SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, February 13, 2001; 11:25 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Aaron Carew, Terry Glowack, Susan Congrave, Dennis Hummitzsch; Reporters Laurel Beager

2001/02-29 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-30 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes of the February 6, 2001 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-31 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper requesting the KEDA to research and recommend County support of the proposed tax free zone legislation. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck met with Senator Lessard, Representative Anderson and Lobbyist Corey Elmer in St. Paul on Monday, February 12, 2001 to discuss the proposed legislation to eliminate the Attached Machinery Aid. Senator Lessard feels strongly that the Governor’s budget bill will have many changes due to the number of proposals being challenged. Senator Lessard’s position is to have the aid rolled into another local government aid for a no net loss to the counties. Representative Anderson’s position will be to have the proposal deleted completely. Our lobbyist will work with our legislators and keep the Board informed of the situation. A draft letter to the House and Senate Tax Committee was reviewed in this meeting and recommended for distribution to the tax committees from the County Board. Everyone is in agreement to work together to get this issue resolved. Senator Lessard stated that we might have to wait until the final days of the legislative session as this is when these types of bills are reconciled. Our lobbyist is researching whether the cities’ attached machinery aid was rolled into another aid when it was eliminated. Senator Lessard stated that his name is on the Governor’s bill as an independent party member but this does not mean he agrees with everything in it. Commissioner Chezick stated that he would request ACA to provide support but did not think they would carry this as a major issue. Commissioner Hanson stated that he would be willing to attend the Senate Tax Hearing on February 15, 2001 in St. Cloud and provide the Board’s testimony and will seek the advice of the lobbyist.

2001/02-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Assignment of Securities as requested by the Treasurer. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Complex Superintendent requested direction from the Board for placing a service window in the Court Administration Office. The City of International Falls Engineer and Building Inspector inspected the wall and agreed that the wall is a support wall, not a load bearing wall, and thought a service window could be put in. They stated that due to the red clay structure, steel frames would need to be inserted, which will be costly. They also stated they would not guarantee the wall would not crumble. Also the dust created by taking out this wall will cause major dust problems and will have to be controlled for health and damage reasons. Commissioner Chezick stated that the Heritage Committee is opposed to disturbing the historical structure of the courthouse. From research conducted by the Historical Society Director, dust control will be a major issue and there is no guarantee the wall will not crumble. In reviewing the situation, the County Board was in agreement that the upside of providing the service window does not outweigh the risks involved in providing it.

2001/02-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck sending the matter back to the Management Committee to review other service options for the Court Administration Office due to the reluctance of the Board to support placing a service window in the historical support wall. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried. MOTION RESCINDED – SEE 2001/02-43

2001/02-34 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to renew a contract with River Oaks Home Health Care for waiver services for six months as recommended by the Public Health Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/02-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve a service contract with Maggie McBride from February 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002 for Youth Activities Coordinator as recommended by the Public Health Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck; abstaining: McBride; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/02-36 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride approving a right-of-way permit to Everett L. Jacobs for ingress and egress from UT 117 to the property line where the Jacob’s home exists with payment of the standard $100 one-time permit fee. Permit crosses land to be offered on pending land sale. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/02-37 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Land Commissioner to solicit and contract for two park attendants for the Rainy River early fishing season and to request funding contribution from Lake of the Woods County at last years level but may request reimbursement of one half of the cost. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/02-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck approving Koochiching County’s participation in the 2001-2002 Beaver Damage Control Program under the Beaver Damage Control Joint Powers Board. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/02-39 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to set the County’s Land Sale for March 27, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. and approving an addition to the purchase regulations that purchase will not be allowed by anyone having payments overdue on County land sale contracts. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper; absent for vote: Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner informed the Board that the City of International Falls is requesting that tracts 28, 32 and 34 be removed from the County’s land sale. The DNR also changed their position on removal of tract 68 and now approves placing it in the land sale. They also requested that consideration be given to removing tracts 74 and 79 due to metallic mineral potential.

2001/02-40 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick approving the request by the City of International Falls to remove tracts 28, 32 and 34 from the County's land sale. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-41 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to add usage of a gravel pit in the Northome area to the agenda. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck stated that the matter of County access to their gravel sources in the Northome area, which is under dispute with a private land owner, is still unresolved and requested action to get this resolved.

2001/02-42 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Board Chair to confer with the County Attorney as to the status of the dispute with a private individual with regards to County access to a gravel pit and further, empowering the Board Chair to obtain legal counsel to bring action on the matter as recommended by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:15 p.m. No public comment was provided.

2001/02-43 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper rescinding Board Motion 2001/02-33 deferring service options for the Court Office to the Management Committee and further, denying the request for a service window in the Court Administration Office due to the risk of the support wall crumbling, health and equipment damage risks associated with the amount of dust that will be created in taking out the wall and due to the fact that said wall is a historical structure. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-44 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 12:23 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.