Pierce County Commissioners and representatives from Larry’s Bar, Selz, moved closer to an agreement to meet a list of requirements needed to renew their alcoholic beverage license.

Both sides discussed the requirements at the board of commissioners’ regular monthly meeting held Jan. 4 at the Pierce County Courthouse.

The commissioners denied an application for a license renewal submitted by the bar at their Dec.7 meeting after Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two at the bar on drug charges Nov. 24.

Deputies arrested Bobby Olson, 56 and Amber Lien, 31, both of whom were living at the bar, after finding methamphetamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in their possession, according to a statement by Pierce County Sheriff Josh Siegler.

According to meeting minutes submitted by Pierce County Auditor-Treasurer Karin Fursather, Jerry Frueh spoke to the commission, telling them he represented the bar, owned by his father-in-law, Joe Goldade. Siegler and Pierce County State’s Attorney Galen Mack also attended the meeting. Mack presented Frueh with correspondence he had had with Walter Lipp, an attorney representing the bar.

Mack outlined several corrective actions for the bar to take in order to receive a new alcoholic beverage license. Mack said the license would be renewed after corrective actions were approved by the state fire marshal and the North Dakota Department of Health. Mack said the bar must also appoint a personal representative, who must either apply for the alcoholic beverage license or hire someone to operate or lease the bar and apply for the license.

Mack noted in the December county commissioners meeting ownership of the bar had been complicated by the deaths of Larry Goldade in 2021 and previous owner Denise Frye in 2010. Mack said in December his office could find no documents indicating a clear transfer of ownership between Frye and Goldade.

In a written statement Jan. 6, Mack said Lipp and Frueh had told him, “Joe Goldade and his family are working to resolve the deficiencies with Larry’s Bar and the ownership of the real estate.”

Mike Graner, administrator for Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center, also attended the meeting. Graner told the board the facility had operated at a $22,896.45 deficit for the month of November. Additionally, the jail housed an average of 80 inmates in December, with a high of 85. The jail saw 46 bookings for December and released 46 inmates. Eight inmates at the facility were from Pierce County. The jail’s population as of Jan. 1 was 78. Graner added HACTC had signed a contract to house inmates from the United States Marshal’s Service at $81 per inmate per day. The facility would also bill McHenry, Wells and Towner Counties $77 per inmate per day.

Graner also told the board 23 of 24 corrections officer positions at the jail were filled. Graner added repairs were being done on a fire control panel at the facility and would finish when all parts for the work were delivered. Graner added the facility had a new propane gasifier installed Jan. 3.

Commissioners also reviewed bills submitted for the facility, voting to pay all except for a credit card finance fee they decided the county should dispute.

Graner also gave the board an update on a jail vehicle to replace one totaled in a collision in August. Graner presented correspondence from General Motors saying the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban originally approved for the jail by the board was no longer available from the manufacturer. Graner said GM wanted to bill the county an extra $1,385 to build a different custom model, however, he would contact the dealership to see if the extra cost could be waived. Graner later told Fursather GM agreed to waive the extra $1,385.

Fursather presented the board with a pledge of assets for accounts at Merchants Bank, Bremer Bank, Ramsey Bank and First International Bank & Trust. The board approved the pledge of assets. The board also reviewed balances for the county at each bank. The board voted to declare the four banks as depositories for the county.

The board also reviewed bids from Merchants Bank, Ramsey Bank and First International Bank and Trust for money market accounts, certificates of deposit and checking accounts, including their interest rates. The commission voted to accept the bids.

The board also listened as Jesse Brandvold of Wold Engineering presented information about funds to be distributed by the state from North Dakota House Bill 1505, which will allocate funds for county roads and bridges for each non-oil producing county in the state. According to Fursather, Brandvold said the distribution would be based on the township road miles certified for each township by the state treasurer’s office. The bill calls for counties receiving the funds to allocate them equally among organized and unorganized townships. The funds must be used “for maintenance and improvement of township paved and unpaved roads and bridges,” Fursather said.

“A township is not eligible for an allocation of funds, under this section, if the township does not maintain any township roads,” Fursather added.

In other business, the commission voted on a motion by Chair David Migler to amend Pierce County’s 2021 budget to increase Road District 7, Dewey Township from $23,389.32 to $30,728.64; amend funds received from the American Rescue Plan to $30,949.98; amend the state grants fund to $296,105.46 and increase the soil conservation district fund from $33,138.66 to $33,558.88.

The Pierce County Board of Commissioners will hold their next regular meeting Feb. 1 in the Pierce County Courthouse at 8 a.m.