Board Minutes

for

March 20, 2001

 

 

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 20, 2001; 9:45 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Ann Scholler, Doug Grindall, Richard Lehtinen, Joe McGaver, Dale Olson, Gene Friend, Arlan and Debra Gunnerson; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2001/03-35 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

2001/03-36 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes of the March 13 and 17 meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

000 Board received notice of the following temporary hire: Julie Johnson in the Public Health Department and Evelyn Roche in the Treasurer’s Department.

2001/03-37 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $35,643.79 with detail on file in the Highway Department and to authorize the City of International Falls to make payment out of their West Kooch Waterline Account in the amount of $8,782.62 to the City of International Falls for maintenance, administration, accounting and collection costs for the years 1994 through 1998. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

2001/03-38 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to authorize an amendment to the County’s Joint Powers Policy incorporating insurance and indemnification requirements as recommended by MCIT and the Assistant Auditor. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

000 The Board received a legislative update from AMC for review. The County’s lobbyist has tentatively set a meeting for March 29th at 11:00 a.m. in St. Paul with the Board and MN Planner Dean Barkley to discuss the impact of the Governor’s budget on Koochiching County and to discuss the MPCA’s basin planning process. A lobbyist report was also provided the Board with an update on the attached machinery aid and the Biomass sales tax exemption. Reports on file in the Administration Office. The County Board will attend the AMC Legislative Conference on March 28 and 29, 2001 in St. Paul.

000 A citizens petition was submitted to the Board supporting the County Board and backing water and recreational rights in Voyageurs National Park. Commissioner Lepper stated that he received a call from a member of an area recreational club and was informed that the club members had a sports show out of town on Saturday and called to thank the Board for their support. The Board Chair stated that the Chamber requested a joint letter be sent to the President and the Secretary of the Interior requesting the General Management Plan is put on hold. Commissioner Pavleck was informed that the Park Service contacted television stations requesting their film from Saturday’s event and that one station refused them. He hoped that the Superintendent would keep her word as she stated in the media not to charge individuals. As for our next step, we move forward and meet with the Secretary of the Interior to state our case as to why the superintendent’s management of the Park is harmful to our people and economy. He stated that Senator Lessard is waiting for the Board to contact him to help set the meeting with the Secretary of Interior. Commissioner Chezick and Lepper will be meeting with St. Louis County Board members tomorrow and will get a report on what had transpired at the meeting in Washington D.C. with officials from the Interior on Voyageurs National Park. Commissioner Lepper stated that our plan has always been to get to Washington D.C. and now we need to pursue our meeting with the Secretary of the Interior. Commissioner Chezick stated that he would contact legal counsel to advise the Board on legal matters. Commissioner Pavleck stated that there will be no peace in the Park until we get a superintendent to work with us and we need to get this change from Washington. Commissioner McBride agrees. The Board has a story to tell and believes the new administration will understand our issues. Commissioner Pavleck publicly thanked Congressman Oberstar for his efforts in trying to resolve this issue for the Board and Representative Anderson who was front and center in supporting the Board. The Board Chair reappointed Commissioners Pavleck and Chezick to pursue a meeting with the Secretary of the Interior and to seek legal counsel for the Board and report next week.

2001/03-39 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair to sign a letter with the Chamber of Commerce requesting the General Management Plan for Voyageurs National Park is put on hold. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

2001/03-40 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck directing the Board to send thank you letters to the businesses and volunteers for their donations to Saturday’s snowmobile event. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

000 The Board Chair presented a copy of the Chamber of Commerce’s website and stated that the site was very informative and very well done. He asked the Board to view the site when they get a chance.

2001/03-41 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for culvert, road oil and timber bridge material bids. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

2001/03-42 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bridge replacement bids for County Road 101 and 82. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried

000 The Environmental Service Director provided the Board the Source Reduction Art Contest calendars with drawings from the twelve winners. The top three winners received cash prizes. There were no entries from Koochiching County last year so the Department visited each six-grade class to encourage participation this year.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that the boring work needed for the design plan for the Jackfish Bay Wastewater Treatment System is not part of the Ayres Contract cost and therefore is an additional project cost. Ayres received a bid from AET, Inc. in the amount of $8,410.00 and recommends the County contract with the company as it saves money. If the system plan is to be submitted to the State by June, then the boring work has to be done in April so this leaves a very tight timeline in finding other options to get the geotechnical work done. The Board asked why they were not made aware of this issue. Mr. McGaver from Ayres Associates stated he brought this up at the last meeting but he must not have made it clear as the Director was unaware of the issue also. Commissioner Chezick asked if the Highway Department could do the work. Mr. McGaver stated that they probably could because they are looking to see if there is rock, not any specialized boring work. The Environmental Service Director stated that he did talk with the Highway Engineer and he stated that the department contracts this work. Mr. McGaver stated that the date for submitting the plan to the state could be delayed which would give the county more time to consider the boring work. He also stated that the bid by AET, Inc. is a very good price.

2001/03-43 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to authorize an additional $8,410.00 of expenditure in the 2001 Environmental Service Budget for boring work for the Jackfish Bay Wastewater Sewer System Project with the unreserved fund balance to cover the expenditure if there is insufficient budget surplus at year end to cover the additional expense. Motion further accepts the bid of $8,410.00 from American Engineering Testing, Inc. for geotechnical work. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; abstaining: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Board was presented with a recommended billing policy from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) to eliminate late payment of tipping fees. Gene Friend asked how the Board could not charge penalty on past due amounts. The County charges it on late taxes? He is protesting the payment agreement with Fiedler on the past due amounts owed the County because he is not being charged any penalty. If you give him a break then everyone should get a break. The Environmental Service Director stated that SWAC discussed this and the County Attorney has reviewed the draft policy. The penalty applied in the policy is the inability to dump at the transfer station if payments are not made. Commissioner Pavleck stated that this policy treats everyone equal and that the arrears issue shouldn’t have happened but since it did, the County needed to put together an agreement to clean it up and get what is owned them. The Director stated that the agreement with Fiedler is the current charge plus 1%, which goes towards paying off the arrears. As other debts are paid off, this amount will increase. There is no monetary penalty charged however. Commissioner McBride stated that this policy goes forward to prevent this from happening again – we have to move forward. Commissioner Pavleck agrees. It was noted that penalty for late payment of taxes is a statutory requirement.

2001/03-44 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride accepting the recommendation of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for a billing policy for all licensed haulers and private contractors who utilize County owned disposal facilities with a policy change to reflect that payment is due within 45 days from the date the bill is sent. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director was asked to set up a meeting with the other seven counties involved in the Rainy Basin Planning on March 29 in the morning so that the Board can receive their comments and present them when they meet with MN Planner and MPCA at 11:00 a.m. in St. Paul.

2001/03-45 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried