11-15-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes-November 15, 2004 2818 12. JAIL, Interactive Video Arraianments/Hearinas Glenn Ellingsberg, Jail Administrator, was present to give a progress report on interactive video arraignments. Also present was Chris Iverson, who is temporarily serving as state court administrator in this judicial district. Mr. Ellingsberg met recently with District Court Judges Georgia Dawson and John Irby, State's Attorney Birch Burdick, and Assistant State's Attorney Mark Boening to discuss the delay in the implementation of video arraignments. He said equipment issues and decisions on the various forms involved in the process have now been resolved, and Judge Dawson has set a tentative starting date of December 3rd to begin video arraignments. Implementing this program will reduce inmate transportation costs and staff time. 13. FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION, Return of arant funds County Engineer Keith Berndt was present along with Wayne Hokenson from the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management, and Irv Rustad, Lake Agassiz Regional Council, to discuss the return of some $2 million in hazard mitigation grant funds. According to Mr. Berndt, the grant funds can no longer be used to acquire flood-prone property along the Red and Wild Rice Rivers to create a public greenway, due to a change in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policy regarding the acquisitions. Mr. Berndt provided written background information on this situation in a memorandum to the county commission dated November 5, 2004. He said a considerable amount of time was spent meeting with landowners and appraising property; however, the policy constraint from FEMA makes acquisitions impractical. He recommends notifying the State Emergency Management Office that Cass County is unable to expend the grant funds, and the State would have the ability to apply one of the grants for one million dollars to another local flood mitigation project. The other one million dollar disaster grant originated with another year's funds that apparently cannot be applied toward any other mitigation project in Cass County. Mr. Hokenson said the State Division of Emergency Management has supported the use of one of the grants for the south Fargo proposed diversion project, and he feels quite certain this money will stay in the Cass County and Fargo area. He said the second grant could be used in other parts of the State for existing programs approved in the appropriate timeframe; however, no other project in Cass County is eligible for that grant at this time. MOTION, passed Mr. Wagner moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to authorize the chair to sign a letter to advise the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management that Cass County will be unable to spend the FEMA grants authorized for the acquisition of river property (greenway) along the Red and Wild Rice Rivers. The funds will not be spent due to the 2004 restrictions added to the grants. The letter further indicates that Cass County would strongly support and encourage the use of the funds for other flood mitigation project(s) in Cass County. Discussion: If possible, Mr. Bennett said he would like to know what area of the state receives the second disaster grant that apparently cannot be used in Cass County. Mr. Hokenson said he will ask the State to relay that information to Cass County. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.