09-24-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Public Hearing--September 24, 2001 PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED KINDRED COMMUNITY AND RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT JOINT MEETING OF CASS AND RICHLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KINDRED CITY HALL, KINDRED, NORTH DAKOTA SEPTEMBER 24, 2001--7:30 PM CALL TO ORDER, Purpose of meetin,q John Meyer, Chairman of the Cass County Board of Commissioners, called the meeting to order and stated the purpose is to consider public testimony in favor of or against formation of the Kindred Community and Rural Fire Protection District. The following Cass County Commissioners were present: Donna Schneider, Robyn Sorum, Alon Wieland, Scott Wagner and John Meyer. The following Richland County Commissioners were present: Tim Campbell, Lynn Larsen, Donald Holen, and Bryan Flaa. Also present were Michael Montplaisir, Cass County Auditor; Harris Bailey, Richland County Finance Director/Auditor; and Birch Burdick, Cass County State's Attorney. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON The first item of business on the agenda was to elect a chairperson for tonight's meeting. MOTION, passed Mr. Wagner moved and Mr. Holen seconded that John Meyer serve as chairman of this joint meeting. Mr. Meyer called for further nominations and hearing none, asked for a roll call vote. The motion carried with eight Commissioners voting "Aye" and Mr. Meyer passing. PUBLIC HEARING, Backqround information and citizens input As chairman of the group, Mr. Meyer announced this was the date, time and place advertised for a public hearing by the boards of county commissioners of Cass County and Richland County concerning the proposed formation of said fire protection district. Mr. Montplaisir outlined the process followed to date, which includes a map of the proposed district, verification of signatures on the petitions of resident freeholders within the proposed district, and publication of the notice of today's hearing. Mr. Bailey said he followed the same procedures for Richland County. Mr. Burdick addressed the group saying he had spoken with Bud Myers, Richland County State's Attorney, and he was in agreement concerning the legal authority of the two boards to act upon the said petition. He provided copies of background information taken from the North Dakota Century Code Chapter 18-10 pertaining to the formation of rural fire protection districts. Chairman Meyer next called for public testimony in favor of forming the proposed fire protection district. Citizens in the audience addressing the joint boards of commissioners were as follows: John Mangin, resident of Walcott Township in Richland County, was instru mental in the petition ddve to obtain the adequate number of signatures to begin the process of forming this proposed district. He said he is a member of the volunteer fire department and there is very little opposition among the rural patrons they serve. He talked about the lack of funding for new equipment and training of volunteer firemen being the reason for forming this district.