10-01-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--October 1, 1992 928 NORTH DAKOTA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES (NDACo), Grant applications discussed Mr. Shannon said he was told that no grant funds were awarded to Cass County Government at recent meetings held in the State Capitol at Bismarck. He said a committee of county staff have been working on a computer software package for more than a year that would integrate the records of the courts, state's attorney and law enforcement. A grant application was submitted for about $160,000 but it was denied completely. John Goff, State's Attorney, said he applied for a training grant, but that was also denied. At the initial meeting of the grant review committee, Sheriff Don Rudnick said his department's requests were also denied. Later, though, funds were re-instated to pay one-half of Cass County's DARE officer. He said programs which were already established received grant funds. Sheriff Rudnick served as overall chairman of the grant award committee, and he said Cass County Government did not fare well. Of the $400,000 requested, Cass County received about $94,000. He said Mark Johnson, Executive Director of the North Dakota Association of Counties, was very vocal about Cass County not receiving funds for computer software. Mr. Shannon said the North Dakota County Association for Technology (NDCAT) received about $130,000 of those funds, and that group does not have a specific computerization plan in place at this time, he said. MOTION, failed Mr. Shannon moved and Mrs. Toussaint seconded to transfer $19,750 from dues to the North Dakota Association of Counties (NDACo) to software purchase for the Courts, State's Attorney and Sheriff's Office. Discussion: Mr. Risher said for an investment of about $20,000, Cass County Government gets back almost $100,000. Mr. Wieland said NDACo does many other things for counties. Mr. Shannon said his loyalties today are with the taxpayers, and he invited other Commissioners to make some suggestions for budget cuts. At the call for the question and on roll call vote, the motion failed with Mr. Risher, Mr. Wieland and Mr. Eckert opposing. RESERVE FUNDS, Motion to cut reserves receives no second Mr. Risher questioned whether taxpayers should fund a reserve in the county budget. He suggested dropping the reserve amounts from 10% to 8% of the budget, and it was estimated that 2% of the total budget would be about $500,000. Mr. Montplaisir said reducing reserves this year may result in a tax increase next year. He said reserves are currently budgeted at 8% with 2% coming from revenues. MOTION, failed for lack of a second Mr. Risher move to reduce reserves by 2% in an effort to balance the budget at 62.7 mills. Motion failed for lack of a second. 10. LAKE AGASSIZ REGIONAL COUNCIL/CUSTOMS SERVICE, Suggestion to refer to Fargo Cass County Economic Development Corporation for payment MOTION, failed Mr. Shannon moved and Mrs. Toussaint seconded that $20,000 for Lake Agassiz Regional Council (LARC) and $5,000 for