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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Richard Lehtinen, Jim Hummel; Reporters Doug Skrief and
Roger Jerome

2001/02-45 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-46 Motion by McBride, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2001 special meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-47 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck directing a letter be sent to VNP Superintendent Barb West from the full County Board stating their strong objection to her recent action to deny the permit for the radar run on lake Kabetogama and questioning her commitment for establishing a cooperative agreement with the counties. Said letter to be copied to the Secretary of the Interior, National Park Service Acting Director and Regional Director, Federal and State representatives, and the St. Louis County Board. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice that Lynn Rogers was hired as a full-time dispatch/jailer with a starting date of February 14, 2001.

2001/02-48 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $46,981.14 with payment detail on file in the Highway Department. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-49 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve the appointment of Dan Traska as the Chamber representative on the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Board of Directors as recommended by the CVB and Chamber Boards. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-50 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve the revised Minnesota Counties Information Systems Joint and Cooperative Agreement and By-Laws with revisions as outlined in the drafts presented to the Board. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received copies of proposed legislation for a Cold Weather Testing Center, Bear Center, Red Lake Watershed manager, and monitored by the lobbyist at the County’s request. Commissioner Hanson stated that he was meeting with Representative Anderson this evening in St. Paul to discuss pending legislative items including the attached machinery aid proposal. He stated that AMC is in full support of retaining the attached machinery aid for the counties. Commissioner Chezick stated that he would request a resolution of support from ACA on this matter as it impacts three of their member counties. The Coordinator stated that a letter from the Board was mailed to the full House and Senate Tax Committees requesting their support to retain the attached machinery aid with copies to the twelve other counties receiving the aid and School District 361. The Coordinator stated that new information is under review which assumes the attached machinery aid would be added to the county levy and that this levy increase would be offset by the State’s takeover of school funding and elimination of the school levy. Though the levy increase would be offset in this scenario, the taxpayers of Koochiching County would not benefit from the large tax reduction that other counties would receive with the state providing funding for schools. Commissioner Pavleck stated that proposed legislation for the cold weather testing facility is designed to gain the support of neighboring counties and stated that the cold box is operational and utilized.

2001/02-51 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick approving e-mail and internet hookups for workstations in the Sheriff’s Office as listed on the Request Form and per County policy. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/02-52 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride authorizing employee Lynn Rogers to remain in the PERA Police and Fire Fund with her transfer from part-time Sheriff deputy to full-time dispatch/jailer, thereby waiving her enrollment in the Correctional Plan as allowed under MS 353.64, subdivision 5A. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director stated that by the end of March, A.R.D.C. intends to publish a draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Koochiching County which will go to public hearings in Northome, Littlefork and International Falls during mid-April. The draft plan will then be reviewed by the Steering Committee and go to the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners for public hearings in May and June. It is during this drafting process that the Steering Committee will have to decide a direction for the plan. Commissioner Pavleck asked if Voyageurs National Park staff have been involved in the planning process? The Director stated that they have been invited to participate but have not been in attendance. Commissioner Lepper stated that upon receiving the new census data, the Planning Commission would begin looking at the County’s zoning ordinance for revisions. The Director stated that A.R.D.C. provided a GIS overlay of the County’s zoning, which is very useful to the County.

2001/02-53 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck accepting the recommendation of the Planning Commission in granting CUP #0101 to Glen Wright on County Road 32 for a combination rental cabin/riding stable type of wilderness retreat and in granting REZ #0101 to Edith Novotny, Kenneth Etienne and Bennie Jesse on County Road 77 from O-1 to AF-1 as the existing dwellings are not seasonal. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is requesting assistance from the County for preparation of federally-mandated source water assessments for transient surface water based non-community public water supply systems. There are sixty-three systems in Minnesota with six located in Koochiching County. In exchange for our assistance, MDH will pay approximately $1,200 per assessment. The six businesses in Koochiching County impacted by the assessment mandate are aware of the matter but without specifics. The Board stated their concern with not knowing what will be done with the results when the project is completed and requested more detail as to the purpose and use of the assessment. They also requested that the six businesses be provided all information for review and comment.

2001/02-54 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick requesting the Environmental Service Director to provide the six businesses in Koochiching County that are under the federally-mandated source water assessment for water based non-community public water supply systems all information on the project from the MN Department of Health for their review and comment and to inform the Board and businesses as to its purpose and use. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Chief Park Ranger Jim Hummel met with the Board in the absence of Superintendent Barb West to discuss her recent action in denying the permit for the radar run on lake Kabetogoma. Mr. Hummel stated that the activity has been permitted for many years and that based on overwhelming public comment and support received from the General Management Plan (GMP), the Superintendent denied the permit for the special use zone. Commissioner Pavleck stated his disappointment and disbelief as he thought we were moving to form a cooperative agreement and working relationship, not adding to the mistrust. Mr. Hummel understood the Board’s position on this and will discuss the matter with the Superintendent. He continued to state that the Superintendent notified the organization last year that this would be the last year of the permit which she felt gave them enough time to make other arrangements. Commissioner Hanson asked how the Superintendent could implement the General Management Plan if it was not formally adopted? Mr. Hummel stated that the Superintendent based her decision on comments received from the GMP and her discretion as a superintendent. The GMP is a measuring tool only. Mr. Hummel agrees that the County Board should have been involved in the spirit of cooperation. Commissioner Hanson stated two issues – water resource planning and denial of the special zone permit – have come from the GMP, even though it has not been adopted. Commissioner Lepper stated that the radar run is a monetary means for the resorts so asking them to move the event to another location does not make sense. He also requested copies of the public comment that the Superintendent based her decision on and asked how the comment came to be? He asked whether the Superintendent based her decision on any scientific evidence and/or considered the precedent set or did she make the decision based solely on her feelings. Mr. Hummel stated that 36 letters were in support of the radar run and 731 were against and that the letters were received during the public comment period for the GMP. Commissioner Chezick asked whether this public comment asked for immediate cessation of the run? Mr. Hummel stated that the comment was collected for the GMP so was not time specific. Commissioner Chezick stated that Memorandums of Agreement with the County and the Park have expired and asked what their plans were to renew them. He also stated that the Superintendent’s action on denial of the special zone permit makes it very awkward for moving forward on establishing cooperative agreements. Mr. Hummel stated that he is in the process of reviewing these Memorandums of Agreement and informed the Board that Denis Galvin is now the acting National Park Service Director and that a letter from him to the Board is forthcoming. Commissioner Chezick stated that he has requested in writing, Mr. Galvin’s position on the request to hold the GMP adoption until a cooperative agreement and management council are formed as there is a difference of opinion with the County and Superintendent on this. Commissioner McBride stated that the Superintendent’s action is reprehensible in light of current efforts to establish a cooperative agreement and does not appreciate her callousness. In addition, every little restriction the Park puts in place hurts the County economically. Mr. Hummel agreed that the economic impact to the County should have been considered. The Board thanked Mr. Hummel for providing them information and stated that they will request the Superintendent’s presence at the next meeting to further discuss this matter.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:14 a.m. No public comment was presented.

2001/02-55 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to adjourn the meeting at 11:15 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.