Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The Eddy County Commission wrapped up its final meeting for 2018 with some old business on the agenda, deciding that the roads the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) Traffic Count operation had scheduled for Eddy County were adequate for the county. They will not add any more than the state has already stipulated.
The county had two properties that did not sell at the Delinquent Tax Property sale. The commissioners agreed to abate the taxes on both and turn them over to the City of New Rockford.
Commissioner Glenda Collier reported on the repairs to the county’s emergency tower that was damaged twice this summer, once each by lightning and wind. They will file an insurance claim of $7,260.35 for the repairs to the tower.
Eddy County Auditor Patty Williams told the commissioners that the state is requesting that the counties designate a GIS (Geographic Information System) contact person for Eddy County. Emergency Manager Jess Earle agreed to take on this responsibility, as she has experience with GIS mapping and is the GIS contact for Foster County.
The commissioners asked Earle if the GIS software could be used for mapping bus and mail routes for the new road supervisor when hired. Williams also suggested that Earle take on the Risk Manager position for Eddy County, dealing with the Workforce Safety and Insurance claims and accident reports. After some discussion, the commissioners approved a motion to appoint Earle as the Eddy County GIS Coordinator and Risk Manager for an additional $200 per month.
Earle said there is a cost for the GIS software, which Foster County is currently paying, and it should be written into the Joint Powers Agreement that Eddy County would be willing to pay for part of that software cost if they were also going to be using it.
The commissioners expressed that the mapping would come at a very opportune time, given that it would offer the new Superintendent an opportunity to see which roads take blading priority.
Kevin Walford from Butler CAT came to bring holiday greetings and to meet Dave Gehrtz, who was attending his first regular meeting as an Eddy County Commissioner. Commissioners had previously asked Walford about mowers that could be attached to the blades that would reach further into the ditches and he brought them information about those mowers. In a conversation about an old motor grader and payloader owned by Eddy County, Walford informed the commissioners that the company has a program which would review the condition of both pieces of machinery and provide an estimate of their worth, in the event that they would like to consider selling them and purchasing a newer payloader.
Eddy County State’s Attorney Travis Peterson updated commissioners on the transition of files and cases that is currently taking place, as all closed cases have already been moved to Ashley Lies’s office, in preparation for her to begin her duties as Eddy County State’s Attorney. The remainder of the files will be transferred by Dec. 26 or 27.
The next meeting of the Eddy County Commission will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 9 a.m.
