The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Bills currently under review by the North Dakota Legislature were discussed at the Foster County Commission meeting last week.
During the meeting held on Tuesday, March 21, Foster County State's Attorney Kara Brinster urged the board to send emails to local representatives asking them to vote down House Bill 1213.
Brinster explained that it deals with costs paid to defendants who are found not guilty in court by reason of self-defense.
She said she is concerned how much, if not all, court costs will have to be paid to these defendants with county funds.
In other business:
• Commissioner Becky Hagel reported on House Bill 1046, about counties who house social services departments and pay indirect costs such as electricity, heating, etc., but she did not elaborate on the bill.
• The board heard from Doug Zink of the Foster County Water Board.
Zink attended to discuss Senate Bill 2372, relating to joint water resource boards and the construction of a water project in more than one county.
An additional two mills will be required to be levied for the three watersheds that Foster County is a part of, known as the Rocky Run Joint Water Board.
Language from the bill states: "All districts within the Red River, James River, Mouse River, Missouri River, and Devils Lake drainage basins shall, by agreement, form and remain a member of a joint water resource board relative to the district's respective drainage basin. All agreements and subsequent amendments must be filed with the department of water resources.
Notwithstanding other provisions of law, the board of county commissioners of the member districts in those river drainage basins shall approve a levy of tax not to exceed two mills upon the taxable valuation of the real property within each joint board's respective drainage basin."
Zink said because Foster County is so small, he is concerned the larger counties will benefit from the additional two mills and Foster County will not see much of a benefit.
Zink of the Foster County Water Resource Board, Kenneth Reis of the Eddy County Water Resource Board and Larry Skiftun of the Wells County Water Resource Board all testified to the legislature to urge a do not pass vote because they feel this bill is not ready for prime time.
One of the questions asked representatives of the three water boards was, "What guarantees will Wells, Foster and Eddy Counties have that taxes levied against land in those counties will produce projects directly benefitting those lands?"
"Should taxes levied in the rural communities of these counties be used to support projects in the City of Fargo, and vice versa?"
• Foster County Road Superintendent Nate Monson presented road updates.
He stated that Foster County has received 105 inches of snow so far for this winter with 17 inches from March 7 - March 20.
• Monson also expressed appreciation to the residents of Foster County that have been helping with snow removal and pushbacks.
• Finally, the board discussed legislative topics pertaining to county and township snow removal and spring thaw.
It was stated at the meeting that there isn't enough money allocated from the state to help with the snow removal and subsequent spring thaw.
