Commission

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF          

  THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

     BOWMAN COUNTY, BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA

            The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on September 5, 2017, with the following present: Pine Abrahamson, Rick Braaten, Lynn Brackel, Jerry Jeffers and Ken Steiner. 

Chairman Braaten called the meeting to order at 9:05 AM.

Chairman Braaten asked for corrections or additions to the agenda.    Steiner made a motion to approve the agenda, with Jeffers seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

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

            Bowman County State’s Attorney, Stephanie Pretzer, met to present her proposed 2018 Budget.

            Steiner made a motion to approve the Raffle Permit application, submitted by the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association, with the dates of September 1, 2017 to June 18, 2018.  The drawing will be held in the All Seasons Arena.  Abrahamson seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.  

            Jeffers made a motion to approve the duties of the Tax Director and Co-Zoning Directors, as stated in the job descriptions.   Brackel seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.  

            Bowman Economic Development Corporation Executive Director, Teran Doerr and Laura Weber, Business Assistant, met to outline the “Fusion” Business Conference that they are hosting on

November 1- 2, 2017 and inquired if the county would commit to being a sponsor to offset speaker fees and travel expenses.  The commissioners will survey employees to gauge interest and consider a sponsor fee plus a number of conference registration fees.  A decision will be made on September 19, 2017. 

            Bowman County Highway Superintendent, Shane Biggs and Gary Brennan, from Brosz Engineering met to provide updates of road projects.  Brennan completed research on grant funding available through the North Dakota Department of Emergency Management for living snow fences.  Brennan feels that it would be difficult for the county to secure funding.   Discussion followed on state requirements for road projects funded with Surge dollars.  Roger and Arlene Kromarek and Keith and Kenton Johnson, met to discuss the Davis Barn Road, as the dust has become a major problem. Biggs has submitted the project in his 2018 Budget request to re-gravel and chip seal.  Brackel made a motion to adopt the following resolution for assessing fees associated with cleaning out cattle guards.  Jeffers seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.  

Wash Out Cattle Guard: water truck at $120 per hour for labor and travel time; water at $12.00 per thousand gallons from the City of Bowman.  Remove and Clean: loader, backhoe and skid steer at $110.00 per hour for labor. Mobilization of truck/trailer at $120.00 per hour (round trip).  Any additional gravel hauling or hauling away material would be charged at an hourly rate as stated above. Any damages occurred to cattle guard or structure, due to its removal for cleaning, or other materials needed during cleaning, due to no fault of Bowman County, must be brought before the Bowman County Commission.   The county may in its discretion from time to time amend the above fee structure as conditions and circumstances warrant.

            Abrahamson made a motion to authorize Bowman County Highway Superintendent, Shane Biggs, to approve the Utility Permits submitted by Consolidated Telcom, for boring fiber optic cable under 86^th Street SW, between 154^th Avenue SW and 155^th Avenue SW, located in T131N R103W, Sections 8, 17, 18 after a visual inspection of the proposed area.  Steiner seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.  

            Bowman County Treasurer, Anita McLaughlin, met to present the revised July 2017 Treasurer’s Report/Bank Reconciliation Report.   Brackel made a motion to approve the report, with Steiner seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.   McLaughlin presented a lease agreement from Mail Finance, for upgrading to an IH700 Base Meter, at an increase of $28.00 per year.  Brackel made a motion to approve the lease agreement, with Jeffers seconding the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.  Brackel made a motion to approve Anita McLaughlin, as the Bowman County School Superintendent designee, with Abrahamson seconding the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried.  

            Bowman County Emergency Manager, Dean Pearson and Bowman County Assistant Emergency Manager, Karla Germann, discussed the need for fire alarm enhancements and highly recommend that the commissioners approve the automation costs associated with upgrading our system. Discussion followed on the request from Verizon to research options on the county owned radio tower located in Rhame.

            Steiner made a motion to approve the August 15, 2017, minutes with Abrahamson seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously. 

            Bowman County Auditor, Sandra Tivis, met to present her proposed 2018 Budget. 

            Discussion was held in reference to the upcoming hunting season and the dry conditions. Chairman Braaten had previously contacted a representative from the North Dakota Game and Fish to discuss.  They will provide communication to hunters of the extremely dry conditions.

             Brackel made a motion to approve the Energy Infrastructure and Impact Grant application for the Marmarth Road Reconstruction project for funds to offset the projected costs, with Abrahamson seconding the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried. 

Abrahamson made a motion to nominate Sandra Tivis as Bowman County’s 2017 North Dakota Association of Counties delegate.  Steiner seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye.  Motion carried. 

With no further business to discuss, Steiner made a motion at 5:10 PM to adjourn the meeting, with Brackel seconding the motion, and upon a vote the motion was carried unanimously.  

                                                                                    Rick Braaten (s) Board of County Commission 

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

1. Call to order Chairman Braaten

2. Consideration for Approval:

1. Agenda
2. Vouchers
3. August 15, 2017 Minutes
4. Application for Local Raffle Permit – ND High School Rodeo Assoc.

3. Unfinished Business

1. Energy Infrastructure & Impact Office – Marmarth Road Reconstruction Application
2. 2018 Budget

4. New Business

1.  ND Dept. of Public Instruction - Assignment of Duties - County Superintendent of Schools

5. Scheduled Appointments Made in Advance

10:00 AM  Bowman County Office Budget Presentations by Various Depts.

1. Bowman County Treasurer, A. McLaughlin      
2. Bowman Economic Development Corp Exec Director, T. Doerr
3. Bowman County Highway Superintendent S. Biggs

Roger Kromarek          

                  LUNCH

1:15 PM 2018 Budget Discussion

            Elected Officials Office Updates & Other

6. Public Notices 

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

           September 25, 2017 6:30 PM      Bowman/Slope Multi-Harz Mitigation Planning Meeting

                                                                                      Bowman County Courthouse Emergency Operations Center

7. Important Meeting Dates

5.       Next Regularly Scheduled Commission Meeting – September 19, 2017 9:00 AM

VIII.        Adjourn

The Bowman County Commissioners meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, starting at 9:00 AM. Meetings may be rescheduled from time to time if necessary; see the Meeting Calendar for upcoming meeting dates.

To be placed on the agenda with the Commissioners, please contact Bowman County Auditor at 701-523-3130