09-02-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

12. 13. 14. Commission Minutes--September 2, 1997 1703 Industrial Builders, Inc.--repair of one township bridge in the amount of $39,814.00 Swingen Construction Co.--repair of three township bridges in the amount of $56,988.00 VEHICLE PURCHASES FOR 1998, Road and Sheriff's Departments MOTION, passed Mr. Meyer moved and Mrs. Schneider seconded to authorize the County Auditor to sign County Bid Request Form to commit to purchasing four Highway Department vehicles and five Sheriff's Department vehicles from the State bid. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. PRELIMINARY BUDGET, Approved for 1998 County Auditor, Michael Montplaisir, submitted a letter dated today regarding the 1998 Preliminary County Budget. Commissioners spent a considerable amount of time last week reviewing the preliminary budget and reducing the original request from 76.32 mills to 66.61 mills, which is 5.12 mills over the amount levied for 1997. This proposed mill levy increase is due to a combination of decreased state reimbursements and new spending items, he said. The estimated taxable valuation for the 1998 budget is up 6.4% over last year, for a total of $202,750,000. Mr. Wieland asked Commissioners to continue reviewing budgets with respective portfolio departments and prepare a list of suggested changes for the next budget meeting, scheduled for 1:00 PM on September 15, 1997, in the Commission Room. MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Koenig seconded to approve preliminary budget for 1998 for General, Special Revenue and Debt Service Funds at $25,618,270 with a projected mill levy of 66.61 mills; to give preliminary approval of 7.88 mills for the Water Resource Districts, Vector District, Weed District, Red River Joint Board and Garrison Diversion; and further, to set a hearing date of September 15, 1997, at 3:30 PM in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse. The Auditor is hereby directed to publish a notice of the public hearing and a summary of the budget in the official county newspaper on or before the hearing date. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. FLOOD UPDATE, Report by Lake Agassiz Regional Council Irv Rustad, Lake Agassiz Regional Council Director, informed the Commission that a majority of the appraisals are being done for the home buy-out program, and he is satisfied with the progress being made. He said the meeting with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials, held August 27th, was very fruitful in that information was provided on how to proceed in order to access HUD funds. A subcommittee consisting of Commissioners Schneider and Quick, Bonnie Johnson, Kathy Hogan, Keith Berndt and Irv Rustad was formed by Chairman Wieland at the HUD meeting last week, and that group will be meeting in the Courthouse Thursday of this week at 10:00 AM. Mr. Rustad anticipates the first home buy-out offers could be made yet this week, pending insurance verification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with the completed