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Board Minutes
for
September 18, 2001
REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 18, 2001; 9:45 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS ATTENDING: Barb West, Richard Lehtinen, Duane Nelson, Susan Congrave, Deb Brown, Terry Murray, MaryAnn Kacik, Steve Blair, Tom Kellner, Doug Grindall, Ann Scholler, Rick Swatek; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome
2001/09-28 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: McBride. Motion carried.
2001/09-29 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the September 11, 2001 special meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: McBride. Motion carried.
2001/09-30 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $40,843.07 with detail on file in the Highway Department. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: McBride. Motion carried.
2001/09-31 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick supporting
the President of the United States as he works with his national security
team to defend against additional attacks and find the perpetrators
of the September 11, 2001 attack on America and to bring them to justice:
Whereas, on September 11, 2001 the United States was suddenly and brutally
attacked by foreign terrorists, and;
Whereas, these terrorists hijacked and destroyed four civilian aircraft,
crashing two of them into the towers of the World Trade Center in New
York City, and a third into the Pentagon outside Washington, DC, and;
Whereas, thousands of innocent Americans were killed and injured as
a result of these attacks, including the passengers and crew of the
four aircraft, workers in the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon,
rescue workers, and bystanders, and;
Whereas, these cowardly acts were by far the deadliest terrorist attacks
ever launched against the United States, and by targeting symbols of
American strength and success, clearly were intended to intimidate our
nation and weaken its resolve, and;
Whereas, even though these horrific events have affected all Americans,
it is important that we carry on with the regular activities of our
lives. Terrorism cannot be allowed to break the spirit of the American
people, and the best way to show these cowards that they have truly
failed is for the people of the United States and their counties to
stand tall and proud.
Therefore be it resolved, that the governing board of Koochiching County
seated in International Falls, Minnesota condemns the cowardly and deadly
actions of these terrorists, and;
Be it further resolved, that the governing board of Koochiching County
supports the President of the United States, as he works with his national
security team to defend against additional attacks, and find the perpetrators
and bring them to justice, and;
Be it still further resolved, that the governing board of Koochiching
County recommends to its citizens to support relief efforts in any way
that they can. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; absent
for vote: McBride. Motion carried.
2001/09-32 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper authorizing an unpaid leave of absence for Steve Oswald under County Policy effective September 14, 2001. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: McBride. Motion carried.
000 There was no business to report on Voyageurs National Park matters.
000 The Environmental Service Director received two bids for the purchase of a Municipal Solid Waste trailer – Wilkins Industry for $47,650 and Z Trailer Sales at $51,394. The Department has $40,000 budgeted and will sell the current trailer to offset the cost above the budgeted amount. The Director recommends low bid of $47,650.
2001/09-33 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper accepting low bid in the amount of $47,650 from Wilkins Industry for a Municipal Solid Waste trailer as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: McBride. Motion carried.
2001/09-34 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck contracting with Marty Nosie as interim site operator at the Silverdale Canister until a replacement is found. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; absent for vote: McBride. Motion carried.
000 The Sheriff asked the Board for their position on moving ahead to re-do the County’s Emergency Operation Plan. To received FEMA assistance, the County needs to comply with certain emergency management criteria like having an emergency operation plan and training their emergency management officials. He stated that the County’s plan at the minimum needs updating but should be completely redone to make it a useable guide in emergency situations. He suggested forming a committee of community emergency personnel to establish a new County plan and community emergency network that would oversee emergency management for the County. He presented a proposal to hire a consultant to coordinate the committee’s activity to create a new plan. The Sheriff stated there is a possible $3,500 of emergency management funds available to the County which he will request with his quarter 4, 2001 emergency management billing. The Public Health Director stated that her Department receives an annual grant of $4,000 for emergency public health planning and that this funding could be accessed for this purpose. The Board agreed that creation of an emergency personnel network appears to be the right support to handle and coordinate emergency situations in the County and that if the network is formed an emergency operation plan or guideline would naturally be established. With regards to training, the Sheriff stated that he is out of compliance due to time constraints. The Coordinator stated that FEMA provides training without cost so if the committee network were established, training could be provided to the whole group (travel expense not covered by FEMA). Having a group trained to handle emergencies is beneficial because more than one person is trained to handle the situation if another is absent. The network would ensure there are trained individuals to coordinator the emergency plan and protocol.
2001/09-35 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Sheriff and Public Health Director to facilitate a meeting of community emergency personnel to discuss the creation of a community emergency committee to handle emergency management for the County as required for FEMA assistance. Motion further directs the Sheriff and Public Health Director to report back to the Board on the group’s position and recommendation. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck, McBride. Motion carried.
000 Deb Brown of the Occupational Development Center provided the Board an update on services provided by her Agency and the benefits provided to their clients and communities. Under their work program, disabled individuals earn their own money which helps their personal well being and stability. In addition, these individuals become taxpaying citizens and give back to the system. Studies have shown that hospitalization and commitment for these individuals is much lower when they enter the workforce. By having these individuals earn their own way, cost in the Community Service Budget is lowered as less government support services are needed. The Board stated their support for these services and stated they were very pleased with the janitorial work done by the Occupational Development Center employees for the Courthouse and its annexes.
000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:28 a.m. Tom Kellner requested that the Board rescind a prior motion rezoning his property from residential to commercial due to the fact that he did not pay the zoning fees and because his plan to build a cold storage facility and rent it out did not transpire. He stated that in order to refinance his property at a lower interest rate, the portion of the property zoned commercial needs to be residential and he does not have the money to pay to get his property rezoned residential. He also stated that his property taxes are residential. The Board agreed the matter would be deferred to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a recommendation (next meeting scheduled for October 11, 2001). No other comment was provided.
000 MaryAnn Kacik, d.b.a. WoodSport, requested use of County Roads for her business sponsored marathon scheduled for September 23, 2001. The event includes a full and half marathon and a walk with the starting point in the City of Ranier and ending in Fort Frances. She stated this event was a dress rehearsal to work out the bugs and hopes it grows into an annual competition to spur economic development. She has been in contact with custom officials and will contact MnDot. The Highway Engineer stated that the Board has supported use of County Roads for similar events in the past but that the County requires the sponsor to obtain a Certificate of Insurance naming the County as additional insured and sign a hold harmless clause. Ms. Kacik stated that the insurance cost is high and asked if anyone had any inventive ideas on how she could cover this cost as she has only a few registrants at this time. Though the Board agreed the requirement is burdensome, the organized event does expose the County to conditions outside the normal use of public roads so the protection is needed. The coverage is also recommended by the County’s Insurance Trust. It was suggested she work with the Chamber or Convention and Visitors Bureau but Ms. Kacik stated she has discussed this with them and they too would have to purchase additional coverage and be exposed to liability for the event. It was suggested she contact economic development organizations and request a small grant to support the event. Ms. Kacik intends on doing this in the future if the event becomes successful.
2001/09-36 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to adjourn the meeting at 11:55 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.