10-07-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--October 7, 2002 2519 MOTION, passed Mr. Meyer moved and Mr. Wagner seconded that Abatement #4223 and #4224 for Sam's Club and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. be denied, as recommended by the City of Fargo and the Director of Equalization. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 15. ROAD DEPARTMENT, County Hiahwav 17 Corridor Study Keith Berndt, Cass County Engineer, and Rick Brown, SRF Consulting, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Cass County Highway 17 Corridor Study. Mr. Berndt had previously provided Commissioners with an executive summary and project conclusions. A copy of the full report is available for viewing in the County Commission Office. He said three public meetings were held in Horace, and they were all well attended. Mr. Brown said the cost of short-term improvements was estimated at $4 million and long-term improvements are estimated at $26 million. Mr. Wieland said this was an interesting study and he appreciates the fact that the report has been completed. Mr. Berndt said the objectives of the study have been met, and remaining questions concerning funding, project jurisdiction, timing and design details will require future discussions among staff and elected officials of Cass County, Fargo, West Fargo and Horace. MOTION, passed Mr. Wagner moved and Mrs. Schneider seconded to authorize the chairman to receive and accept the Cass County Highway 17 Corridor Study. Motion carried. 16. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, Additional staff approved for Cass County Jail Sheriff Don Rudnick appeared before the board to request authorization to hire five additional staff earlier than the anticipated date of January 1, 2003. In a letter dated September 16, 2002, he reported on inmate population in each of the jail pods and said it would cost the county less money to hire five new staff and open the main housing un~ than to continue housing inmates in other jails, at a cost of approximately $30,000 per month. Inmate population on the day he wrote the letter was 168, with 25 inmates still being housed at other facilities. Mrs. Schneider asked the Sheriff if a budget adjustment would be needed for the extra expense of new hires in the 2002 budget, and the Sheriff deferred the question to the auditor. Mike Montplaisir, County Auditor, said it is the department head's responsibility to monitor their budget line items and write a letter to the Commission requesting a budget adjustment if it appears they will exceed the total budgeted amount. Mrs. Schneider asked if the Sheriff has prepared a letter requesting a budget adjustment, and he said he has not. Mr. Montplaisir said it appears the Sheriffs Department will exceed their total budget this year because they are already $132,000 over the line item for boarding prisoners. The Sheriff said his department has exceeded the overtime budget also. Mrs. Schneider asked if that is because the staff is still working two 12-hour shifts as opposed to working three 8- hour shifts, as recommended by the jail consultant. She understood the budget for salaries was based upon the 8-hour shifts instead of the 12-hour shifts, and the Sheriff agreed the consultant's staffing plan was based on three a-hour shifts. He said he met with the jail staff iast week, and they like the schedule they are on, which is the 12-hour shifts. He fears losing staff if the change is made to 8-hour shifts.