2/15/2006 – Public Notices
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BENSON COUNTY
NORTH DAKOTA
January 17, 2006
The Benson County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 9 a.m. Commissioners present were Jason Lee, Curtis Hvinden, Ed Ripplinger and Barry Cox. Dwain Brown was absent.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ripplinger.
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Hvinden, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 3, 2006. All members voted yes. The motion carried unanimously.
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Hvinden, to reappoint Barry Cox to the Devils Lake Basin funding committee for a period of two years.
All members voted yes. The motion carried unanimously.
The board reviewed a proposed haul road release on project
#AC-ND-3-002(076)255 and discussed whether or not to approve the same. Information was provided that the state of North Dakota recommended six loads of gravel be put on the roadway one mile west of York, south 10.5 miles to county road CMC-0314 and ND 30 just north of Harlow.
The board reviewed a memo from Dave Leftwich, ND DOT, dated January 10, 2006, regarding the future county federal aid program.
The board also reviewed the minutes from the December 8, 2005, meeting of the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource District Board along with a Devils Lake Basin Elevation & Flows Chart, a list of monthly board meetings and a memo from Michael Connor dated January 5, 2006, with attached information regarding the Tolna Coulee Cleanout Project special meeting.
Doris Randle, county recorder, met with the commissioners to question why they opposed annexing the Benson County Highway Department and the Social Welfare Economic Assistance Building into the city of Minnewaukan. Payment of the user fee to the city of Minnewaukan was discussed. The board opposed the annexation due to possible special assessments or other additional costs involved.
The board revisited the issue of signing the haul road release on project #AC-ND-3-002(076)255. Lee stated that approximately 30 loads of gravel are needed on the roadway and he opposed signing the release if only six loads of gravel would be placed on the road. He stated the gravel should be put into place by Close Construction. A motion was made by Lee to not sign the proposed haul road release.
Ripplinger stated that eight loads of gravel was put on the roadway by Close Construction last summer and the state of North Dakota will not restore a road to a better condition than it was when the project was started. He commented that the road between the gravel pit by Baker and the new Hwy. #281 is currently being used as a haul road and this road will need some improvements when hauling is complete.
Ripplinger stated he thought the haul road release should be signed.
Chairman Ripplinger asked for a second to the motion made by Lee. The board agreed to table the motion until later into the meeting.
Todd Allmaras, Nodak Communications, met with the board and gave an update on the radio communications tower. He stated everything is complete with the tower except for some work in the building. He discussed the costs of upgrading from an analog system to a digital system. A motion was made by Cox, seconded by Hvinden, to go with the analog system that is able to be updated to digital. All members voted yes. The motion carried unanimously. Nodak Communications will be installing the necessary equipment.
The board again considered the motion by Lee regarding signing the haul road release on project #AC-ND-3-002(076)255. Further discussion was held on the issue. The motion was again tabled until later into the meeting.
Ellen Huffman met with the board regarding ag values in Benson County. She presented the agricultural value per acre for the 2006 assessment report from the state of North Dakota which indicated the agricultural values in Benson County are low by 8.3%. She stated any changes needed could be made in June, 2006.
Huffman also presented the board with two Applications for Inundated Agricultural Land on parcels 33-0000-08230-000, 37-0000-09057-000 and 37-0000-09058-000. A motion was made by Hvinden, seconded by Lee, to approve the applications. All members voted yes. The motion carried unanimously.
The board reviewed the Road and Railroad Crossing Inventory prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
Ralph Olson met with the board and gave input on the abandonment of a portion of old Hwy. #281 south of the Minnewaukan dump ground.
The board again considered the motion by Lee regarding signing the haul road release on project #AC-ND-3-002(076)255. The motion died for lack of a second. A motion was made by Cox, seconded by Hvinden, to have the chairman sign the haul road release requesting 30 loads of gravel be provided which will be placed on the roadway by Benson County. Roll call vote: Lee – no; Hvinden – yes; Cox – yes; Ripplinger – yes.
At 11 a.m. the board met with the ND DOT along with various representatives from the city of Minnewaukan and the townships which are affected by the closing of the old Hwy. #281. Others present
were: Corey O’Connell, Riggin Township; Tom Schmid and Roger Roberts, Lallie Township; Fay Huffman and Francis Schneider Jr., West Bay Township; Kevin Fieldsend, Ramsey County Highway Department; Wanda Teigen, Benson County Highway Department; Morris Holen Jr., Wold Engineering; Richard Peterson, city of Minnewaukan; Ardon Herman and Arland Halvorson, Normania Township; Ralph Olson, Maddock School District; and Brad Darr and Scott Zainhofsky, ND DOT. Darr again explained to the board that the state of North Dakota will be abandoning the old portion of Hwy. #281 when the new roadway is complete. Huffman stated that West Bay Township cannot afford to maintain any portion of the roadway. O’Connell stated Riggin Township would like to see the portion of the roadway in that township left open, but the county would need to maintain it. The representatives from Normania Township asked that the roadway stay open until it floods. Teigen stated that FEMA has denied all requests for repairs on the roadway. Peterson stated the roadway coming into Minnewaukan needs to be built up and requested an overlay be put on the roadway from the boat ramp south of Minnewaukan to D Street. The group discussed placing gravel on the bridges. Peterson was concerned that the portion of the road north of Minnewaukan be kept open for fishing and tourism. O’Connell questioned why the roadway could not be kept open until it is inundated with water. Any portions inundated could then be closed off by the county. Holen stated the estimated costs to have the bridges on old Hwy. #281 repaired is $1.5 million. It was concluded that each of the affected townships and the city of Minnewaukan prepare a written request or complete a map showing what portions of the roadway should be kept open and what repairs are needed. The Benson County Highway Department would then invite representatives from FEMA to come meet with the board at its regularly scheduled meeting on February 7, 2006.
The motion carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
Bonnie Erickson
Benson County Auditor
Ed Ripplinger
Chairman
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BENSON COUNTY
NORTH DAKOTA
January 26, 2006
The Benson County Commissioners met in special session with representatives from FEMA and the State of North Dakota on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck, North Dakota. Commissioners present were Curtis Hvinden, Dwain Brown, Jason Lee and Barry Cox. Ed Ripplinger was absent. Others present were:
Lonnie Hoffer and Don VanBeek, ND DES; Richard Bardsley and Owen Brenden, FEMA Region 8; Morris Holen Jr. and Herb Bargmann, Wold Engineering; Wanda Teigen and Gene Hager, Benson County Highway Department; Richard Anderson, North Central Planning Council; Dave Leftwich, ND DOT; Lance Gaebe, Office of the State Governor; and Roger Free and Tom Bush, FEMA Region 8 representatives (via telephone). The purpose of the meeting was to review the status of pending PW projects in Benson County.
Hoffer opened the meeting. Anderson presented a list of pending PW projects for Benson County. Hager commented that several 2004 PW projects have yet to be approved and completed. He discussed the need for a crossing between old Hwy. #281 and the new Hwy. #281. Free explained that FEMA believes Devils Lake will continue to rise and the money for repair of roads needs to be spent wisely. Therefore, FEMA is reluctant to put any money into the old Hwy. #281. Wold Engineering gave input on the bridge elevations on old Hwy. #281.
Hager requested that, even though there was a buyout on the bridge on 55th St. NE, FEMA consider approving reconstruction of the bridge so there will be a crossing between the old Hwy. #281 and the new Hwy.
#281. He questioned when FEMA would have a decision on this issue.
Free stated that the approximate time period for a decision would be 30 days. Leftwich asked if the project would be approved if the beams on the bridge were built to 1455′.
Free explained to the group that the county cannot use "transfer of function" money for equipment purchases as it must be used for adjacent roadways. He recommended that plans for projects in Benson County in the future be made for the ultimate lake elevation of 1460′
so money will not be wasted. Anderson questioned whether or not "transfer of function" dollars could be used for planning for a lake elevation of 1460′. Hager stated that if the bridge on 55th St. NE was repaired, the bridge on the Brinsmade Road could be abandoned.
Free concluded by stating that PW projects 461 and 678 will be approved in the very near future.
Meeting adjourned.
Bonnie Erickson
Benson County Auditor
Curtis Hvinden
Vice Chairman
AGENDA
MINNEWAUKAN SCHOOL BOARD
February 15, 2006 – 6:30 p.m.
I. Call to order
II. Additions to and approval of agenda
III. Delegations and communications. A. Opportunity for public to speak IV. Reading and approval of the minutes V. Presentation of bills VI. Reports and audit report. A. General Fund; B. Special Fund; C.
Hot lunch; D. Capital projects
VII. Old business. A. Wellness plan; B. Negotiations; C. Lighting and energy saving proposal; D. Discussion about a new van; E. NESC documents and commitment agreement; F. Tuition student VIII. New business. A. Superintendent’s evaluation; B. Vo Tech agreement; C. School visitation report; D. Student behavior at games IX. Principals’ reports X. Next meeting date and time XI. Adjournment (Publish Feb. 15, 2006)
MINUTES OF MEETING
ESMOND CITY COUNCIL
February 7, 2006
A regular meeting of the Esmond City Council was held February 7,
2006 at 7 p.m. at the Esmond City Hall. Present were Mayor Estagen Zimmerman, council members June Olson, Eris Hoffner, Ron Lauinger and Walter Norman and city auditor Misti Arnold.
A motion was made by Eris Hoffner, seconded by June Olson, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 2, 2006. The motion carried unanimously.
A motion was made by Ron Lauinger, seconded by Eris Hoffner, to pay all approved bills. The motion carried unanimously. Bills paid were as follows:
Terry Schwab $404.43
Misti Arnold 554.10
ND Telephone Co. 52.64
Otter Tail Power Co. 754.70
Benson Co. Farmers Press 49.92
Waste Management 1,246.91
Internal Revenue Service 516.37
Postmaster 105.85
State Treasurer – Audit 200.00
ND Dept. of Health 2,446.00
ND Rural Water 50.00
Farmers Union Oil Co. 1,349.18
Esmond City Park Board 79.74
Misti Arnold 10.90
Ecolab 132.50
Benson Co. Hwy. Dept. 360.00
Mayor Estagen Zimmerman made the suggestion on water rates being raised. June Olson suggested tabling the discussion until the next regular meeting on March 6, 2006 at 7 p.m. All were in favor.
Mayor Estagen Zimmerman suggested having a city cleanup week with use of the dumpground being free of charge. This will be done before the all-school reunion. Estagen also commented on having the weeds cleaned out along curbs and sprayed. He also suggested getting new banners that will hang on the light poles before the reunion. He will check on prices and bring the information to the next meeting.
Mayor Estagen Zimmerman suggested getting bids for a new door for the old jailhouse and a wall and door to be put in the city hall. Walter Norman will be calling to get bids on these projects.
Mayor Estagen Zimmerman suggested moving the fuel tank up from the basement of the city auditorium to the back room. This would help with filling and the flow of the fuel. Estagen has a tank that he will put in. He will also install a new thermostat switch.
Mayor Estagen Zimmerman made a suggestion that the city’s pickup is in need of new brakes. He will check on prices and bring the information to the next meeting.
Mayor Estagen Zimmerman informed the council that Kitty Engel will be holding an auction in the city auditorium on March 4, 2006. He will inform her on the $100 charge for use of the building.
Written resignations from council members Ron Lauinger and June Olson were presented to the mayor. Walter Norman made a motion to accept the resignations. Eris Hoffner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, March 6, 2006 at 7 p.m.
A motion was made by Walter Norman, seconded by Eris Hoffner, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
Misti Arnold
City Auditor
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