06-21-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--June 21,2004 2742 MOTION, passed Mr. Bennett moved and Mr. Wagner seconded to approve the planning contract with T.L. Stroh Architects and Interiors, in an amount not to exceed $5,000. The contract is to provide up to four options and cost estimates for pesticide and herbicide holding facilities for vector/weed control operations and personnel; to be paid from the vector/weed building construction fund. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 14. MAPLE RIVER FLOOD CONTROL, Ballots voted in support of the project Tom Fischer, Chairman of the Cass County Joint Water Resource District, and Jeff Volk, of Moore Engineering, were present in regard to the Sheyenne-Maple Flood Control District #3 (Maple River Dam) Project Ballots received by Cass County Government as landowner within the proposed assessment district. Mr. Yolk provided additional information with a map showing the benefited area within the assessment district. Cass County received 23 ballots, the majority of which are for county-owned flood lots. One overall assessment, in the amount of $100,000, indicates indirect benefit to the county, including the reduction of future flood expenditures due to damage to the county highway system. The total estimated cost for the proposed Maple River Dam project is $22,500,000, with one-half of the cost being requested from the State of North Dakota; and the balance funded by water resource funds and an estimated assessment cost of $2,750,000. A public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 PM on June 29, 2004, at the Harwood Community Center in Harwood, North Dakota, at which time property owners may protest their assessments or ask that the costs be reapportioned. Mr. Yolk said direct benefit assessments may be paid back over a period of 15 years with interest, estimated at 6.5%. Mr. Montplaisir said the county would generally prefer to pay cash for the assessment rather than paying with interest; and he asked about the formula used to determine assessments on the various county properties. Mr. Yolk said he could review each assessment with the auditor at another time. Keith Berndt, County Engineer, was asked to comment on the cost of highway repairs in the wake of a natural disaster, such as flooding. Mr. Berndt said he would favor any project that would benefit the county highway system in terms of flood damage reduction; however, he was not in a position to state a dollar amount. Commissioners discussed voting today on whether the project should proceed, or waiting to vote the ballots until after the June 29th public hearing. Mr. Yolk said the voting period is about 50 days long, and the ballots must be returned to the Cass County Joint Water Resource District by 5:00 PM on July 29, 2004. Mr. Meyer said he has attended many water resource board meetings, and he has no doubt about the economic benefits of this project. He supports voting for the project to proceed. MOTION, passed Mr. Meyer moved and Mr. Vanyo seconded to authorize the chairperson to sign the ballots in favor of the Maple River Dam project. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.