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New representative, police chief sworn in at council meeting

By Sue Sitter - | Sep 17, 2022

Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby Mayor Frank LaRocque, right, swears in Scott Bommersbach as Rugby’s new chief of police at the Rugby City Council’s regular meeting Sept. 7.

A new Rugby City Council member and chief of police took oaths of office on Sept. 7 at the council’s regular monthly meeting at Rugby City Hall.

Bruce Gannarelli will represent Rugby’s Ward 3 on the city council.

Scott Bommersbach, Rugby’s new chief of police, took his oath of office while his wife and family members looked on. All present at the meeting applauded after Rugby Mayor Frank LaRocque swore him in.

In other business, Rugby Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Laurie Odden presented the bureau’s 2023 budget, which the council approved. The council also approved a request by Odden to discontinue city billing for water used by the CVB for flower gardens at the Northern Lights Tower. Council member Neil Lotvedt approved the motion on the condition the CVB maintains the sprinkler systems to prevent water waste.

Odden also spoke highly of Rugby High School’s business co-op program, which offers students opportunities to work in local businesses to gain experience in different careers. Co-op student Annie Risovi works at the CVB office part-time.

Affordable housing idea discussed

Rugby Job Development Authority Executive Director Karl Frigaard presented updates to the council. He shared information about a person from Drayton interested in developing property in Rugby for affordable housing, possibly using property gained by local government through tax debt default or other means.

The council discussed the idea with City Attorney Kathleen Murray, who said the concept sounded similar to TIF, or Tax Increment Financing districts, where property owners receive subsidies to develop land for infrastructure or buildings.

Murray also suggested the potential developer work directly with private owners of distressed properties rather than wait for foreclosures to simplify property acquisition.

Lotvedt asked Frigaard for information on the status of a transfer of the Heart of America Dunseith Clinic to Heart of America Medical Center. Frigaard stated the board was still seeking a legal opinion on the transfer.

Frigaard also told the council he had completed an online course in QuickBooks software and was taking other online courses.

The council listened to reports from city committees, including a discussion by the city ordinance committee about eliminating committee meetings and holding two city council meetings per month instead.

Members agreed to consider the matter further in the future.

Street, highway projects to move forward

In other business, the council discussed ways to move a highway and storm drain project forward on North Dakota Highway 3 from 4th Street to its intersection with 1st Street. Nelson said he would make calls to the North Dakota Department of Transportation to get updates on the project.

Council member Gary Kraft and city workers Troy Munyer and Dale Klein told the council a manhole from the city had been replaced on the lot at M.J. McGuire Automotive.

Lotvedt asked about city water lines running near the site of a frontage road to be located near a new hospital under construction for Heart of America Medical Center on U.S. Highway 2.

The council also heard updates on an ongoing project to replace sewer infrastructure and water lines in an area from 2 ½ Avenue and 6th Street eastward.

Council members approved a pay application for $594,468.35 submitted by Jim Olson of engineering firm AE2S on behalf of Wagner Construction, the firm heading the project.

Council members tabled a decision to approve two more pay applications for fuel increases and miscellaneous expenses until they received details on the miscellaneous expenses.

Water project complaints

Lotvedt told Olson he had received complaints about water pressure loss at the Haaland Estates care facility due to a water shutoff done as part of the 2½ Avenue project. Lotvedt said two garden hoses hooked up to the facility didn’t provide enough pressure to meet the needs for plumbing to the complex’s kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms.

Olson said AE2S and Wagner were working to fix the issue.

“When Troy (Munyer) lets me know what needs to be done, I’ll direct that contractor to make it happen,” he said.

Olson added he expected the pipe replacement portion of the project to wrap up in three weeks. He said next would come street paving and irrigation system replacements, followed by landscaping.

The council also voted to approve a contract bid by Interstate Engineering for services to install a new clarifier at the city water plant. Interstate’s bid, the lowest received, totaled $62,560.

North Dakota Century Code requires a state-licensed engineer to oversee the installation.

Vote sparks heated discussion

Council members Gannarelli and Wayne Trottier abstained from the vote. Gannarelli said he didn’t have enough information to vote on the bid. Trottier offered no reason for his non-vote.

After the vote, Rugby resident Craig Zachmeier asked from his seat in the audience, “I guess I would have a question, what’s the reason for abstaining? Legally, I think when you take your oath of office, you either have to deny or approve. You don’t have the right to abstain just because you don’t want to give a vote. That’s for the attorney to decide.”

Murray gave an answer to Zachmeier, saying, “They can still actually abstain if they feel they don’t have enough information or they would have any kind of conflict or (reason) not to vote.”

Zachmeier said, “So, I would ask, is there a conflict or lack of information, because it should have to be stated on the record.”

Gannarelli replied, “Well, at the time, I wasn’t sworn in,” referring to the start of the bidding process.

LaRocque turned to Trottier. “Dr. Trottier, do you care to explain your abstention or not?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think I need to,” Trottier answered.

Council members also voted to approve committee appointments made by LaRocque.

The council approved a second reading of City Ordinance 440, which governed the city’s appropriations process.

It also granted two event permit applications, financials and bills for August and minutes from August’s council meeting.

The Rugby City Council will hold its next regular meeting Monday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Rugby City Hall.