Elected? Appointed? Answer still unclear

The elected position for the Foster County Auditor will most likely stand for the time being, but the discussion was tabled due to the absence of commissioner Scott Beumer at the last commission meeting.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, May 3, commissioner Becky Hagel said she spoke to several people about the question of how the board should proceed.

She said she learned that to be a write-in on the November ballot in the General Election, a candidate would need 10 percent of the votes from the last election, which would be the 2020 election.

At this point, no one’s name can be printed on the Primary Election ballot, and anyone wanting the position should begin campaigning as a write-in.

The two people with the most write-in votes will proceed to the General Election in November.

Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster reported that the board can decide whether or not to make the auditor position an appointed position after the Primary Election.

In other business:

• The board accepted the resignation of Aaron Devereaux, Foster County Emergency Manager.

The board will advertise for the position.

Devereaux said he will help out until a suitable person can be found.

• The board heard from county engineer Mike Rivinius about the chip sealing bid.

He said with prices for materials currently sky-high, the bid came in about $40,000 over the estimated cost.

The engineer’s estimate came in at $686,755, but the actual bid was $821,291, or $39,109 per mile.

A motion was passed to continue with the chip sealing project.

• Interim Auditor Ellen Roundy said she reached out to someone who could help her with the Primary Election.

The board agreed to increase the pay for election assistants to $15.16 per hour, an increase from 2020.

• Commissioner Alan Scanson reported that the people in charge of the community garden have found a spot within the city of Carrington to have the garden, so they will not be utilizing the county-owned property north of the courthouse.

• Commissioner David Utke reported that all of the commissioners will receive nd.gov emails for county business.

• Foster County Road Superintendent Nate Monson reported that there are six county road closed including: two in Estabrook Township, one in Longview Township, one in Wyard Township, the Clark/Hart Bridge and one in Rosehill Township.

Finally, Monson said that road load restrictions are still on.