Board Minutes

for

May 1, 2001

 

 

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, May 01, 2001; 9:45 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, Lepper, Chezick

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioners Pavleck and McBride

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Doug Grindall, Dennis Hummitzsch, Harry Swendsen, Richard Lehtinen; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2001/05-01 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-02 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes of the April 24, 2001 special meeting with correction. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-03 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to approve payment of the Auditor bills in the amount of $107,844.95 which includes $96.60 of non-board expenditures and to approve payment in the amount of $3,620.37 to Flaherty and Hood, P.A. for lobbyist service with payment from the Administration Legislation Budget. Payment detail on file in the Auditor’s Office. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-04 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to amend Board Motion 2001/04-24 that the appointment of Doug Talley to the MCIS Board of Directors replaces the County Auditor and retains Assistant Auditor Ann Scholler as the alternate MCIS Board representative. Further that individuals will hold the interim appointment until such time as the County’s Information Systems Structure is established. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-05 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant an abatement to Leonard Dougherty as property was classed non-homestead due to the late completion of a probate and deeding of property. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-06 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper directing that all County bulk paper orders are Boise Cascade brand paper. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-07 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper canceling the regular Board meetings for July and August. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-08 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick that in view of County Policy allowing County facilities to be used for county business, that the Board will follow policy and not allow offices to be used for non-county business as requested by the Auditor. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-09 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper notifying the Koochiching Con Con Committee Chairman of the Board’s agreement to meet in the Birchdale area as requested and that notification of the meeting date will be provided when determined by the Board. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-10 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to approve the renewal of a Forestland Lease with the Occupational Development Center for a 130 square foot office in the lower level of the building for one year with no change in terms. Voting yes: Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board received the draft House Tax Bill which contains attached machinery aid for the County. The Senate Tax Bill will be out this week, which appears to preserve the attached machinery aid for the County.

000 No new information or discussion was provided for Voyageurs National Park business.

2001/05-11 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for Hired Truck bids. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 Due to the lack of Board members, the Board Chair deferred the Subordinate Service Taxing District proposal to own facilities and operate programs within the School District 361 boundary to a future meeting when all members are present.

000 The Board Chair stated that he attended the Historical Society’s annual meeting and banquet and it was very well attended.

2001/05-12 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick accepting the recommendation of the Land Commissioner to approve a road right-of-way for the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs for the purpose of access to and for the improvement of the O’leary Bridge in the Nett Lake Reservation with right-of-way being within the North ½ of the NW ¼, Section 4, Township 65N, Range 23W. Motion further waives the right-of-way fee. County approval is required due to having undivided interest in the property. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-13 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the April Board of Prisoners claim in the amount of $2,415.00 with detail on file in the Auditor’s Office. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-14 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper changing the Littlefork Canister Site hours for Saturday to 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (from noon to 5:00 p.m.) as recommended by the Environmental Service Director (due to public requests for the change). Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick approving a contract with the Occupational Development Center for clean up of litter due to hauling to the transfer station along Highway 11-71 and County Road 107 as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-16 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to table action on the request to add more property to the Mizpah Canister Site for collection of yard waste to allow the Environmental Service Director to further review the proposed site lease agreement with the City of Mizpah. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/05-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick confirming the Planning Commission’s appointment of Keith Sutherland to the Board of Adjustment. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Board was provided a proposal requesting their endorsement to the preparation of an Economic Development Strategic Plan for the area included in ISD #361 with the intent that the Board will consider the plan’s adoption upon its completion. It is the intent to add this plan to the County’s comprehensive land use plan and later look at developing this type of plan for the rest of the County. This request comes from the Blandin Community Investment Partnership of the Greater International Falls area and is supported by the KEDA. A strategic plan has been deemed a high priority by the Partnership’s Steering Committee and will carry out three priorities: 1) economic development; 2) telecommunications advancement; 3) creation of a multi-generational community center. The Blandin Foundation has grant funds available with applications due June 1, 2001. There is a local cash and in-kind match of twenty-five percent. Commissioner Lepper stated his need to know more on the actual cost to the County and how it will affect the entire county. He also asked whether this plan included a study on the AB/Backus building. The Environmental Director stated that AB/Backus building was not a part of this project. He believes the cost will be around $50,000, depending on consultant quotes received, and that County’s share would be around $5,000 to $10,000 of cash and in-kind contribution. What the group is seeking today from the Board, is their support of the project for application of Blandin grant funds. International Falls Mayor Swendsen stated that this project will provide better planning and coordination of economic development for the area and is a continued process from the 1999 Blandin Leadership Program on community focus. Commissioner Chezick stated that the grant funds may be start up funds only and that as we get deeper into the project, the county and cities will have to contribute more dollars to keep the project moving. Also he needs to discuss the proposal with the full Board and also needs more information on the plan’s outcome and costs. Mayor Swendsen stated that the City of International Falls supported the project but did not commit any funds. Commissioner Lepper again stated his need for more information so he can justify it to the taxpayers and citizens not included in the plan. We have limited economic development resources and we need to be prudent on how we use them. The Environmental Service Director stated that the Steering Committee has its next meeting on May 9 so deferring the issue until next week would not impact their timeline for submitting a grant application. He stated that two KEDA members are on the Steering Committee and intend to dove tail this plan with the KEDA’s economic development plan. Commissioner Hanson stated his full support for the project as there is a need for an International Falls area plan and there is also very good community representation overseeing the project. Due to the request for more information and lack of Board members, the Board Chair deferred the item to the May 8, 2001 Board agenda for further review and consideration. (Per approval of the May 1, 2001 minutes on May 8, 2001, Board Motion 2001/05-22, the Board agreed to an addendum to this discussion that there has been no formal position taken by the KEDA supporting this proposed economic development strategic plan per the KEDA Board Chair.)

2001/05-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to table the request to purchase and install a Web-based Permit Processing System. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Lepper informed the Board and Environmental Service Director that leachate has been leaking from our ponds at the Transfer Station into a nearby creek, polluting it and the waters its runs into. These ponds are the responsibility of the State and the State needs to rectify the problem. If the State does not rectify this problem, the County will take whatever action is needed to force correction and cleanup.

2001/05-19 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick directing the Board Chair to send a letter to the MPCA demanding the leachate ponds be pumped as required and to rectify the spillage and pollution problems caused by the leakage of the leachate. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:28 a.m. No comment was presented.

2001/05-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to adjourn the meeting at 3:30 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick. Motion carried.