REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 2, 2001; 10:00 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Doug Grindall, Mike Lemieux, Duane Nelson, Richard Lehtinen, Susan Congrave; Reporter Laurel Beager

2001/01-01 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/01-02 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2000 regular meeting and correcting a sentence in the December 14, 2000 minutes that the Board’s position is for an agreement with authority. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/01-03 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve payment of $557.00 to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. for personnel legal service for October and November, 2000 with payment from the Administration Budget; to approve payment of $2,500.00 to NCLUCB for 2001 membership dues with payment from the Administration – Resource Management Budget; to approve reimbursement of $1,290.55 to Commissioner Wade Pavleck for purchase of a County personal computer with payment from the County Board Budget; and to approve payment of the 2001 AMC membership dues in the amount of $5,633.00 to be split between General Revenue, Highway and Community Services Funds and to approve 2001 membership dues for the MN Association of County Social Service in the amount of $394.00 and the Local Public Health Association in the amount of $402.00 with payment from the respective County Departments. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

20001/01-04 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to award the low and only 2001 publication bid to the Daily Journal and Northome Record as a joint bid with a 4% rate increase from 2000 rates. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

20001/01-05 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck approving the 2000 Pay Equity Implementation Report and authorizing Board Chair’s signature to said Report. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

0000 The Board Chair requested from the Board members a listing of their preferred and non-preferred Board appointments for the year 2001 and that until such time as the Chair makes its appointments, members will retain their 2000 appointments.

000 Mike Lemieux submitted a request to the Board to vacate a portion of right-of-way on County Road 20 as his garage encroaches 4 ½ feet into the right-of-way. This issue was discovered when the buyer of his property could not obtain title insurance due to this encroachment on County property. In order for him to sell the property, this portion of the right-of-way needs to be vacated or sold to the property owner. The Highway Engineer stated that the County Attorney advised that the County vacate the property rather than sell it. Mr. Lemieux also requested Board’s consideration in waiving the vacation fee as the 1958 garage was on the property long before the County acquired the road from the State and before the sewer system was put in. The Highway Engineer cautioned the Board in setting a precedent of waiving the fee for this reason as he does not know how many other properties may exist in County right-of-ways. The Board agreed that they need more detail before consideration could be given on waiving the vacation fee.

2001/01-06 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to set a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment on a vacation request by Mike Lemieux for a portion of C.S.A.H. No. 20 right-of-way encroached on by a garage located on Lot 21, Brennens Beach. The Board will set the public hearing for January 16, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioners Chezick and Pavleck stated that due to the Christmas holidays, there was no progress on the cooperative agreement with the National Park Service for a joint management council. It is planned to meet with St. Louis County to discuss steps to draft the agreement and to obtain legal counsel for the work group. It is also their intent to keep the Board and public informed of their progress and will report to the Board on the first and third Board meetings of each month.

000 The Sheriff presented the Board a quote of $12,090.00 for five defibrillators for Sheriff patrol as requested by the Board. Price per unit is $2,418.00 and no funds were budgeted for this purchase. The Sheriff stated that there are grant programs for purchase of these machines but there is nothing active at this time and that there is a one-hour training course for use of the defibrillators. Since patrol officers are first on the scene, the Board agreed that lives would be saved if the patrol officers had defibrillators in their possession.

2001/01-07 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to authorize expenditure up to $13,000 from the Administration Project Budget for five defibrillators for the Sheriff’s Department and to accept the quote of MedTronics Corp. in the amount of $12,090.00. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.

2001/01-08 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride authorizing the Sheriff to seek bids for two new squad cars. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board received a recommendation from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Environmental Service Department for a payment plan for Fiedler’s Hauling Service, which provides the best return for the County.

2001/01-09 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to agree to the terms recommended by Solid Waste Advisory Committee in the Fiedler Hauling Service payment plan for a period of six months and that approval of the terms specifically prohibits staff from deviating from the payment deadlines as outlined in the agreement. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.

2001/01-10 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick authorizing the Board Chair to send letters of appreciation to the members of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for their work. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that the Advisory Committee for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project will meet on January 23, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ranier Community Building to provide a status report on project funding and a viewing of the sewer alignment.

2001/01-11 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to approve a contract with Deer River Health Care Center for CAC home care services to residents within Koochiching County, upon review of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.

2001/01-12 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to approve a luncheon meeting with A.R.D.C. on January 18, 2001 in Duluth as a Board activity. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.

2001/01-13 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick directing the Board Chair to initiate an investigation, including setting meetings, of alleged complaints relative to the Community Service Agency. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:20 a.m. No public comment was presented.

2001/01-14 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: Lepper. Motion carried.