02-01-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--February 1, 1999 1934 expressed. Mr. McLeod said in his letter that all issues regarding zoning, traffic volumes, traffic control, etc. have been addressed to the satisfaction of the West Fargo City Commissioners. MOTION, passed Mr. Wieland moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to send a letter to Sheyenne Disposal, Inc. indicating the Cass County Board of Commissioners has no intention at the present time of calling a special election on the construction of a transfer station located at 1620 Main Avenue in West Fargo. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. 13. ROAD DEPARTMENT, County Highway 21 proiect funding revision Keith Berndt, County Engineer, requested a decision from the Commission on his suggestion to fund a larger percentage of last fall's County Highway 21 improvements with 1998 Highway Department funds, which would preserve HUD grant funds for other flood mitigation activities. Mr. Koenig asked how this might affect the low-to-moderate income percentages, and Mr. Berndt recently discussed the percentages with Irv Rustad, Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation, and learned the County is still within the commitment of those percentages. Mr. Meyer asked about the time limit for using HUD grant funds for flood mitigation and what other projects are pending. Mr. Berndt said he is not aware of a time limit but expects those funds should be spent in the current fiscal year. He has not defined any other projects at this time but two considerations would be funding any additional preliminary engineering work on the flood master plan and ongoing flood plain mapping, particularly in Pleasant and Stanley Townships. MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to authorize revision to the HUD action plan to reduce Cass County Highway 21 HUD funding from $200,000 to $125,000; and that the resulting $75,000 be designated for future mitigation planning and engineering activities. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. 14. INFORMATION SERVICES DIRECTOR, Salary adiustment Commissioner Quick provided a memo dated January 25, 1999, concerning a salary adjustment for Michael Steiner, I nformation Services Director. Mr. Steiner, who was present at this meeting, received a job offer of similar employment in the community at a significantly higher salary. With the millennium approaching, Mrs. Quick said the data processing director is a key employee in terms of Year 2000 (Y2K) issues. Also, Cass County just purchased a $250,000 Register of Deeds computer package, which is in its third or fourth week of operation, and there was a recent application for a FEMA grant concerning records storage and management. Numerous other projects are also planned for 1999. Mrs. Quick indicated that Mr. Steiner will remain in the County's employment for a salary of $55,047.41, effective January 1, 1999; and this is still substantially less than he was offered elsewhere. Mr. Koenig said department heads operate within the boundaries of a salary structure, with re-grading being recommended by professional consultants. He is concerned about setting a precedent if the board grants this salary increase.