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Commissioners place mill levy on June ballot

By Staff | Apr 16, 2022

Pierce County voters will have a mill levy to consider on June 14 after a vote by county commissioners to put a request for taxpayer support of the county’s NDSU Extension Office on the ballot.

The board of commissioners learned the four mills budgeted for the office would expire in 2024 at their regular monthly meeting, held at the Pierce County Courthouse on April 5.

County Auditor Karin Fursather explained, “The county currently only levies two mills and the office is close to the two-mill (limit). If the voters approve the additional one mill, it would give the county agent office a total of three mills if needed.”

Fursather said the three mills would not be levied if not needed by the county extension agent’s office.

Heart America Correctional and Treatment Center

The board heard from Mike Graner, administrator of Heart America Correctional and Treatment Center. Graner told the board the facility’s finances saw $12,923.26 in February. The jail’s average population for March stood at 68, with a high of 76. As of April 4, 74 inmates were housed at the jail.

Graner said in March, the facility saw 54 bookings and 53 releases. Seven inmates housed at the facility came from Pierce County. Graner told the commissioners 22 of 24 officer positions at the jail had been filled. Graner said he expected one new officer to start working on April 12.

Work to install the jail’s air purification system had been completed, Graner added. Updates for contracts for agencies housing inmates at the jail were also slated for April. The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would also conduct its annual inspection in April as well.

The board approved the facility’s February bills and financials.

Pierce County Sheriff’s Office

Commissioners also heard from Pierce County Sheriff Josh Siegler.

Siegler reported his office responded to 32 calls for service in March – three medical calls, one fire call, and five calls to assist other agencies. Deputies made five arrests in March, wrote five citations, served four warrants, and 18 court documents.

Siegler said the department had taken delivery of a Dodge Durango, purchased with funds from a federal Operation Stonegarden grant. Siegler added the department had also been working with local car dealers to purchase a Chevy Tahoe, but had not been able to find one. Rugby’s MJ McGuire dealership had given the department a quote on another Durango, to be purchased with funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Other business

The board reviewed and approved a monthly community service update submitted by Anthony Coffman, community service director.

The board also voted to enact a burn ban for parts of Pierce County lying outside of the cities of Rugby, Balta, and Wolford after considering information from County Emergency Manager Kelsey Siegler about dry, windy conditions within the area.

The board reviewed and accepted bids for roadwork including clay and gravel machine hire and culvert installation. B and J Excavating and Ritterman Trucking had submitted the clay and gravel bids, while True North Steel had submitted the bid for culverts.

The board also approved an annual payment from road districts funds to the county’s road and bridge account.

The board elected Chad Peterson to represent North Dakota counties on the board of directors of the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund. Peterson, a Cass County commissioner, heads the North Dakota County Commissioners Association.

The board also met with Pierce County State’s Attorney Galen Mack, presenting him with photos of farming done on the right of way of county farm to market roads. The board asked Mack to write a letter to the farmers violating the right of way.

The board also approved two property tax abatement applications and granted an easement to an owner of property adjacent to county land. The easement would make the property owner responsible for the maintenance of fencing along the property line.

The commission also voted to give each county township $10,000 for road graveling. Board Chair Dave Migler said the townships should be encouraged to do its own graveling work.