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Commission Minutes—July 28, 2023 5765 <br />fund. Mr. Benson said the two equipment operator positions would bring the Highway Department <br />back to operating levels in 2006 and offset the labor shortage the Highway Department has in the <br />summer due to the inability to find temporary truck-drivers and laborers. He said the equipment <br />operators are also needed in the winter for extra snowplow operations. <br />Mr. Benson said since 2004, Cass County has had one full-time planner with no additional staff and <br />over the last 20 years there have been 6 different planners with each staying 1 to 6 years. He said <br />the frequent turnover decreases continuity in planning activities, services, enforcement, and <br />interpretation of applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations. Mr. Benson said the requested <br />Planner 1 position will be a 50/50 cost share with the Planning Department and Highway <br />Department. He said the position will assist the Planner with daily functions as well as support <br />highway right of way acquisitions, develop the 5-year highway plan, and support Metro COG <br />transportation committees and studies. <br />Mr. Breitling said he does not support the Planner 1 position due to lack of workload; he said the <br />Cass County Planning Commission did not meet twice this year due to lack of subdivision <br />applications. Mrs. Scherling said she would like to explore all the options for the Planning <br />Department such as hiring an outside consultant. Mr. Benson said if an outside consultant was hired <br />to fill the Planner role, the County would lose a contact person for cities, townships, and citizens, <br />which is important for communication. Mrs. Scherling said the position should be sent for evaluation <br />by Gallagher. Mr. Benson said other planners in North Dakota cities and counties are higher paid. <br />Ms. Peters said this position was brought to the Personnel Overview Committee and the Committee <br />said the position should be brought for budget approval by the Commission before being sent to <br />Gallagher. Mrs. Scherling asked if the Planner position could be elevated without adding an <br />additional position. Ms. Peters said the County could send the position to Gallagher to be reviewed. <br />Mr. Grindberg said the County needs to further analyze housing and planning needs. He said Cass <br />County is the only county in North Dakota to use deed restriction. Mr. Benson said there have been <br />discussions in the past that a task force be created to discuss these needs. <br />Mr. Benson discussed various costs and projects to be completed in 2024. The total 2024 costs for <br />engineering services is $1,096,376, the total cost of highway projects is $13,706,592, the total costs <br />of bridge projects are $4,383,468, the total cost of right of way is $200,000, and the total cost of <br />heavy equipment is $570,000. <br />Mrs. Scherling said the 2022 to 2023 winter was a bad winter with a lot of snow. She said 1 <br />additional equipment operator may be adequate. Mr. Benson said additional equipment operators <br />are needed in the winter for snow plowing and in the summer for hauling gravel. He said if both <br />operator positions are approved, the temporary work budget can be reduced from $145,000 to <br />80,000. <br />Mr. Peterson said he struggles to support two operator positions as the County is continually getting <br />bigger and better equipment and not acquiring additional miles of road. Mr. Breitling asked when <br />sections of County roads will be transferred to the City of Horace. Mr. Benson said the County will <br />likely turn over 6 miles of County roads to the City of Horace in 2026 or 2027. He said the County <br />will acquire 1 mile of road near the North Dakota Soybean Processors Plant and two miles of road <br />near 158th Avenue. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Scherling moved and Mr. Grindberg seconded to approve the 2024 <br />preliminary budget for the Highway Department with one equipment operator <br />position and a reduction to account 211-4001-431-1020 to $80,000. On roll call <br />vote, the motion carried unanimously.