The Ramsey County Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chambers of the Ramsey County Courthouse.
Following the Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Approval of Minutes a couple of items were added to the agenda and then that, too, was approved with those changes.
The ND State Veteran Services Officer (VSO) Brian Waters, appearing remotely through TEAMS, presented his recommendations regarding the county’s search for a new VSO and his justification for possibly a part-time employee to also be included in the plan since following the departure of Bryce Crosby, the Ramsey County VSO had expanded the outreach to local veterans, both in this county and surrounding participating counties. Waters spoke about the financial benefits to the county as a result of the work that Crosby had done with local veterans with every dollar spent returning approximately $101 to the county itself. Quite a return on their investment.
It was decided that Waters’ presentation should be given to the other counties participating, too, so they can see how valuable the return on their investment truly is. Waters agreed to do that.
He also agreed to come to Devils Lake perhaps once a month to meet with veterans seeking assistance until a new VSO could be found for this office. The commission agreed that when Waters plans to come, they will get the word out so local veterans can meet with him with their questions and situations and possibly get his help with them, or where they could go for help, if he isn’t able to do it himself.
Then Jason Kraft, County Highway Superintendent came to the podium to give his report. He brought with him an employee of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department regarding the changing the designation of Fenster Slough to Fenster Lake. The commissioners had a number of questions for Bryan Sea regarding access and work needed to help with deterioration to the roadway from wave action on the lake. Daniel Howell also questioned when this all came under Game and Fish. Sea responded that as Devils Lake continued to rise they had measured its depth and although local farmers and landowners wanted some water taken off Fenster, Sea said that water removal was not something that was the jurisdiction of the ND Game and Fish.
Following that presentation, area resident Steve Biby then stepped up to the podium asking for the commission to reconsider their plans for the inundated bridge and road south of Churchs Ferry. He explained that just a few truckloads of gravel might do the trick for the bridge as the water goes down. However, the commission questioned the bridge’s designation since it was built in the 1980s and has been underwater, more or less, for twenty yours or more.
Much discussion surrounded this issue and similar situations for as many as six to eight bridges on the Mauvais Coulee in the Lake Region, however, nothing was decided and the issue tabled until the next meeting of the commission.
Other business addressed included a Letter of Support for the Devils Lake Outlets, Opiod Litigation, and honoring national fallen firefighters the week of April 26 – May 2.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Ramsey County Commission will be at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5 in the Ramsey County Courthouse, Devils Lake, ND.
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