October 7th, 2025
OLIVER COUNTY COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS were called to order at 9:00 AM with all members present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Rob Schmidt moved and Dave Berger seconded the motion to approve the agenda with additions of discussion on snow removal at the Golden Age Club and miscellaneous updates. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the September 11th and September 30th, 2025 meetings with corrections to the September 30th meeting. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to approve the following bills for payment and approve the following bills previously paid. A roll call vote was held, with Dave Berger, aye, Rob Schmidt, aye, Lee Husfloen, aye. Motion carried.
Allstate Peterbilt-395.75
Big State Industrial Supply-175.48
Butler Machinery-5828.72
CapFirst Equipment Finance-65575.90
Center Machine, Inc-80.52
Center Republican-696.15
Computer Express-1100.00
Dakota Fluid Power-2016.39
Daniel Emineth-6190.10
I-State Truck Center-1210.67
Patricia Koapke-349.20
Mercer County Human Resources-1614.37
Mercer County Sheriff’s Dept-675.00
Mercer-Oliver Emergency Mgmt-2074.73
Mid-American Research Chemical-648.62
NDACO Resources Group-819.72
Quadient Finance USA-1054.91
Ramada by Wyndham Bismarck-297.00
Rud Oil & Gas-3415.73
Scheels-427.80
Richard Schmidt-1015.75
Stein’s Inc-219.18
Titan Machinery-1385.94
Keith Vitek-275.00
Electronic Communications-620.00
Centre Inc-960.00
Adj. General-120.00
BB Yardworks-5550.51
SRF Consulting Group-7394.02
ITD-197.20
ITD-913.50
Dave Berger-302.40
K&M Repair-123.71
The following bills previously paid were approved:
Aflac-387.12
AT&T Mobility-485.78
Beulah School District-355.70
Center-Stanton School-26948.53
Center Park District-303.24
City of Center-2849.71
Colonial Life Processing Center-672.90
Companion Life Ins-441.31
Cale Ferderer-300.00
Fidelity Security Life Ins-70.16
Hazen Rural Fire-38.15
Hazen School District-569.83
Kelsch, Kelsch, Ruff, Kranda, Nagel, Ludwig-5.00
Liberty Business Systems-1223.41
Mercer County Ambulance-498.56
Morton County Auditor-386.70
Morton County Council on Aging-597.09
Nationwide Retirement-1001.00
ND State Treasurer-298.54
Oliver County Ambulance-2024.17
Oliver County Historical Society-80.56
Oliver County Soil Conservation-745.96
Oliver County Treasurer-3354.94
Oliver County Water Resource District-198.71
Red Top Recovery-339.00
Security First Bank of ND-81007.32
Summit Carbon Solutions-25000.00
SW Water Authority-70.85
US Records Midwest-1575.09
VISA-4228.87
Washburn Rural Ambulance-379.18
Washburn Rural Fire-101.96
Washburn School-1986.62
Western Plains Public Health-1026.29
Discussion was held on Unclaimed Property Approval. Laura Huber, Treasurer, requested approval to send a check to unclaimed property for $65.00. Rob Schmidt moved and Dave Berger seconded the motion to approve sending Unclaimed Property a check for $65.00. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
Sheriff’s Department updates were provided. The new vehicles should be delivered by the end of October. Discussion was held on a joint meeting with the city, preferably by the end of the year. The 2017 squad car is at the end of its life.
2001 Freightliner issues were discussed.
Highway Utility Permits for Roughrider Electric were presented. Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to approve both Highway Utility Permits. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
A Highway Utility Permit for WRT was presented. Rob Schmidt moved and Dave Berger seconded the motion to approve the Highway Utility Permit. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
Westmoreland Mine discussed the 2-mile stretch of 59th Ave that they have current ownership of. The area is reclaimed and open to public access, but has not been turned over to the county yet. Westmoreland is discussing returning ownership back to the County. They can supply scoria if the county road crew will do the work. No action will be taken at this time about turning back to the county.
Hannover Road reclamation is done. Butler may have a disc mower to demo. Discussion was held on the Yucca Cemetery section line improvement. There is an archaeological site of record near the location, but should be safe to do the improvement so long as it remains narrow.
The Hensler Road shoulders need work before the chip seal project.
Discussion was held on the Court Facilities Grant. The deadline for applying is December 31st.
Discussion was held on weed board applicants. There are two applicants. Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to appoint Alysia Staigle and Dorthy Duhr to the vacant weed board positions. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
Updates were given on the NDACO Conference.
Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to approve the quote from Emineth Plumbing for work to the courthouse for $7347.03. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
Mickie McNulty-Eide, Recorder, gave information on NDRIN.
Discussion was held on creating a log for anyone coming in to look through the Recorder and Auditor/Treasurer vaults. No action was taken and discussion will continue at the next meeting.
The second reading for 2025-03 Enforcement was held. Rob Schmidt moved and Dave Berger seconded the motion to approve 2025-03 Enforcement Ordinance Amendment. A roll call vote was held: Rob Schmidt-Aye, Dave Berger-Aye, Lee Husfloen-Aye. 2025-03 Enforcement Amendment was approved.
Discussion was held on the 2025 Foreclosure sale. All properties were redeemed, so there is no sale for 2025.
Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to approve Rick Schmidt as the County’s State Fair delegate.
Discussion was held on sidewalk repairs on the south side of the Courthouse. The city needs to repair and expand the storm drain and is requesting the county assists with cost to replace and repair the sidewalk. Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion for the County to pay 50% of the cost of the project to repair the city sidewalk on the south side of the Courthouse block. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
A letter was received from the US Department of Interior. The county took no action.
Rob Schmidt moved and Dave Berger seconded the motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the North Dakota Secretary of State for use and maintenance of election equipment. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
The tentative 2026 calendar was handed out.
Discussion was held on snow removal at the Golden Age club.
Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to hire Keith Vitek as the courthouse temp with no benefits, under the supervision of Kenny Rude, for the purpose of snow removal at the Courthouse and Golden Age club. All in favor, none opposed; motion carried.
Dave Berger gave an update on a meeting held with someone from Baltimore, MD, who will be doing a documentary on the Center of North America.
The Commission entered into a recess at 1:00 pm.
The meeting was called back into session at 1:30 pm.
The Final Budget was discussed. Line items were cut. Discussion was held on wage increases. Alice Grinsteinner, HR/EM, stated that employees are the #1 asset for the county.
Rob Schmidt moved and Lee Husfloen seconded the motion for a $1.00 per hour wage increase. Discussion was held. Dave Berger stated he would like to see $1.25 per hour increase. Dave Berger moved and Rob Schmidt seconded the motion to amend the previous motion from $1.00 per hour to $1.25 per hour with no increases for Commissioners, temporary employees, new hires in 2025 and no increase to board member pay. All in favor, none opposed; motion to amend the previous motion carried. A roll call vote was held on the motion to approve a $1.25 per hour increase for employees with no increases for Commissioners, temporary employees, new hires in 2025 and no increase to board member pay; Rob Schmidt-Aye, Dave Berger-Aye, Lee Husfloen-Nay. The motion for $1.25 per hour increase for employees with no increases for Commissioners, temporary employees, new hires in 2025 and no increase to board member pay passes.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:02 pm.
The next meeting of the Oliver County Commission will be at 1:00 PM, November 6th, 2025 at the Oliver County Courthouse meeting room.
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Jaden Schmidt, Oliver County Auditor Lee Husfloen, Chairman of the Board