09-06-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--September 6, 1994 1243 14. 15. ELECTION POLLING PLACES AND HOURS OF ELECTION, 1994 General Election MOTION, passed Mr. Ness moved and Mrs. Toussaint seconded to designate polling locations and hours for 1994 general election, as outlined in a memo from the County Auditor dated September 6, 1994. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. HOME RULE CHARTER PROPOSAL, Presentation by Charter Commission Chair Michael unhjem, Chairman of the 1994 Home Rule Charter Commission, presented a proposed home rule charter for Cass County, which resulted from a series of meetings by the Charter Commission, including the required public hearing held on August 15, 1994. The proposed 1992 home rule charter was used as a basis, as well as the Burleigh County charter proposal, according to Mr. Unhjem. He highlighted the following changes in the charter presented today: 1) clarification that any ordinance enacted under the charter will not supersede ordinances of any political subdivision in the county; 2) clarification of the number of signatures required for initiative and referendum; 3) commission authority to change elected offices to appointed offices after January 1, 2002, according to the "Tool Chest" bill; 4) commissioners to be elected at large by districts; and 5) the previous change suggested reducing the mill levy limitation from 75 mills in the 1992 charter proposal to 70 mills, but the charter commission decided to return it to 75 mills after receiving input on that issue at the public hearing. MOTION, passed Mrs. Toussaint moved and Mr. Wieland seconded that Cass County proceed with plans to publish the document, "Cass County, North Dakota, Home Rule Charter" and present the charter to the electorate on the November 8, 1994, ballot for their consideration; and that the ballot question be stated as follows: "Should the County of Cass adopt the Home Rule Charter as published in the official newspaper on the date of September 9, 19947" Discussion: Mr. Ness is concerned about the 75 mill levy limit because he believes county commissioners have been very diligent about not raising taxes; and he is concerned that electing commissioners at large by district may result in loss of rural representation. Mrs. Toussaint said a majority of rural people at the public hearing favored electing commissioners at large, and Mr. Eckert agreed that rural people want commissioners to represent the whole county rather than the district in which they reside. Warren Solberg, Horace, agreed with Mr. Ness' concern about the 75 mill levy limit and about the potential of losing rural representation by electing commissioners at large. John Paulson, Fargo, asked what county commissioners want to do with ordinance-making powers, and Mr. Wieland said a major area of concern has been environmental issues. At the call for the question and on roll call vote, motion carried with four members voting "Aye," Mr. Ness opposing.