April 7, 2026, Commissioners Wells County Part 2 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!

April 7, 2026, Commissioners Wells County Part 1 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!

March 30, 2026 Wells Co. Commissioners Special Meeting, Re Bromke/McHenry Co. Share

Phone conference concerning State's Attorney Share with McHenry County. He asked to be on their ballot. It passed unanimously. Call participators were Boone M., Brian M, Bryan L., Stan B., and Dan S.

2026 03 18 School Board Meeting

Discussion on Credit cards

Moved bills out of consent agenda

Discussion on bills about long distance learning; questions on food services bills.

Reports:

Superintendent Loff:  Boiler was discussed; the company did not file on time; fountain in High School his quit & done with installation; boiler replacement; phone service for elementary; tech coordinator; March 24th board retreat; staffing was brought up; infinite campus.

Principle Report 7-12:  Need to check online report; sickness has subsided.

Elementary Principle:  184 enrollments; special needs kids are high (13); high absences; sickness is still an issue; robotics team presented to Kiwanis club; teacher evaluations will be done on time; spelling bee; parent teachers 91.3% parents showed up; 6th grade class project; Fargo Moorehead Community theater came; MT85 team will meet again.

Activities Report: Written because he was gone.

Business Manager:  audit report is getting uploaded

Items for discussion:

1. Edutech - will cost $10k/yr & 15,000 for each 50; data migration from Infinite Campus to Power School.
2. Peer Tutoring - MN Haas; Misty Galvin was talked to about high school kids helping tutor; grades 9-12, grades will be important for who can do the program; Tutors would get credits for their work.
3. Senior alternate graduation approval: a student does not meet the Harvey School requirements; meets the state requirements.
4. Certified Resignation: Mrs. Kathy Walsh -FCCLA
5. FIBT Staff Credit Cards: Chad; five cards used by school only $5000.00 total Credit; issues with the card; recommending raising limits; can do individual limits on cards; motion to increase to $15,000. total on 5 cards; they will break it down between cards.

March 24th Retreat.

Teamwork displayed!

ND Grants available for Art Classification.  Hope the Board allows teachers to pursue.  These are open to the community art also.  Check them out.

Discussion Areas:

Superintendent Evaluation - Great Jobs!

School Board Retreat - Set for March 24, 2026, at 5:30pm.  This two-hour session will discuss many concerns and options such as hear comments from staff; planning for a community meeting in the future; start long range planning; walk through both schools by board members.

Next Regular meeting March 18th, 2026: executive meeting included for negotiations. 

Account Access:  Theresa access needed to all financial accounts in order to do her duties.  A letter will be sent to all banks.

Classified staff Resignation:  Mike Promo resignation letter read.  The board will open his position with flexibility due his wide range of duties he fulfilled.  Looking at maybe positions of the following: 1.  Athletic Director 2.  Transportation Director. 

 Thanks Mike Prom for your Service!

March 10, 2026, Six County Meeting Part 4 of 4

Six County Meeting

Minutes were approved and followed by additions to agenda:  Railroad Crossing.

Treasure Report

Unfinished Business – None

County Parks: Emmons county

• Cities using them & county wants to end agreements
• Funds must be levied to be able to donate
• Waver posted as an option
• County will bring up at board for cut funding.

Permits & Major Projects – Emmons (favors Corps verses People)

• On Turbines, data centers, battery storage
• 3% of the cost of project, plus if they go over another 3% on that amount
• 3% is conditional use permits
• Talked about Nuclear reactors
• The nuclear storage in Pierce County was mentioned from about 8 years ago
• County Roads need to be addressed majorly

Multi Hazard Mitigation Plan – Foster County

• No money for Fema or Brick Money from FEDS
• Their grant money expired
• $16,000 to $42,000 to update their disaster plans
• The local people, TWSP, want to facilitate themselves
• They need an updated plan, so they are covered for a disaster
• Once plan is updated it is sent to the FEDS

Road & Bridge Mill Rates: Wells County

• Asked what each county has for mills
• Talked about their ballot issue to raise mills

Flex Fund Grants: Wells County

How does Kidder County get grants for county – They have organized townships that applied.  Counties were rejected on Flex Funds, but the townships got them.  Kidder County forgot to put in for engineering cost & now grants must be redone for more funds.  Townships now can’t afford projects because they forgot engineering & can’t afford the whole project themselves. Kidder’s emergency manager helped them go for grants.  Engineering firms can do grants for the counties as well so that the fees are included.

Negotiating Engineering fees – Wells County

Some counties do, especially when federal dollars are involved.  Counties should be negotiating engineering fees. Talked about having their own engineer.  Morton County has its own engineer.

State Noxious Weeds Department – ND Agriculture

Need blue book.  They can remove weeds at the local level.  Talked about duties, how to run meetings.  Cost sharing and how is it done.  *% County and 20% Farmers.  Wells Co. they give the chemicals to farmer.  In Kidder County they do not handle the chemical.  They talked about biological control of weeds.

Roads:  Using stingers on blades – Kidder County

Stingers will out the washboards from the roads.  You need to be careful at certain weather time when using them. Stingers don’t work well with grass.  Stingers are spendy.

Getting People to sit on Boards at the county – Kidder.  What can be done to get people to sit on the boards.  If they complain, they are told to sit on a board.  Ask People, plead with people.  Look for younger people to come on the boards.

Railroad Crossings:  Foster County

Railroads are responsible for fixing the road crossing. They are not taking care of the issues.  Who is responsible when accidents happen?  The railroad won’t hold up their end.  Logan County goes through DOT.  Kidder has been told to close the road.

Senator Jerry Klein

Fire department raising mills can do among themselves.  Townships are exempted when raising mills.  Who do you call when you need answers at the state level for fire districts? 

Rep. Jon Nelson

Talked on budgets & free meal program for schools.  Stripper status on oil wells pays no extraction taxes, most of the wells in ND are stripper Wells.