04-01-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes-April 1, 2009 3494 SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APRIL 1, 2009 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER A special meeting of the Cass County Board of Commissioners was called to order by Chairwoman Robyn Sorum at 2:00 PM in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse, to discuss operations for county departments and to evaluate the opening of county business. All members were present as follows: Scott Wagner, Ken Pawluk, Darrell Vanyo, Vern Bennett, and Robyn Sorum. The following county staff was present: Keith Berndt, County Engineer; Dave Rogness, Emergency Manager; Michael Montplaisir, County Auditor; Bonnie Johnson, County Administrator; Birch Burdick, State's Attorney; Paul D. Laney, County Sheriff; Jim Thoreson, Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy; Frank Klein, County Tax Director; Chip Ammerman, Social Services Director; and Terry Schmaltz, Information Technology Director. Also present were representatives from the National Weather Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Members of the local media were also present. 2. FLOOD UPDATE Greg Gust, National Weather Service, provided an update to commissioners. The Red River is steadily falling and the cold weather is beneficial to the flooding situation. He said rivers will begin to rise again by the middle of next week. A substantial amount of water is still in the river system and snow from the recent storm has to melt. Sheriff Laney said field operations are on-going and his department will continue to staff the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Tactical Operations Center (TOC) will continue to be located at the West Fargo Police Department and the partnership with the Coast Guard and Border Patrol is still in place. He said his staff will continue to check on residents still affected by the flood waters. Don Larson, Senior Policy Advisor for Governor John Hoeven, was present. He thanked the county for their leadership during this time. He said Governor Hoeven has contacted Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to discuss the need for permanent flood protection. Mr. Larson said he and other state officials will continue to be available to the county. Mr. Wagner asked for the governor to work with FEMA and President Obama to expedite the process in order to provide some direction to Cass County citizens. 3. FLOOD MITIGATION EFFORTS, Report from FEMA; county staff FEMA representatives were present including Collette Blumeister and Nancy Steinberger. Ms. Steinberger discussed the flood mitigation process. The first step is a mitigation disaster declaration, which the President has to sign. She said the State of North Dakota handles the buyouts with FEMA providing the funds. She requested the county collect names, phone numbers and addresses of residents who are interested in acquisitions or buyouts and outlined the following steps in the process: - a mitigation disaster declaration must be signed by the President; - the county must submit a notice of interest to the state;