May 5, 2026, Commissioner Part 2 of 3

Bills: State Radio fees Road Department: Brent Report

• Festival hall floor in basement is under 2 inches of water; 2 of 3 pumps not working; possible water leak at the Festival Hall. Water has been turned off at fairgrounds because of the water leak. Leak MAY HAVE BEEN GOING ALL WINTER. Three pumps need to be going.
• Asphalt in front of festival hall has broken up. They need to find the leak. Ground is soft all along festive hall. A garbage truck went in deep at the festival hall last week.
• Tar carting is done x 17 miles; new county 5 redone again; (is the jobs constructors worth the cheap work? What is going on?) and county 4 was tar carted also.
• Oil Last year was $3/gallon and $18,000/mile; This year will be much higher.
• Hwy 71, slew is washing by winds.
• detour road x 1 mile discussion
• IBI bid approved for bridge project.
• Johnson pit for hwy 52 project:
• construction wants to use pit; Road restrictions at 65,000 for now
• west of hwy 3. reached out to Brent on the matter.
• Golf Course road chip sealed again

Balance Sheet

• Reports show 3 negative balances

CD’s & Money Markets

• moved money into the money market account; Funds Controlled by the Commissioners; general fund Share graph; approved money movement

Haylee Vigor: Telecom

• Regional livestock development & Planning Grants; 2 signed up from this region; grant creates map of best areas for development of projects; public & private sites for projects; updates to laws for animals in zoning, it is using a zoning from South Dakota. This would require changes in planning & zoning rules & regulation for Wells County. Still requires permits for these projects. Who conducts the evaluation? First District out of SD. (local is lost); They will evaluate water, electric and roads. $12,000 for each county & $500 for each township cost. Grants should cover costs. In June or July 2026 and six months to report findings and changes. This Council will be doing the zoning & planning. (State is taking local control away!) county would be changing permit fee which lowers to $500 max. Discussion: commissioners approved this grant and they will take action.
• Permit fee changes need to be done before July 31, 2026 to $500.00.
• NDDW: North Dakota Dept of Water discussion

Soil Board: Commission Appointments

• The soil evaluation; 10 districts in the county; they need 3 more district leads; 6 yr term, Commissioner will be do the appointing.

Correspondence

• Tax commissioners: PRC wind is moving forward (PRC sent money to Commissioners); Aquatic Nuisance.

Portfolios -Brian Miller: Sheriff Dept.; Stan Buxa: tax equalization; Danny Maxwell: nothing to report; Dennis Dockter: Road Dept; Brian Lautt: Fair board, Tax equalization. WC Sheriff Report by Janell Pepple

• Advertising for position has become harder due to state rules changes
• Ad at Job Service for Deputy Sheriff on Social media.
• Short of help due to injury and military leave
• Contacting other counties for coverage help; extra hours will be reported
• County will pay for Certification training if needed.
• Lexie Pole: specializes in public safety and manuals with custom tailoring. Cost $5,750.00.
• Janelle, office deputy, overtime right now and Commissioners need to approve so she does not loose vacation. No time off. Commissioners approved plus expressed Cross training in all positions.

Courthouse time off on July 2nd 2026 for all employee due to Juneteenth. Election 2026

• Absentee ballots are in; Testing of machines on the 26th of May 2026; Poles 8am to 7pm; Audit is required by hand randomly on June 15, 2026; June 22, 2026 will be canvassing; Commissioners race is reported wrong in the Herald Press.

Gaming Permits: Golf course was approved. RRVWS (Red River Valley Water Supply)

• Permits not completed; roads must be good; road agreement discussed; township supervisors need to be on top of the roads; May 5th they are starting.

Telecommuting agreement with Dan Stutlein

• Dan will be out of the office in July for 2 weeks.

Township meetings 9am – 6pm; six meetings with 6 townships; topic roads & blading, going from $100 to $200/mile charge; meetings start after the election; Township concerns need to be brought to the meeting and any questions; Budget and Levies; zoning issues. Hurdsfield & Bowdon Assessments

• Who benefits when valuations changes are made?; silver lake township is highest evaluation; evaluation need to fit the county system; Commissioners want Bev Hart to use the Canva system. Oliver was called to FORCING BEV to use the Canva system like the Wells county does; What is your share on what you own? A statement made by the Commissioners with no transparency of the reason for asking. They want all township assessors to use the Canva system.

Commissioners serve meal at Fair, free meal. They need to make sure they aren’t shop on meat & buns. Why are we doing this when we don’t have money to fix roads, even the fairgrounds too.

April 16, 2026, Harvey Swimming Pool Project Informational Meeting

The Park Board gave a good presentation. All the information was compiled in this video.

A few attendees of the meeting, made remarks against the people who may decide to exercise their right to vote no. Everyone needs to know that you have a right to vote as you choose. North Dakota has a law to protect that right beside the US Constitution. It is in chapter 12.1-14. Read section 12.1-14-02 Interference with elections.

Summary: Even intimidating remarks to influence the outcome of the election on an issue such as the Harvey's vote for a new Swimming pool, whether by the law or color of the law may be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. This also includes coercion! No one has the right to know how you vote or to shame you to change your vote. You owe no one an explanation of the reason for your vote.

The Harvey Park Board did a wonderful job presenting their research. Many will be happy to give a yes vote; however, if any attendee or local official tells people to move or get the hell out of here due to their vote is different; this is serious violation of the people's rights. People will be willing to put into the community if they feel that they are a part of community. Not in a community that forces them to comply to will of a few. This is the third time I have heard this in community and local governing meetings. Hopefully, it will be the last.

April 15, 2026, Special Commissioners Meeting

Discussion included the following:

Accept Bid for BRC-5219(053) - Industrial builders Inc.
Ditch Clean & Drainage on WC #6 South of Brement Sec 29 & 28 Bremen hwy. 3/4 mile has silt build up on the road. Culvert lowered maybe need to be replaced. Richard agree silt can be spread on his property.

Accepted Bill 1.3 Million on bridge north of Fessenden. Engineers cost high.

Road Department Mill Levy on the ballot. Concern was expressed about the people reading the measure and the amount. No confidence in the people reading past the first couple sentences on the ballot measure.

April 15, 2026 Special Harvey School Board Part 2 of 2

Camera Froze at the beginning, so there may be missing parts of the meeting. Also, the executive session lasted longer than 50 minutes so the rest of the meeting was not covered after that.

Superintendent Report:

Covered inspection passed; Bathroom updates; Coal boiler - minor repairs; Head Cook - Joleen Vlamick will need assistance; Activity Director interview;  Meals for the Kids will cost the School $4800/month which will have to come out of the general fund. Board is holding benefit due to the expense; $42K leadership Comm; Audit date spoken of Business Manager; Elementary report on Math testing per grades; Survey results were good - 19 Kindergartens (6 retained 4 added special ed), 29 Kinders next year;  FBLA good rewards - 20 students going to National golf, 35 Kids only 6 at tournaments;

Discussion or Possible Action:

Buffy Olson - Private Pre-Kindergarten Class in June.  School will charge $50/month rent for summer school; Mikala Schaffer - Grant last year to continue education assistance discussion.

Aaron recommended $2500.00.; Brooke Heil wanting full time counselor at BM. It was tabled for now; Every wants teaching assignment at the end of this year for next year; Mrs. Gavin - leadership conference in New Orleans reimbursement of $200 per credit request.  Hold off for now; There are 23 FCLA students qualified to go to Washington, DC. 

Contention on reimbursements for all chaperons; HWC Booster Club - High Performance. Rent is $1/month.  Aaron points out the board shows favor for them vs education with Pre-kindergarten.  Rent changed to $50/month; Science curriculum - Hase explained $15,961.25 with shipping digital, textbook.  Mertz motion: Arnold seconded; adaptable to different reading levels benefit.

April 15, 2026 Special Harvey School Board Part 1 of 2

Camera Froze at the beginning, so there may be missing parts of the meeting. Also, the executive session lasted longer than 50 minutes so the rest of the meeting was not covered after that.

Superintendent Report:

Covered inspection passed; Bathroom updates; Coal boiler - minor repairs; Head Cook - Joleen Vlamick will need assistance; Activity Director interview;  Meals for the Kids will cost the School $4800/month which will have to come out of the general fund. Board is holding benefit due to the expense; $42K leadership Comm; Audit date spoken of Business Manager; Elementary report on Math testing per grades; Survey results were good - 19 Kindergartens (6 retained 4 added special ed), 29 Kinders next year;  FBLA good rewards - 20 students going to National golf, 35 Kids only 6 at tournaments;

Discussion or Possible Action:

Buffy Olson - Private Pre-Kindergarten Class in June.  School will charge $50/month rent for summer school; Mikala Schaffer - Grant last year to continue education assistance discussion.

Aaron recommended $2500.00.; Brooke Heil wanting full time counselor at BM. It was tabled for now; Every wants teaching assignment at the end of this year for next year; Mrs. Gavin - leadership conference in New Orleans reimbursement of $200 per credit request.  Hold off for now; There are 23 FCLA students qualified to go to Washington, DC. 

Contention on reimbursements for all chaperons; HWC Booster Club - High Performance. Rent is $1/month.  Aaron points out the board shows favor for them vs education with Pre-kindergarten.  Rent changed to $50/month; Science curriculum - Hase explained $15,961.25 with shipping digital, textbook.  Mertz motion: Arnold seconded; adaptable to different reading levels benefit.

April 7, 2026, Commissioners Wells County Part 4 of 4

4-7-2026

2 pm Addition:  Ditch by Lils needs to be cleaned up

Minutes Approved

Special Meeting Minutes Approved

Bills:

• Kneiters – bill for lifts on vehicles
• Software innovations – tax software
• Elevator corp – they need to add a key to stop the elevator on court days, also an annual service fee.

Balance Sheet Approved

23 townships paid for roads – Road Dept.

Wells County CD & Money Market

No homestead grant money yet

Bridge money will come out of here

Note: always points out the interest pay for salaries

Correspondence from Oskosh  townships about road fees

Portfolios

Brian M. – Sheriff & deputy been deployed; ward is working a little; clerk of courts is busy with court.

Stan B. – Janna if busy with equalization; Hurdsfield equalization meeting

Boone – Nothing recorder office (Sept. open possibility)

Doc – Road Department

Bryan – Librarian at Harvey Library

Scott & Kip – Garrison diversion

Red river Valley water project; 50 million & 100 million; Hoven money found; will bid this fall; start at Chaseley & move back to McClusky dam; asking for permits for the project at Chaseley; Chaseley highway as have road mile through; Project will take about 3 years for this stretch; if money from job falls through won’t start till 2028; they have all easements; $7 mill per mile (125miles); will feed Lake Ashtebula; Carrington, Jamestown & Cooperstown are signed up to get off the pipeline.

Brent Keller – Road Dept.

1 blade guy will be out 4 to 6  weeks; blades may start running next week; brent will run the blade for guy whol will be out on leave; Summer hours started this week; 4 – 10 hrs per day; Bridge project North of town open on Friday, 4-10-26, blades are all ready for spring; drainage by Lil’s, County road 6th, 19th street; 66’ drain, 66’ of right of away; Culvert needs to be lowered & drain field cleaned; get estimate on drain & culvert.

$94,000/acre Mil ligation  acres.

Jason Mayfield & Bryan Tykwenski

Bridge on county road 1 is bid this Friday; Box culverts are dependent on federal funds to complete; 19 & 47th Street; 49th Avenue – Teas crossing; they will interview construction engineers; Flex fund discussion; 12312.0 bridge removal added to roadproject; They will be re-aligning the road; Bremen road – total dollar value; wants all total cost of projects done by Wolld & KLJ; Still trying to figure out road projects; typo needs to be changed on road sheet for state; question was asked about mitigation acres; has become difficult because of fereal programs; Duck unlimited & US Fish & Wild Life.

Lydia Gessele: Education of County Public servants

Elections Ballot discussion

Monday June 15th; June 22nd canvassing; needs one judge for Dem for Fessenden

Gaming Permit

Golf Tournament; pull tabs

G & R Controls

Setting the controls so people will not mess with; basement has no controls; $54,000 for the project; controls for all of basement.

Not sure what is being discussed because it is not on the agenda at all and there is no shared document with the public.  They are trying to discuss it without giving it away to the public.

It sounds like they are talking about the ballot; may be information for how the ballot issue would work; information on how it is broken down for the public; Stutlien is cutting people down during the discussion.

The 14 to 25 Mills for the road department discussion for explanation; Stan says they won’t have to go all the way to the 25;; Dan says they have to go to 25 miles; 3 legislators did not even know what was in the bills they voted on; HB 1176 3% Cap; cities share 20% of the Mill of those over 14 Mills;  20% of the 11 miles to the cities; paper they were talking about should go out in the public PLEASE REQUEST IT IN ORDER TO STAY INFORMED!