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Cavalier County commissioners approve drain-tile access, kitchen remodel bid and tax director pay plan
Summary
At the April 7 Cavalier County Commission meeting, commissioners approved a permit for drain tile and electrical access across County Road 13 (with road restoration and culvert-replacement conditions), designated Frost Fire for an EECBG application, accepted a $14,330 kitchen remodel bid, approved a jail agreement and advanced a tax director offer 4-1.
CAVALIER COUNTY, N.D. — The Cavalier County Board of Commissioners met April 7 at the county courthouse and approved several operational and personnel actions, including permission to run drain tile and electricity through County Road 13, designation of a nonprofit for an energy grant application and an offer for the county's next tax director.
Chairman Austin Lafrenz called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. and the board moved quickly through routine items. Commissioner Shane Gallagher moved to approve the agenda and Commissioner Stanley Dick moved to approve the minutes; both motions carried.
The meeting's most substantive public request came from Brandon Downs, who asked to run electricity and install drain tile through County 13 in two locations between Sections 17 and 18 of Moscow Township. Commissioners said they would pay to replace an existing culvert only if it was "rusted out," and approved a motion to allow the work on the condition that the road be restored "to the original condition or better." Commissioner Stanley Dick made the motion; Nick Moser seconded it and the motion carried.
Road Supervisor Terry Johnston also distributed gravel and equipment bid books and the board discussed testing a new road groomer, dust-control options on County 55 through the gorge, hiring for an oil crew and upcoming chip-seal projects. The board reviewed road-operator hours as part of that discussion.
In department updates, Emergency Manager and 911 Coordinator Amber Witzel, Water Board representative Karen Kempert and JDA representative Shannon Duerr reported to the board. Duerr was asked by Chairman Lafrenz to provide more information on tax incentives for new housing construction. Duerr also described the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant (EECBG) process for Frost Fire and offered staff assistance on grant application and administration; Commissioner Nick Moser moved to designate Frost Fire as the county's eligible nonprofit recipient for the program and Shane Gallagher seconded the motion.
On finance and procurement, Commissioner Greg Goodman moved to transfer $3,531 from the Road & Bridge Fund to the Road & Bridge Equipment Replacement Fund; the board approved the transfer. The commissioners also agreed to submit a proxy vote for Nathan Svihovec on the NDIRF board.
Bids for a courthouse kitchen remodel were opened and the board accepted the low bid from Walhalla Building Center for $14,330 (motion by Goodman; seconded by Stanley Dick). Matt Wright reviewed a Grand Forks County jail agreement as presented by county staff, and the board voted to approve that intergovernmental agreement (moved by Nick Moser; seconded by Shane Gallagher).
On personnel, Commissioner Greg Goodman reported that an interview had been completed for the Tax Director position and moved to offer the role at base pay equal to 90% of the previous director's pay with a six-month review; pay would increase to 95'100% after six months contingent on certification as Tax Director. The motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Shane Gallagher voting no. The board also approved funding for Courtney Clouse to take classes to become a certified assessor.
The board reviewed and approved the audit of claims, which included multiple departmental and vendor payments recorded in the minutes (notably an NDPERS health-insurance entry of $138,777.00 among other claims). Finally, at 11:40 a.m. Commissioner Nick Moser moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded by Stanley Dick and carried.
The board recorded its actions in the meeting minutes; next steps noted in the meeting were to share the audit proposal with component units for fee clarification and for JDA staff to follow up on housing-incentive information.
