09-29-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--September 29,2003 2657 12. FARGO CASS COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Growth Initiative Fund Brian Walters, President, Fargo Cass County Economic Development Corporation, was present requesting the board to adopt Amendment NO.4 to Memorandum of Understanding to allow for the creation of a New Technology Fund in the GIF (Growth Initiative Fund). He outlined the criteria to be met in order to qualify for a loan from this fund and indicated this is part of the efforts to recruit the firm, Alien Technology, to Cass County. MOTION, passed Mr. Vanyo moved and Mr. Bennett seconded to authorize the chairman to sign the Fargo Cass County Economic Development Corporation Amendment No.4 to Memorandum of Understanding for the Growth Initiative Fund (GIF). Section 3, Funding, is amended by adding that the GIF shall have the authority to set aside $750,000 of the current available Loan Pool funds for a New Technology fund. The New Technology fund is intended to encourage the development of an industry cluster by providing direct loans. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 13. BUDGET FOR 2004, Final budaet adopted Michael Montplaisir, County Auditor, provided a letter with enclosures concerning the status of the 2004 budget. The board spent a considerable amount of time reviewing and making changes to the proposed budget. He said next year's budget calls for nearly the same mill levy as the 2003 budget. The maximum county mill levy on any property in the county will increase by only .20 mills. Mr. Montplaisir indicated the 2004 budget calls for spending more funds than the county will raise next year in revenues; however, the additional funds will come from available reserves in the various funds. As a budget goal, the county will still maintain a 10% reserve fund. MOTION, passed Mr. Bennett moved and Mr. Vanyo seconded to approve the 2004 budget and levy as shown on the Budget/Levy Summary 2004 provided by the county auditor. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 14. VOUCHERS, Approved MOTION, passed Mr. Vanyo moved and Mrs. Sorum seconded to approve Voucher No. 180,822 through No. 181,254. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 15. MEETING UPDATES, Committee reports Commissioners and staff reported on meetings they have attended in the past two weeks, as well as upcoming meetings. All commissioners and several department heads will be attending the North Dakota Association of Counties annual meeting in Bismarck at the Ramkota Hotel on October 5-7,2003. 16. CORRESPONDENCE, Received and filed MOTION, passed Mrs. Sorum moved and Mr. Vanyo seconded to receive and file correspondence outlined by the secretary as follows: North Dakota Recorders Information Network letter regarding refund of a portion of the NDRIN reserves, based upon the number of documents recorded in the participating counties during 2002. Motion carried.