News

County candidates answer questions

By Bottineau Courant Staff

09/25/2012

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

KVEUM: Verdean Kveum

KJELSHUS: Lance Kjelshus

WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER?

KVEUM: I want to do what I can to insure that Bottineau County is a safe and prosperous place to live and raise a family.

KJELSHUS: To work with all commissioners to protect and advance Bottineau County so future generations have the opportunities that I and so many others have been fortunate enough to enjoy and use to make a living.
 
WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER?

KVEUM: I have been a Bottineau County Commissioner since 1980 and before that a blade operator for 10 years. I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge about county
government during this time and made many contacts locally and state wide that are
beneficial to the county. I served on the North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas
Producing Counties for 9 years and I am presently on the North Dakota Association of
Counties. This group offers many services to the counties and closely monitors
legislation concerning counties.

KJELSHUS: 38 years – managed and operated family farm; 33 years – Township supervisor; 12 years – Director for local Cenex Coop; 15 years – School Board Member.                                                                                        

HOW DO YOU FEEL ROADWAYS IN RURAL AREAS SHOULD BE FINANCIALLY CARED FOR WITHOUT IT BECOMING A FINCIAL BURDEN TO THE TAXPAYERS IN THOSE AREAS?

KVEUM: There is no way that our rural roads can be cared for without some local taxpayer
responsibility, but it is my job to pursue all other sources, such as state and federal
matching money, oil impact and oil tax revenue and any other type of funding that may
be available.

KJELSHUS: Rural roadways do have to be cared for by the people that use the infrastructure, but I think by working with the local legislators we should be able to have more money that has already been designated towards roads come back to our local townships and counties.

HOW MUCH CONTROL SHOULD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE CONCERNING COUNTY EMPLOYEES?

KVEUM: It is the responsibility of the Department Head to make sure the employees in their
department are getting the job done. If that is not happening or there are other concerns,
then the commissioners need to get involved.

KJELSHUS: Each department in the county should have a job description with a department supervisor in charge. Those guidelines should be followed by the employees and the commissioners should meet with the department supervisors when needed.

WHAT IS THE FIRST TASK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO UNDERTAKE AND WHY?

KVEUM: I do not have a particular “agenda”. I will make sure we continue to provide the needed services, maintain our infrastructure, be progressive where ever we can and doing all this at the least possible cost to the taxpayers.

KJELSHUS: The first task I would under take would be to study the budget for the new year and to become aware of the current projects and the projects that have been designated to happen.