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Commission Minutes—May 2, 2022 5562 <br />Mr. Benson said the Highway Department had 10,000 sandbags ready and got an additional 5,000 <br />sandbags from the City of Fargo. He said the Highway Department distributed approximately 11,000 <br />sandbags this weekend. He said the Highway Department has about 4,000 sandbags left and sand <br />and bags available to fill if needed. Mr. Benson said over the weekend, Cass Highway 10 was <br />closed between Buffalo and Tower City at the Maple River due to overland flooding and is <br />anticipated to be closed for a few days. He said Cass Highway 1 north of Tower City was closed for <br />about 24 hours and has since been reopened. He said he does not foresee any County Roads <br />needing to be closed this week, however, there will be some city and township roads throughout the <br />County that will be closed. <br />County Emergency Manager, Jim Prochniak was present and discussed emergency disaster flood <br />declarations. He said the timing of a disaster is important to declaring an emergency. He said the <br />State of North Dakota has said they will not end the current flood emergency until the Red River <br />crests north of Pembina. He said this will not occur for a few weeks and the County has time to <br />declare an emergency if needed. He said the amount of damage needed for FEMA reimbursement <br />is $4.10 per person and for Cass County would amount to approximately $750,000. He said as Mr. <br />Benson has touched on, the amount of damage due to this flood so far is not close to $750,000. <br />Mrs. Scherling asked if the County must declare an emergency to receive FEMA funding. Mr. <br />Prochniak said yes, the County must declare a flood emergency as well as reach the $750,000 <br />worth of damage to get FEMA reimbursement, he said if the amount is not reached, the County is <br />not eligible. Mr. Benson said for buyout property funding, if there is an emergency declared, hazard <br />mitigation grant funding for buyouts is opened for everyone in the state, not just where the <br />emergency was declared. Mrs. Scherling asked if emergency funding would be available for the <br />Cass Highway 81 slide repair project and if the area has been further impacted by flooding. Mr. <br />Benson said the slide issue is related to other factors and would not be eligible for FEMA funding. <br />Mr. Steen said County staff will continue to monitor flood conditions and will come back to the Board <br />if conditions change and an emergency flood declaration is needed. Mr. Wilson said the Finance <br />Office will keep track of flood expenses should an emergency declaration be needed or declared. <br />10. YOUTHWORKS, Budget adjustment approved <br />County Administrator, Robert Wilson was present and said Youthworks has provided Attendant Care <br />and Shelter Care for Cass County and the Cass Human Service Zone for several years. Attendant <br />Care is short-term placement for youth who have been accused of committing a status offence and <br />are awaiting parent or guardian pick-up or a court hearing. A status offence is a violation solely <br />because of the youth's age. Shelter Care is used for youth who are run-aways or otherwise <br />encounter law enforcement or human services and for some reason cannot return home. <br />Mr. Wilson said currently youth in Attendant Care and Shelter Care can be co-mingled and after <br />2021 legislative changes which are effective August 1, 2022, the two groups can no longer be co- <br />mingled. He said the County has been working with the City of Fargo, West Fargo, and North <br />Dakota Association of Counties to come up with a solution to remain complaint and serve both <br />groups before August 1. He said Youthworks has calculated the cost to add staff, remodel their <br />facility, and serve both groups at an additional $54,842 per year. He said the five-month cost to <br />make the needed changes and be compliant through December 31, 2022, is $22,850.85. He said if <br />this cost were split between partnering entities- Cass County, Fargo, and West Fargo, the cost <br />would be $7,616.95 each. <br />Mr. Peterson said he believes the cost should not be split evenly between the partnering entities. He <br />said the services are not evenly provided and residents of Fargo and West Fargo are County <br />taxpayers and would be paying twice. He said the County should cover the full cost. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Peterson moved and Mrs. Scherling seconded to authorize the purchase <br />and budget adjustment to Youthworks to maintain attendant care and shelter