees. They have

been budgeted as an increased total

of $24,000. There are increases in

salaries and the final budget is up

$247,000.

Director of Tax Equalization Noreen

Barton presented her departments

2022 preliminary budget to the Commission.

She stated she is budgeting

for a Xerox color printer for $4,600.

The Building Inspector is at 32 hours

and Ms. Barton would like to increase

him to 40 hours. Budget is up

$61,000 which includes salaries.

Planning and Zoning Administrator

Doug Diedrichsen appeared with the

budget for the County Planning &

Zoning. Contingency Miscellaneous

increase of $2,500 for the ordinance

rewrite project for things like publishing.

GIS software is $500.

At 2:57 PM a recess was called by

Commissioner Fjeldahl.

At 3:07 PM meeting reconvened.

County Engineer Dana Larsen reviewed

the Highway Department

budget. He has decreased materials

and supplies by $200,000 due to

limited funding. Highway user revenue

averages about 5 million a year.

Main changes to the budget this

year are salaries and health insurance.

Mr. Larsen also gave an

update on 2022 and 2023 construction

projects.

County Engineer Dana Larsen reviewed

Rushville Township preliminary

budget with the Commission.

The Township is slowly pulling itself

out of the hole since the 2011 flood.

Expenses are being kept around

$25,000 and a payment of $20,000

is the yearly goal to go towards the

debt. There may be grant money in

between $5,000 and $10,000 available.

Mr. Larsen continued with Vision

Zero and stated the budget

remained close to the same with additional

money budgeted for travel.

Mr. Larsen reviewed the Park preliminary

budget. He stated for the

last 5-6 years the budget had been

maintained at $160,000 but this year

it is up $25,000. Additional funds

were budgeted for equipment repairs

and maintenance and park maintenance.

Revenues are about the

same.

Derrill Fick presented the Weed

Control budget which showed a

slight increase for office supplies.

Chemicals up $5,000 with access to

chemicals being challenging. Contract

payments up $4,000. Part-time

salaries went up $6,500 for

seasonal/temporary work. Overall

budget is only up about $2,000.

Emergency Management Director

Jennifer Wiechmann appeared with

her department’s 2022 preliminary

budget. The major change is contract

payments up $65,000 for updates

that are necessary to remain

part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Standard salary and benefit increases.

Larry Haug, 911 Coordinator reviewed

his preliminary budget. Travel

was brought down $2,000 as the

previously budgeted amount had

never been fully used. Central

Dispatch jumped significantly (up

around $83,000) for IT upgrade and

replacements. Mr. Haug stated that

Central Dispatch is looking also for

an additional 3 dispatchers. No other

major changes expected for 2022.

Moved by Comm. Rostad, seconded

by Comm. Weppler to recess at 4:32

PM until 1:00 PM on July 19, 2021.

All voted aye. Motion carried.

Chairman Fjeldahl called the special

budget hearing meeting to order at

1:03 PM on July 19, 2021. Present

were Comm. Weppler, Comm. Rostad,

Comm. Anderson and Comm.

Pietsch.

Emily Burkett, Director of NDSU Extension

Services, reviewed her

department’s budget with the Commission.

She stated travel has been

increased by $3,000 due to the new

horticultural agent moving from part

time to full time and requiring more

travel, educational purposes and

reaching out in the county and state.

Increase in salaries from moving a

part time horticulture agent to a full

time agent. In regard to possible

moving to another facility, space will

need to be addressed for storage.

Ms. Burkett stated afreezer would

need to be on site as well and a

kitchen area would need to be addressed.

When discussing moving

costs to the 900 Building, an estimate

of around $10,000 was given.

Unsure as to the additional costs of

IT items and such.

Bradley Starnes, Director of Veteran

Services presented the 2022 budget.

The first proposal is to move the

Assistant Veterans Service Officer

from 32 hours to a full time position.

Currently there is about a 3-week

wait time that can be reduced to 1-1

¢ weeks with this change of position.

Travel is increased due to having

both Spring and Fall conferences

for accreditations. Office equipment

is holding up well.

Superintendent of Schools Jodi

Johnson stated the change in her

budget is due to salary and health

insurance/benefits.

Planned break at 2:00 was taken.

Reconvened at 2:09 PM.

Bryan Quigley appeared on behalf of

the Lake Region Historical Society

of Kenmare. A new roof is being put

on Hartland Church and insurance

has been added for an increase of

$1,500. Mr. Quigley presented a

$1,000 increase for 2022 bringing

the total requested to $17,000.

Souris Basin Planning Council Executive

Director Lyndsay Ulrickson

appeared with her organizations

budget request of $39,000 which is

an increase of $1,000. SBPC has

helped with a COVID-19 Recovery

Revolving Loan Fund that helps new

as well as established business to

continue to operate (Vision 20/20,

CleanTech, and Hanson Excavating).

They also do interest buy-down

from banks to help companies save

money. SBPC covers 7 counties and

approximately 60-70% of projects

are in Minot with the remainder in

surrounding areas.

David Leite of Ward County Historical

Society appeared to discuss the

$99,116.00 request. Pioneer Village

is now opened up fully. Two new

buildings have been accepted – one

has been made into a military museum

and the second building is called

the Eureka Township Hall. Both

buildings have been renovated. With

the help of Twice Blessed Campaign,

the Ward County Historical

Society received $20,000 to renovate

and put in a bathroom. Twice

Blessed also helped with placement

of handicap ramps throughout the

area. There has been some major

wind damage and repairs have been

started. The Lutheran church does

need a new steeple put on. Burlington

Farmer’s Market will be held on

the premises this fall as well.

Berthold Economic Development requested

$29,500 for 2021 which is

up $4,500. Alecia Neubauer appeared

on their behalf.

De Sour Valley Economic group was

represented by Andy Fimrite. They

are requesting $64,000 to continue

with the Burlington splash pad area –

bathrooms are being worked on

now.

Lisa Klug, Executive Officer of First

District Health Unit presented their

budget which is up approximately

$2,000. Data processing and pharmacy

has gone up as well as

salaries.

Jill McDonald appeared to discuss

the DVCC fund request. The DVCC

is requesting a $5,756 increase for

2022 for a total request of $43,756.

The primary reason is our community

had a gap in offender treatment

programming with Lutheran Social

Services leaving that needed to be

filled due to a requirement by the

state. The offender treatment program

is being added in the upcoming

year and there were fees associated

with the program. Additional

shelter staff is being added due to

operating in multiple locations as

well. There has been a 23% increase

in services over the last year.

In 2020 DVCC provided 2,650 nights

of safety and served 702 individuals

from Ward County.

Mr. Ryan Ackerman appeared to

discuss the Souris River Joint

Board’s budget. Currently SRJB has

construction ongoing that totals $75

million and some of the projects include

the 4th Avenue flood wall, utility

relocations, 2 phases of construction

in the Burlington area, and construction

beginning soon in Terracita

Vallejo. Mr. Ackerman stated that

each dollar of Ward County

Commission’s support of the SRJB’s

budget, approximately $70 is invested

back in Ward County. SRJB is requesting

a 2022 budget of $670,000

which is the same as 2021.

Tom Klein appeared to discuss the

Ward County Water Resource Board

budget request of $4,620,000. The

Resource Board is working on getting

things cleaned up from the flood

yet and finishing up projects.

Kenny Rogers appeared to discuss

ARBI (Assiniboine River Basin Initiative)

2022 request of $7,500 which is

the same as 2021. ARBI has had a

struggling year. ARBI continues to

work on conservation and drainage.

Auditor/Treasurer Marisa Haman reviewed

the Auditor/Treasurer budget.

General supplies are up $200.

Office equipment is up $25,000 for

new office furniture including front

counter. There is an increase in

salaries, retirement, and health insurance.

Under the County budget, property

and liability insurance shows a 25%

increase. Maintenance is up a bit

across the board as well as postage.

Election budget is up for 2022 due to

2022 being an election year.

Makoti Threshers Association requested

$24,000 and no one appeared

on their behalf.

Ryder Historical Society requested

$6,585 and no one appeared on

their behalf.

No one from Kenmare Economic

Development appeared to discuss

their $65,000 budget request.

No one from Makoti Development

Corporation appeared to discuss

their $1,000 budget request.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to recess until

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.

Roll call; all voted yes; motion carried.

Reconvened at 8:10 AM on July 27,

2021; all Commissioners present.

Ms. Haman began the meeting with

the Library. The maximum mills for

the Library is 4 and at the present

the Library is at 4.17 mills. An

amount of $20,500 needs to be taken

off the Library budget to get to 4

mills. Options would be to hold off

on adding to the Bookmobile fund or

keep the Library in the hole and continue

to continue to work out of the

hole. A discussion was held regarding

a possible Budget Amendment

using the Commissioner’s Contingency

Fund.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to reduce the

budget $20,000 to be set aside for

the bookmobile with the intention of

making it up in the following budget

years with possible consideration of

other alternatives. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Historical Societies were next for

discussion. The budget needs to be

brought down $61,701 to be at the

$85,000 level which is the maximum.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Weppler to approve

giving the same amount to each historical

society as last year. Roll call;

all voted yes; motion carried.

Highway Road Operations will need

their budget to be reduced by

$138,000 to stay under the maximum

of 10 mills. Highway Engineer

Dana Larsen stated a couple areas

to look at reducing would be in general

construction or general supplies

and services which goes towards

construction. A discussion was held.

Mr. Larsen stated that if more adjustments

are made within the budget,

he recommends putting the

monies back in to the general construction

fund.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to reduce the

preliminary budget by $138,000 out

of materials, supplies, and services

with recommendation that any excess

remainder from budget cuts be

placed back into this area. Roll call;

all voted yes; motion carried.

Senior Citizens requested amount

had to be reduced due to the limitation

of 1 mill, from $345,000 to

$340,510.

Water Resources was also reduced

from $4,620,000 to $4,225,000 due

to being over their 4 mill limit. A discussion

was held.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to approve

3 mills for Water Resources this

year. Roll call; Pietsch, Anderson,

and Fjeldahl voted yes; Rostad and

Weppler voted no; motion carried.

Ms. Haman continued with the Commission

budget. The contingency

fund is at $250,000. Travel and

training have a combined increase

of $1,500. Salaries for Commissioners

will be treated as the rest of the

staff.

Human Service Zone has a preliminary

budget of $87,000. They went

to their own insurance and are reimbursed

from the state for indirect

services. Discussion on occupancy

of the Human Service Zone on the

upper two floors.

Marisa will reach out to Craig and

find out if there are surplus funds, is

it wise to prepay bonds or not.

Emergency fund is at $735,172.

Marisa questioned if there is a certain

amount they wish the fund to be

at. Currently there is no levy for the

emergency fund. Consensus was to

leave the account as is.

NDSU Extension Center budget to

be left as is as moving expenses will

be done this year. If needed, a budget

amendment can be done.

The 900 Building is in need of an appraisal.

Ms. Haman contacted Craig,

our external auditor, who recommended

an external appraisal so it

would be transparent. Discussion on

using Minot assessor amounts and

comps to help validate the value of

the building. An estimate of $2,000

for the appraisal and may take approximately

3-4 months according to

Engineer Dana Larsen.

In the general cash reserves, the additional

$500,000 that had been added

into the fund is to be removed,

and 1.5 million for the building

should be put into the preliminary

budget. This can be changed with

further direction from the State’s Attorney

or other counsel.

At 9:56 AM with no further business,

the meeting was adjourned.

(October 25, 2021)

Minutes of the Budget Meeting of

the Board of Ward County

Commissioners

September 30, 2021

The Budget Meeting of the Ward

County Commission was called to

order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 10:03

AM with Commissioners, Pietsch,

Rostad, and Weppler present. Also

present were department heads

Bradley Starnes, Dana Larsen, Derrill

Fick, Jason Blowers, Jennifer

Wiechmann, Jodi Johnson, Kerrianne

Boetcher, Kristin Kowalczyk,

Marisa Haman, Noreen Barton,

Robert Roed, Roza Larson, and

Tammy Terras.

Auditor/Treasurer Marisa Haman appeared

and gave an update on what

the Department Heads discussed at

their meeting in regard to budget

cuts. The Auditor Department proposed

a reduction in travel/training

and office equipment of $14,000; HR

Department proposed a reduction in

travel/training of $12,000 as well as

a group agreement to postpone the

salary study implementation until

next year for a savings of $367,000;

Facility Management Department

proposed a reduction of $84,760

with the removal of a new position

and removing water fountains; Jail

Department proposed a reduction of

medical emergency funds of

$75,000; Sheriff’s Department proposed

a total of $39,000 in reductions

covering 9 separate areas; Tax

Equalization Department proposed a

reduction of a printer, software, and

travel/training totaling $9,900; and IT

Department proposed a reduction of

battery backups, informacast tier II

system, and a new position totaling

$90,215. Total proposed reduction

by Department Heads of

$691,875.00 with a mill reduction of

2.05.

Dana Larson, Highway Engineer,

appeared to discuss Highway

Department budget areas and

amounts. Discussion on use of

ARPA funds for decreased revenue

and if these funds can be used for

the Highway Department. Also discussed

spreading the 900 Building

payment over 4 years.

Bradley Starnes, Veterans Service

Director, appeared and stated that

their department would be willing to

wait to move the part-time position

to full time if it would help with the

budget.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to approve a

2.5% step increase and save the

salary study until it is further reviewed

for each of the positions. Roll

call; all voted yes; motion carried.

Comm. Anderson entered meeting

at 11:13 AM

Noreen Barton, Tax Equalization

Director and Jennifer Weichmann,

Emergency Management, appeared

regarding class cost and travel for

Planning and Zoning. Doug Diedrichsen

appeared and explained

budget and travel expenses for the

same.

Jason Blowers appeared regarding

the District Court Capital Project using

a grant and the need to do hard

wiring rather than WIFI. He also

spoke regarding IT Department

equipment and having a large balance

at the end of the year due to

possibly being unable to get PC’s.

Dana Larsen appeared to discuss

tax deed sale profits and foreclosed

property profits. Tax deed sale profits

have been used in the past for

special projects. Foreclosed property

monies go back to those who

have an interest in the property or it

gets sent to unclaimed property

through the state. On foreclosures,

there are no profits.

A discussion was held on the Facilities

Management Utilities budget.

One area that was focused on was

the Repairs and Maintenance section.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch, to reduce the

Facility Utilities Repairs and Maintenance

line item 2506 by $50,000

and also to decrease the Maintenance

Plus cleaning contract from

$28,100 to $12,000, making a total

reduction of $66,100. Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to remove

the jail window film coverings off line

item 2705 from the Office/Jail Building

budget in the amount of $30,000.

Roll call; all voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Chairman Fjeldahl,

seconded by Comm. Pietsch to cut

half 0.48 mill from the Highway

Road Fund which will leave the mill

at 8.5 and bringing a reduction of

$163,551. Roll call; Comm. Pietsch,

Anderson, Fjeldahl, and Weppler all

voted yes; Comm. Rostad voted no;

motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to reduce

funding by 10% to Assiniboine River

Basin Initiative, North Dakota State

Fair, and historical societies. This total

10% reduction amount is

$48,930. Roll call; Comm. Pietsch,

Anderson, Weppler, and Fjeldahl all

voted yes; Comm. Rostad voted no;

motion carried.

Moved by Chairman Fjeldahl,

seconded by Comm. Pietsch to

reduce Economic Development

funding by 10% but to leave Ward

County Advertising and Promotion at

$500. This total 10% reduction

amount is $15,500. Roll call; Comm.

Fjeldahl, Pietsch, Anderson, and

Weppler all voted yes; Comm. Rostad

voted no; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to adopt the

remaining Department Head

changes presented. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to reduce the

medical line item 2812 under the Jail

budget by $50,000. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

State’s Attorney Roza Larson appeared

regarding her department’s

budget. Budgeted $25,000 for

non-expert fees but can take that

down to $10,000 resulting in a

$15,000 savings. Travel budget can

be reduced down to $7,000, saving

$3000. Lastly, contract attorney can

be reduced from $60,000 to $30,000

with decreasing her total budget by

$48,000.

Moved by Comm. Rostad, seconded

by Comm. Weppler to reduce

State’s Attorney budget $48,000 as

directed by Ms. Larson. Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

With all the above reductions, the final

budget will be up 0.33 mills or

$112,000.

At 1:37 PM with no further business,

the meeting was adjourned.

(October 25, 2021)

Minutes of the Budget Meeting of

the Board of Ward County

Commissioners

October 6, 2021

The regular meeting of the Ward

County Commission was called to

order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 9:01

AM with Commissioners, Anderson,

Pietsch, Rostad, and Weppler

present. Also present were department

heads Bradley Starnes, Dana

Larsen, Emily Burkett, Jason

Blowers, Jennifer Wiechmann, Kristin

Kowalczyk, Marisa Haman,

Melissa Bliss, Noreen Barton,

Robert Roed, Roza Larson, and

Tammy Terras.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Weppler to approve

the agenda with the addition of 12I

Renaissance Zone. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to approve

Commission Meeting Minutes on

September 21, 2021 and Budget

Public Hearing Meeting Minutes on

September 23, 2021. Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Rostad, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to approve the

regular bills totaling $156,853.10

and Human Service Zone direct cost

bills totaling $9,134.19. Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

Tammy Terras, Human Resources

Director appeared and asked Kristin

Kowalczyk to present Elizabeth

Pietsch with her 10-year service

award.

Jennifer Wiechmann, Emergency

Management Director, appeared regarding

the Ward County

Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan

Recommendation. Ms. Wiechmann

presented three separate proposals

to choose from. There is a cost

share of 75% FEMA, 10% state, and

15% local. A discussion was held.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to follow the

recommendation of Emergency

Management Director Jennifer

Wiechmann and approve the proposal

from KLJ. Roll call; Comm.

Weppler, Rostad, Pietsch, and

Anderson all voted yes; Comm. Fjeldahl

voted no; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to approve adding

a penalty tied to the contract

with withholding 33% of the compensation

until after the project has

been completed. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Noreen Barton, Tax Equalization

Director, appeared regarding adjustments

to Tax Roll Memorandum.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to approve

adjustments to Tax Roll Memorandum

as presented. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Ms. Barton informed the Commission

that the city of Surrey will be

discontinuing the building inspector

services with Ward County as of November

12, 2021. The city of Surrey

has hired their own inspector. Ms.

Barton was asked to get a copy of

the minutes from the Surrey meeting

regarding this decision.

Dana Larsen, Highway Engineer appeared

regarding Sawyer/Velva

Township Bridge project. Cost share

funding for this project is 80/20.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to approve the

attached North Dakota Department

of Transportation agreement and authorize

the Chairman to sign the

Cost Participation, Construction, and

Maintenance Agreement for Project

No. BRO-0051(055). Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

Discussion on damages relating to

this project will be held in the near

future.

Mr. Larsen presented the County

Road 1 and 2 Pavement Overlay

project which will be using Federal

Aid as well in the Kenmare area.

Moved by Comm. Rostad, seconded

by Comm. Weppler to approve the

attached North Dakota Department

of Transportation agreement and authorize

the Chairman to sign the

Cost Participation, Construction, and

Maintenance Agreement for Project

No. SC-5100(022). Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Doug Diedrichsen, Planning and

Zoning Administrator, appeared regarding

a Plat Application Township

approval for unincorporated Rushville

Township. Mr. Diedrichsen

recommends approval for the Plat

Application for Cordell Poleschook

for the following described property:

Proposed Outlot 2 SW4SW4

12-151-83. The proposed outlot 2 is

6.25 acres. This outlot is for future

residential purposes. Ward County

zoning applies.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to approve as

the Board of Rushville Township the

Plat Application for Cordell

Poleschook as recommended by Mr.

Diedrichsen. Roll call; all voted yes;

motion carried.

Sheriff Robert Roed appeared regarding

an overtime grant contract

from the North Dakota Department

of Transportation.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to approve

and authorize the Chairman to sign

the NDDOT Contract. Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

Human Resource Director Tammy

Terras appeared and discussed the

renewal for the 2022 Dental Provider.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Weppler to reapprove

Delta Dental as the Dental Provider

for 2022 with the increase as

presented. Roll call; all voted yes;

motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to approve the

following payroll amendments: J.

Phillips, Jail; L. Lochthowe, Facilities;

S. Tyler, Facilities; P. Thomas,

Jail; H. Nygard, Jail. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to remove the

Vaccine Passport issue from the

table. Roll call; all voted yes; motion

carried.

Jeff A. Hoverson appeared and

presented two resolutions regarding

the Vaccine Passport issue.

Lisa Clute from First District Health

District appeared and disagreed with

the resolutions as presented.

State’s Attorney Roza Larson stated

she is still waiting to hear from the

Attorney General on this issue.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to receive

and file both Version 1 and Verson 2

of the resolution. Roll call; all voted

yes; motion carried.

Auditor/Treasurer Marisa Haman appeared.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to receive and

file the following Correspondence:

Letter from Bolton & Menk regarding

Southwest & Southeast Connector

Corridor Study; Letter from United

Agronomy on Anhydrous Ammonia

testing; Letter and emails from Office

of Local Defense Community

Cooperation on noise impact; Order

from Public Service Commission on

Tree and Shrub Mitigation Specification.

Roll call; all voted yes; motion

carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to select

Western Agency for

Property/Liability Insurance beginning

with the January, 2022 policy

and Western Agency would be

renewed with the July 2022 policy.

The policies would be reviewed for

proposals again in 3 years. Roll call;

all voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to approve the

Roger Ward Moving quote of

$14,125 to move the NDSU Extension

Center to the 900 Building with

disassembling and reassembling

desks and fund it using Revenue

Loss dollars from the American Rescue

Plan Act. Roll call; all voted yes;

motion carried.

Holly Arnold, Parent Educator,

NDSU Extension Service appeared

regarding the Annual Grant Agreement

between Ward County and

NDSU. There was a discussion on

amount of funds that were to be received.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to table this

agreement in order to get a better

clarification on what funds Ward

County is to receive. Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

Emily Yanish spoke by phone regarding

the Youthworks Attendant

Care Contract.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to approve the

Youthworks Memorandum of Understanding

that has been brought forth

allowing Youthworks to place

non-Ward County custodial youth.

The date of the contract is from October

6, 2021 through December 31,

2022. Roll call; all voted yes; motion

carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Pietsch to remove

from the table the NDSU Agreements

as clarification was brought

back by Holly Arnold. Roll call; all

voted yes; motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to approve

signing the Annual Grant Agreement

between Ward County and North

Dakota State University as presented.

Roll call; all voted yes; motion

carried.

Discussion on the budget was held

and the use of ARPA funding and

loss of revenue. A special meeting

has been set for 10:00 AM Friday,

October 8, 2021 to address Motions

1-3.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to approve

the recommendation of setting

minimum sales prices by taking the

taxes owed including penalty and interest

x 20% plus realtor commission.

Roll call; all voted yes; motion

carried.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to approve the

extension of the Renaissance Zone

Program. Roll call; Weppler, Rostad,

Anderson, and Fjeldahl voted yes;

Pietsch voted no; motion carried.

Comm. Weppler attended the September

28, 2021 Foreclosure Committee

meeting. No final action was

taken.

At 11:03 AM with no further business,

the meeting was adjourned.

(October 25, 2021)

Minutes of the Budget Meeting of

the Board of Ward County

Commissioners

October 8, 2021

The special meeting of the Ward

County Commission was called to

order by Chairman Fjeldahl at 10:02

AM with Commissioners, Anderson,

Pietsch, Rostad, and Weppler

present. Also present were department

heads Dana Larsen, Emily

Burkett, Jason Blowers, Kristin

Kowalczyk, Marisa Haman, Melissa

Bliss, Noreen Barton, Robert Roed,

Roza Larson, and Tammy Terras.

Auditor/Treasurer Marisa Haman appeared

to discuss the meeting she

had with the external auditor regarding

American Rescue Plan Act funds

and placing $112,400 back into the

budget as other income to bring the

levy back to where it was last year.

The only change was the levy total

for the general fund. The total

amount of revenue lost for Ward

County is $3,687,149.

Ms. Haman stated Eryn from National

Association of Counties may be

able to take part in a phone call with

the task force regarding use of

ARPA funds and Ms. Haman will try

to arrange this.

Moved by Comm. Weppler, seconded

by Comm. Rostad to adopt the

Ward County Budget for calendar

year 2021 at a grand total of

$55,503,112. Roll call; all voted yes;

motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Pietsch, seconded

by Comm. Anderson to adopt the

Ward County 2021 levied amount of

$17,309,148. Roll call; all voted yes;

motion carried.

Moved by Comm. Rostad, seconded

by Comm. Weppler to approve the

2021 Ward County budgets and tax

levies spread against the taxable

property of Ward County. Roll call;

all voted yes; motion carried.

At 10:20 AM with no further business,

the meeting was adjourned

(October 25, 2021)

Notice of Public Hearing

A public hearing will be held November

16th, 2021 regarding vacation

of a section line described as

follows: Beginning at a point 45 feet

South of the Northwest corner of

Section 17 or the Northeast corner

of Section 18 in Township 155 N,

Range 83 W; Thence running South

along the section line to the Southern

boundary of the NWNW of said

Section 17 and the Southern boundary

of the NENE of said Section 18.

The hearing will be during the regular

Commission meeting which begins

at 9:00 AM in the Commission

Chambers located at 225 3rd St SE.

(October 25, 2021)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF THE

DISSOLUTION OF CHECKING

FOR CHARITY, LLC

1. Please take notice that Checking

for Charity, LLC, a North Dakota

no-profit limited liability company

with a registered office in Minot,

North Dakota, is in the process of

dissolving pursuant to North Dakota

Century Code Sec. 10-19.1-110.

2. Notice of intent to dissolve was

filed with the North Dakota Secretary

of State on October 12, 2021.

3. Claims against the corporation, if

any, must be presented to the corporation

in writing within 90 days of

the first date of publication of this

notice, January 16, 2022, or other

date as specified by law, and directed

to Matthew H. Olson, Pringle &

Herigstad, P.C., P.O. Box 1000,

Minot, ND 58702-1000

3. All claims by creditors or

claimants must be received on or

before 90 days of the first date of

publication of this notice. Any creditor

or claimant who fails to file a

claim on or before 90 days from the

first date of publication of this notice,

and all those claiming through or

under the creditor or claimant are

forever barred from suing on that

claim or otherwise realizing upon or

enforcing it except as otherwise provided

in Section 10-19.1-124, North

Dakota Century Code.

(October 18-25 November 1-8,2021)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

COUNTY OF WARD IN DISTRICT

COURT NORTH CENTRAL

JUDICIAL DISTRICT

In the Matter of the Estate of Patrick

J. Schaan, Deceased

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that:

1. Carrie Peterson has been appointed

personal representative of

the Estate of Patrick J. Schaan.

2. All persons having claims against

Patrick J. Schaan are required to

present their claims within three (3)

months after the date of the first

publication of this notice or said

claims will be forever barred.

3. Claims must either be presented

to Carrie Peterson, personal

representative of the estate, at P.O.

Box 998, Minot, ND 58702-0998, or

filed with the Court.

Dated October 21, 2021 Carrie

Peterson Personal Representative

(October 25, November 1-8, 2021)

SUMMONS

Civil No. 51-2021-CV-01673

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA IN

DISTRICT COURT

COUNTY OF WARD NORTH

CENTRAL JUDICIAL DISTRICT

ProCollect Services, LLC,

Plaintiff,

vs.

Donna E. Carter,

Defendant.

THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED

DEFENDANT:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED

and required to appear and defend

against

the Complaint in this action, which is

herewith served upon you, by serving

on the undersigned an Answer

or other proper response within

twenty-one days after service of this

Summons upon you, exclusive of

the day of service. If you fail to do

so, judgment by default will be taken

against you for the relief demanded

in the complaint.

Dated October 21, 2021.

/s/ Christopher A. Carlson

Christopher A. Carlson (id #03378)

PO Box 1097

Bismarck ND 58502-1097

701-258-4800

carlsonlaw@qwestoffice.net

Attorney for the Plaintiff

(October 25, November 1-8, 2021)

SUMMONS

Civil No. 51-2021-CV-01675

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA IN

DISTRICT COURT

COUNTY OF WARD NORTH

CENTRAL JUDICIAL DISTRICT

ProCollect Services, LLC,

Plaintiff,

vs.

Donna E. Carter,

Defendant.

THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED

DEFENDANT:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED

and required to appear and defend

against

the Complaint in this action, which is

herewith served upon you, by serving

on the undersigned an Answer

or other proper response within

twenty-one days after service of this

Summons upon you, exclusive of

the day of service. If you fail to do

so, judgment by default will be taken

against you for the relief demanded

in the complaint.

Dated October 21, 2021.

/s/ Christopher A. Carlson

Christopher A. Carlson (id #03378)

PO Box 1097

Bismarck ND 58502-1097

701-258-4800

carlsonlaw@qwestoffice.net

Attorney for the Plaintiff

(October 25, November 1-8, 2021)

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