Koochiching County Board Minutes 9-11-01

Board Minutes

for

September 11, 2001

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 11, 2001; 10:05 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Jim Kalstad, Marty Cody, Roger Andrascik, Terry Murray, Richard Lehtinen; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2001/09-10 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-11 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes of the September 4, 2001 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was notified that Richard Lee Mastin was hired as a part time deputy on August 28, 2001.

2001/09-12 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick authorizing Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s August vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Assessor requested funding in the amount of $5,000 to obtain an appraisal on the K Mart store due to lawsuits filed in tax court on all K Mart stores in the State. The larger counties have prevailed in court so now it appears the Attorney is going after the smaller counties. There is a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 21, 2001 at which time our Attorney will resubmit a motion to dismiss the case. If we do not prevail, an appraisal will need to be done for our defense in tax court. The Assessor intends on hiring an appraiser who has already done a number of K Mart appraisals for other small counties involved in these lawsuits. Commissioner Chezick stated a group appraisal would be cheaper and benefit all counties involved in this matter and the Assessor agreed. Commissioner Pavleck stated that Board members are meeting with staff from the Attorney General’s Office on Friday of this week and will discuss this issue with them.

2001/09-13 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck empowering the Assessor to obtain appraisal service as deemed necessary to present our defense in the tax court case on the K Mart store with a price not to exceed $5,000 and to join efforts with other counties as needed to strengthen our defense and reduce cost. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-14 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to accept the recommendation of the Central Finance Team establishing a Central Finance System and adopting the Central Finance Manual as presented. Motion further approves a statement in the purpose section of the position descriptions for the Assistant Auditor and Community Service Fiscal Supervisor stating their oversight responsibility for central finance. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve, as fiscal agent, an extension of a service contract with the Lawler Group, L.L.C. on behalf of the Highway 53 Task Force for lobbyist service on the Highway 53 Project from June 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001 at the same monthly rate contingent on cost share by participating Task Force entities. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-16 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners agree to sponsor the Ridgerunner Snowmobile Club in the MN Trails Assistant Grant-In-Aid Program covering the Blue Ox ATV Trail. Sponsorship by the County requires that a Club/County Agreement be initiated. As sponsor, the County is accountable to the State for expenditures charged to the program; sponsorship does not require financial support or liability for cost from the County. The County Board does hereby authorize the required County signatures to said Grant-In-Aid Agreement. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck reported on his trip to Washington D.C. in which he and other local and state representatives met with the new National Park Director to discuss policy and procedures for the management of Voyageurs National Park. Regional Director William Schenk stated at the meeting that the proposed general management plan would not make major change in the park. However the local perspective is that the plan proposes to put into motion a number of other plans based on studies which would cause major change. Local representatives stated that the federal process for management decisions in Voyageurs National Park is flawed and requested the new National Park Director’s support to involve local and state governments in the process. The new Director’s position was that local and state governments be a part of the process and agreed to meet again after she has had time to review the information provided. The new Director also stated that if they were to look at a process like the Quincy Library Group, she would expect local and state governments to participate in the cost. Commissioner Pavleck stated that the intent of this meeting in Washington was to talk to top officials about local and state concerns with the lack of representation for the local people directly affected by Park decisions and with adding unnecessary restrictions to an underutilized Park. Discussion on the wilderness plan was held and we were advised to tread carefully with this matter as if it is placed on the table for a decision, if may not go the way we want it to. Senator Wellstone in another meeting asked officials how they felt about the citizen council. Commissioner Pavleck stated that the council failed because there were no elected officials to back it. Elected officials are responsible to represent all views and that the last council did not represent all views. Commissioner Lepper stated that funding for the Park’s ferry boat looked favorable and asked that Superintendent West touch base with the Board and report on the boat’s activity. Commissioner Chezick asked where local negotiations were. Commissioner McBride stated that because the general management plan was moving forward, County representatives felt it necessary to first meet with federal and state representatives to discuss processes and seek support for local involvement in Park management decisions.

2001/09-17 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper authorizing Board members’ attendance to a meeting with state and local officials on Friday, September 14, 2001 in St. Paul to discuss the State’s position with Voyageurs National Park. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-18 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to approve the renewal of two agreements with School District 361 for social work services, one agreement with School District 362 for social work services and one agreement with School District 363 for social work services as recommended by the KCCS Directorship. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-19 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to adopt a resolution approving an agreement between Koochiching County and the State Department of Natural Resources to acknowledge that DNR will administer LCMR Grant funds for Koochiching County’s GIS Parcel Base Project and whose release of funds is subject to certain legal restrictions and requirements:

WHEREAS, Koochiching County has been awarded a $70,000 grant to develop a parcel-base on its GIS system; and

WHEREAS, the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners strongly supports putting a parcel base on its GIS system; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Natural Resources is designated to administer all LCMR grants which are proceeds from the Minnesota Future Resources Fund.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board approves an Agreement between Koochiching County and the Department of Natural Resources for the DNR to administer the LCMR Grant subject to certain legal restrictions and requirements. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 A motion by Pavleck to set the County’s 2002 proposed net levy of $2,647,287 (same level as 2001 net levy with addition of $4,895 due to a levy calculation error in 2001) failed for a lack of a second.

2001/09-20 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride that due to long term commitments under consideration by the County, to set the 2002 proposed County net levy at $2,786,618 (same level as 1999 net levy) with the final 2002 levy determined in December 2001 after the Board has reviewed and set its proposed 2002 Budget and obtains information on the impact a levy increase will have on taxpayers. Voting yes: Hanson, Chezick; voting no: McBride, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion failed.

2001/09-21 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride approving the proposed 2002 County gross levy at $2,967,795 less HACA Aid of $26,501, (and less portion due to subordinate districts). The taxpayer’s share of the 2002 levy results in a three percent increase plus an additional $4,895 due to a levy calculation error in the 2001 levy. The 2002 proposed gross levy breakdown is as follows: General Revenue - $1,017,795; Community Service - $1,200,000; Public Health - $100,000; Highway - $400,000; Environmental Services - $150,000; Regional Corrections - $100,000. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick; voting no: Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-22 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to added a directive to fly the flag at half-mast for the victims of today’s attack on America. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-23 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck directing that the County fly the flag at half-mast for the victims of today’s attack on America. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-24 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to approve the following 2002 subordinate taxing district levies and respective service contracts: Littlefork Ambulance levy of $19,950 less HACA, Northome First Responders levy of $5,379 less HACA, and Rainy River First Responders levy $6,000 less HACA. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2000/09-25 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to approve the following 2002 tax levies for special taxing districts: Fire District 1 (Northome) levy of $7,643, Fire District 2 (Littlefork) levy of $33,767, Fire District 2 (Loman) levy of $7,637, Fire District 3 (Birchdale) levy of $6,000, Fire District 4 (Williams) levy of $2,000, and Fire District 5 (Big Falls) levy of $15,000. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.
000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:47 a.m. No comment was presented.
000 The Chair informed the Board that Marybeth Jacobs has resigned from her position as Extension Educator for Koochiching County, effective October 1, 2001.
2001/09-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride authorizing Board members’ attendance to an Alzheimer and Public Health Forum in Minneapolis on November 2, 2001. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.
000 Commissioner Chezick received a number of calls from property owners opposed to the Jackfish sewer system and stated that a vote on this project may come down to only three Board members as two members have property in the proposed area and may have a conflict of interest. He suggested a professional survey of the property owners so the County Board has a clear and objective report of their interest. Commissioner Pavleck stated that the Environmental Service Department along with the Jackfish Advisory Committee held at least three public meetings and made every effort to contact property owners to inform them of the proposed project and get their feedback. Commissioner Pavleck stated that without knowing the total amount of funding for this project, a survey now would have to be based on what if scenarios. If the group can achieve a $50 cost per household, he feels the majority will support the project. If the cost is higher, support will lessen. The property owners need to be aware that if the sewer system does not go in, many will need to comply with the State required system. The Board agreed to have Commissioner Chezick confer with the Northspan Group, Inc. for conducting a property owner survey on a proposed sewer system and with the Environmental Service Department and Advisory Group, bring back a recommendation.
2001/09-27 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 12:05 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.