Commission

The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on May 7, 2019, with the following present: Pine Abrahamson, Rick Braaten, Lynn Brackel, Josh Buchmann and Jerry Jeffers. Chairman Brackel called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

             Brackel asked for corrections or additions to the agenda. Abrahamson requested time to discuss load limits, zoning ordinance for a shooting range, and the location of trees near a county road. Braaten requested time to discuss the county gravel roads around the Scranton area.   Abrahamson made a motion to approve, with Braaten seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

            The following vouchers were approved by a motion made by Jeffers, with Abrahamson seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

            Jeffers made a motion to immediately remove the current road restrictions, with Abrahamson seconding the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried. 

                         Braaten made a motion to approve the April 16, 2019 minutes, with Buchmann seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously. Buchmann made a motion to approve the May 1, 2019 minutes, with Braaten seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

Bowman County Treasurer Anita McLaughlin met to present the April Treasurer’s Report Daily Cash Settlement/Bank Reconciliation report.  Braaten made a motion to approve with Jeffers seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

City of Bowman Park Board members Darwin Wilke and Robert Wokal and director, Chanell Walby are exploring options to purchase the theater.  The park board is inquiring if the county would loan the money to purchase the theater at zero percent interest.  Walby presented the estimated financials, which included the potential purchase price, projected operational costs and projected income.     They will be meeting with the City of Bowman Council members. The park board members will assess the interest of other entities and report back.

Bowman County State’s Attorney Andrew Weiss joined the meeting at 10:25 AM.  Discussion was held on North Dakota Century Code 44-04-22, Conflict of Interest.   Weiss stated that the conflict must be a direct and substantial interest of a commissioner, that would warrant them from abstaining from voting.  

Bowman County Highway Superintendent Shane Biggs, Gary Brennan and Lucas Doerr, from Brosz met to discuss road projects. Discussion was held on the 2019 Chip Seal Bid.  Abrahamson made a motion to approve the low bid of $ 1,088,704.81 for Schedule I, Schedule II, plus Alternate A, B, & C,  pending the  City of Bowman’s acceptance of Schedule II and Alternate C, submitted by Astech Corporation. If the city does not approve Schedule II & C the county will proceed with approval of Schedule I, Alternate A and B. Braaten seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye. Motion carried.

Buchmann made a motion to approve the joint powers agreement with the City of Bowman for the costs of Schedule II and Alternate C, if the bid is accepted by the city.  Braaten seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried. 

Abrahamson made a motion to approve the combined Amor/Grand River Township request for 2-30-foot x 48-inch culverts and 1-30-foot x 24-inch culvert, with the understanding that each township will be assessed twenty-five percent of the cost, with the county’s cost share of fifty percent.  Jeffers seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.

 Biggs provided an inventory of all county owned gravel pits and presented the results of the speed limits recorded on the Gascoyne South road.   

Brennan and Biggs met recently with the Langberg Township supervisors to review their projected project.

Biggs will place a dead end sign on 163^rd Ave, which was requested by John Lee Njos, and place signage on the ninety degree curves on the Loop Road.

At 1:15 pm the bid opening took place for Fencing and Erosion Control for 152^nd Ave SW Schedule I and Schedule II.  The only bid submitted was by Fox Hills Fencing, for Schedule I was $226,400 and Schedule II was for $98,436.25 totaling $324,836.25.  Abrahamson made a motion to approve the bid, with Buchmann seconding the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.

                        Braaten made a motion to approve the Homestead Credit application for a refund of $105.77 for 2018 taxes. The residence is located in Lots 10-11, Block 8, Original Townsite, City of Scranton.  Abrahamson seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.

                        Braaten made a motion to approve the Application for a Rebate of Taxes in the amount of $745.32 for 2018 taxes, as the ownership of the building reverts back from commercial to farm exempt.  The building is located on a 2.0-acre commercial tract, NW1/4 Section 14 Township 131, Range 102. Jeffers seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.

                        Braaten made a motion to approve the April 27, 2019, Bureau of Land Management report. Buchmann seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

.                       Buchmann made a motion to approve the Mutual Aid Agreement with the City of Bowman, with Braaten seconding the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried. 

                        Bowman County Sheriff Frank Eberle and Bowman County Emergency Manager Dean Pearson inquired if the commission would approve safety training on a quarterly or semi-annual basis for staff members.  Buchmann made a motion to conduct mandatory quarterly safety meetings, for all county staff members, with Jeffers seconding.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye. Motion carried.

                        Bowman County Social Service Director Shonda Schwartz joined the meeting for discussion on the new Human Service Redesign, which will allow continued property tax relief.  The commissioners requested Schwartz to draft a Letter of Intent to Adams, Hettinger and Slope County Commissioners, inquiring if they would consider joining with Bowman County to commit to a four county zone, as per the requirements of Senate Bill 2124. Schwartz will submit the Letter of Intent in the near future. 

                        With no further business to discuss, Jeffers made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:55 pm, with Abrahamson seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.                                                                      

                                                                                    Lynn Brackel (s) Chairman

                                                                        Board of Bowman County Commissioners

ATTEST:  Sandra K. Tivis (s) Bowman County Auditor

1. Call to order Chairman Brackel

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Consideration for Approval:

1. Agenda
2. Vouchers
3. May 7, 2019 Minutes
4. Certificate of Deposit Investment Rates

4. Unfinished Business

1.  Senate Bill 2124 – Social Service Resign
2. Unorganized Township Road Maintenance
3. Fencing Policy
4. 2020 Budget Guidelines
5. 2017/2018 Rath & Mehrer, P.C. Audit Report

5. New Business

A.

6. Scheduled Appointments Made in Advance

10:00 AM  Dakota Women’s Correctional Center Warden Rachelle Juntunen

1. Apex Clean Energy Representatives
2. Bowman County Highway Superintendent S. Biggs

                  LUNCH

1:15 PM Bowman County Rural Ambulance Annual Meeting

1.            ~Open at Time of Publication~

            Elected Officials Office Updates & Other

7. Public Notices 

The County Commission has been invited to attend the following events and/or meetings:  

8. Important Meeting Dates

5.       Next Regularly Scheduled Commission Meeting – June 4, 2019 9:00 AM

9. Adjourn

REGULAR COMMISSION BOARD MEETINGS:

The Bowman County Board of Commissioners generally holds its regular monthly meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month beginning at 9:00 AM.  Meetings may be rescheduled from time to time if necessary; see the Meeting Calendar for upcoming meeting dates.

The public is welcome at every meeting.  Appointments are not required but members of the public wishing to address the board are encouraged to contact the County Auditor at (701) 523-3130 for further information.