04-01-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--ApriI1, 2002 2428 13. ABANDONED AUTOMOBILE PROJECT, Farao Cass Public Health comoletion reoort Terry Ludlum, Cass County Sanitarian with Fargo Cass Public Health, provided a written report '"' on Cass County's Abandoned Automobile Project and was present today with additional information on the completion of the program. He said Fargo Cass Public Health coordinated the North Dakota Abandoned Automobile Program for Cass County through the North Dakota Department of Health, which authorized reimbursement for the costs incurred for collection, storage, transportation and disposal of abandoned motor vehicles, motor vehicle components and other scrap metals for recycling. The State funds for such a project are generated through a mandated flat fee on motor vehicle registrations in North Dakota. There was no cost to rural Cass County residents. Mr. Ludlum said this was a completely voluntary program, and initial estimates submitted by the landowners identified approximately 1,700 tons of scrap located at 217 unique sites in Cass County. Actual tonnage recovered by Kar Bashers, Inc. between March of2000 and December of2001 was 2,337 tons. Commissioners think this is a worthwhile program, and Mr. Ludlum said he would encourage repeating the project every 8-10 years, if funds are available. 14. JAIL TRANSITION TEAM, Uodate of iob duties Michele Boucher was present in place of Sheriff Don Rudnick to provide an update on the jail transition team activities during the past month. She reported on training classes and referred to the updated transition action plan, indicating their activities are pretty much on schedule. At Mr. Wieland's request, she explained the difference between supervision in a linear jail where there is not a lot of direct contact with inmates, as in the current structure, and the new jail with direct supervision, whereby an officer is stationed inside the housing unit with inmates who are -- classified to be in such a situation. 15. JAIL AND SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE, Discussion on future of the orooertv At the request of Jeannette Stanton, Fargo, discussion on the future of the old jail and sheriff's residence was added to today's agenda by the chairman. John Strand, who publishes a newspaper in Fargo, addressed the board and asked them to provide an opportunity for a community group to offer their services of finding some creative things to do to save the old jail and sheriff's residence. He said one option is to use the jail as a youth center for youth bands to perform. Nettie Berger, Fargo, was presentto encourage this concept. Rurik Ekstrom, Fargo, was present and again referred to his proposal of June 25,2001, for a new Cass County courts building and to "mothball" the jail and sheriff's residence until another use could be found. Mr. Wieland said the county is beyond discussing options for use of the property as it stands because the county needs the space, according to studies that have already been completed. It was estimated that it would cost $1.3 million more to keep the current buildings than to replace them with a new structure that meets the future needs of the county. A decision was reached about a year ago, and the commission offered the sheriff's residence to any individual or agency that would be interested in the adaptive re-use of the structure. The county offered to pay $45,000 toward the cost of moving it to another location because that was the approximate amount it would cost to demolish it. No one came forward at that time with a valid plan to have the structure moved. '"' Mr. Wagner said it is not a viable option for the county not to use the space on this block for future county needs. At this time, the county has to consider moving the courts, the Information Services Department and GIS (Geographic Information System) to a new location due to space constraints.