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Commission Minutes—April 18, 2022 5556 <br />10. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, Firewall purchase approved <br />Information Technology Director, Bob Henderson was present and discussed the purchase of two <br />firewalls to secure the County building network. In 2021 the County was awarded a grant from the <br />North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) to provide phishing training and a more <br />secure connection to the County building network. Mr. Henderson said the County has already <br />completed and been reimbursed for the phishing training, and funds from the grant are left over and <br />expired December 31, 2021. He said he worked with the NDDES to get an extension of the grant to <br />purchase firewalls to secure the building network by August of 2022. Mr. Henderson said the request <br />today is to approve the nonbudgeted item of two firewalls in the amount of$22,723 to be reimbursed <br />by NDDES grant funds. <br />Mr. Breitling said there is a subscription fee as part of the quoted cost for three years, he asked if the <br />County would need to continue the subscription after the initial three-year period. Mr. Henderson <br />said yes, the County would need to continue paying the subscription fee each year out of the <br />Buildings and Grounds budget and is now at a cost of approximately $1,200. Mr. Wilson said there is <br />a great amount of technology and remote control to many of the County building services and it is <br />important to ensure this network is secure. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mrs. Scherling moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the purchase of <br />two Palo Alto Firewalls with a three-year subscription from High Point Networks <br />in the amount of $22,723 to be reimbursed by North Dakota Department of <br />Emergency Services grant funds. On roll call vote, the motion carried <br />unanimously. <br />11. FARGO NATIONAL CEMETERY <br />Jason Hicks, Commander for the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard was present to discuss opportunities <br />near the Fargo National Cemetery. Mr. Hicks said the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard was created as <br />a group to represent all local Veteran Groups to adequately handle honor guard duties. He said they <br />are established as a non-profit 501(c)3 orginization that can raise money and accept government <br />donations. He said their goal is to provide all veterans with proper military honors. Mr. Hicks said <br />currently at the Fargo National Cemetery there is a small pagoda structure to hold ceremonies and <br />limited parking. The Fargo National Cemetery is owned and operated by the US Department of <br />Veterans Affairs (VA). Mr. Hicks said the VA requires a National Cemetery to be larger than 100 <br />acres to have a building and the Fargo National Cemetery currently has five acres. He said the <br />Fargo Memorial Honor Guard would like to purchase land next to the Fargo National Cemetery to <br />construct a parking lot and building to hold ceremonies and provide a space for loved ones to <br />gather. Mr. Hicks said the VA has strict guidelines for ceremonies and only allows 20 minutes per <br />ceremony. He said they do not allow other cultural ceremonies such as Native American <br />ceremonies. He said the Honor Guard would like to see the property become a destination with <br />landscape features, a spot for Native American ceremonies to be held, donor recognition, and <br />fundraising memorial benches. <br />Mr. Hicks said the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard has been in contact with the nearby property <br />owner, Jacob Gust, who is willing to sell five acres of land to locate the building and parking lot; <br />however, Mr. Gust has a stipulation that a governmental entity must be involved to ensure the <br />property is always well taken care of in the event the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard does not have <br />the resources to keep the property maintained. Mr. Hicks said the VA has contacted Mr. Gust to <br />purchase his additional land of approximately 32 acres to expand the Fargo National Cemetery. Mr. <br />Hicks said the discussion today is to purchase three to five acres of land from Mr. Gust, donate the <br />land to the County, and the County lease the land to Fargo Memorial Honor Guard. He said this <br />would fulfil Mr. Hick's request and allow the Honor Guard to fill their needs. <br />Mrs. Scherling asked what the role of the federal government is in this situation. Mr. Hicks said the <br />VA has said they will only construct a building if there are over 100 acres and the Honor Guard has <br />worked with Senator Hoeven's Office, however, no federal assistance has come through. Mrs.