Koochiching County Board Minutes 9-25-01

Board Minutes

for

September 25, 2001

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 25, 2001; 9:45 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Richard Lehtinen, Einar Sundin, Susan Congrave, Ann Coulombe, Terry Murray, Kevin Peterson, John Guenther, Dennis Hummitzsch, Doug Wickstrom, Marshall Sether; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2001/09-37 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2001 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Board received temporary hire notice of Tim McLellan in the Highway Department for seasonal road work.

2001/09-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve payment of $450.00 to Ron Erickson for facilitator service for Voyageurs National Park negotiation meetings with payment from the Board’s Project Budget; to approve payment in the amount of $139.03 to Griffith Law Office for legal service for Voyageurs National Park business with payment from the Board’s Legal Budget; to approve payment of $400.00 to Northern Resources Center for professional service for Voyageurs National Park business with payment from the Board’s Project Budget; to approve payment of $858.00 to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. for personnel legal service with payment from the Administration Legal Budget; to approve payment of the Public Health claims in the amount of $21,126.35 with detail on file in the Public Health Department; to approve payment of Community Service’s social service and financial claims and administrative expenditures as presented with detail on file in the Community Service Department; and to approve payment of the following Community Service burial claims: case #247487 in the amount of $1,500.00, case #177699 in the amount of $1,935.00 (less any resources). Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-40 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to accept the FAA Grant for the International Falls/Koochiching County Airport for projects AIP 3-27-0043-13-01, acquisition of land for approaches, construction of a chemical storage building and improvement of the terminal building. Motion further authorizes the Board Chair and County Attorney to sign said Grant Agreement on the County’s behalf. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-41 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride requesting the City of International Falls to vacate the portion of Seventh Avenue from Fourth Street to Fifth Street for a Veterans Memorial Park. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-42 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick confirming the 2002 Association of Minnesota Counties voting delegates for Koochiching County at no change from 2001. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-43 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride providing the Tax Forfeited Trust Fund $1,800.00 of the total proceeds collected for the General Revenue Fund from the September surplus action for the purchase of the 1990 Ford Bronco which will be donated to the Soil and Water District. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/09-44 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck adopting the following resolution approving the Joint Powers and Professional Staff Agreements for Northern Counties Land Use Coordinating Board:

WHEREAS the Northern Counties Land Use Coordinating Board has recommended the Joint Power Agreement and the Professional Staff Agreement be amended to accurately reflect the mission of the Board.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with the Northern Counties Land Use Coordinating Board Agreement, Koochiching County hereby agrees to amend the Joint Power Agreement and the Professional Staff Agreement.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution authorizes the Board Chair to sign the Joint Power Agreement and the Professional Staff Agreement on behalf of the Koochiching County Board. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that Northern Counties Land Use Coordinating Board (NCLUCB) requested staff per the Professional Staff Agreement to meet with their respective county boards and ask that they identify five of the most important land use issues facing their County. This information will be taken back to NCLUCB to help them determine the issues to work on as a group on behalf of their member counties. The Board identified wastewater treatment systems, having local input in federal and state planning initiatives, no net loss of private land, wetlands and beaver control. Other issues discussed were sustainable forest practices, economic development and surveying.

000 The Environmental Service Director provided the Board a recommendation from the Planning Commission to amend the County’s Zoning Ordinance to increase the Board of Adjustment membership from three to five. The Board stated the public hearing required for revision of the ordinance lies with them, not the Planning Commission, as the County Board has the authority to adopt ordinance. In addition, the Board suggested having ordinance establish the Board of Adjustment but use policy to administrate its membership so it could be changed without having to revise the ordinance. The Environmental Service Director will schedule the required public hearing for revision of the Zoning Ordinance with the County Board and consider Board of Adjustment membership through policy.

000 The City of Big Falls submitted a written request allowing the Environmental Service Department to enter into a contract to provide inspection and oversight of installation of mound septic systems in private dwellings not connected to the City’s sewer system. The Board agreed the Department could offer its expertise and information on an informal basis but felt the decision and liability should remain with the City for those properties within its limits.

000 The Public Health Director provided the Board a bulletin from the Minnesota Department of Human Services with information on the 2001 legislative rate increases for waivered services, MA and MinnesotaCare Home Care Services which provides additional state funding for increases in operation and service rate costs.

2001/09-45 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper accepting the following foster day care and day care licensing recommendations: case #30354 relicensing for group family day care for fourteen children; case #43662 relicensing for group family day care for ten children, case #13364 relicensing for family day care for ten children, case #40270 closing home for family day care at provider’s request. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Kevin Peterson from the DNR Fisheries Division provided information on a current study to determine if exotic species, namely Sheephead, are entering the Lake of the Woods Watershed from Koochiching County by means of Judicial Ditch #8 in Township 154, Range 28. The area under investigation is not accessible by ground vehicles so they will need to study the area by air and/or by foot in the wintertime. If it is found to be the source, the DNR would request County Board approval to place a plug in the ditch to prevent the species from going into the Lake of the Woods Watershed. Mr. Peterson stated that the impact of the Sheephead in the watershed could only be determined after it has been in there for a length of time but that this type of exotic species has a tendency to affect (crowd out ) sensitive aquatic networks. The Land Commissioner stated that the County has jurisdiction of the ditch and that there is no county land around this area.

000 DNR Regional Director John Guenther met with the Board to state the Department’s appreciation for working with the DNR on resource matters. It is the Department’s position that working closely with local governments will produce the best results and decisions and will continue to partner with the local governments on matters. The County has shown great willingness to work with the DNR and is greatly appreciated. He concluded by saying that the Department is available to the County at any time. Commissioner Chezick stated his appreciation for forming a relationship with our Canadian counterpart as this cooperative effort is needed to manage shared resources and preserve quality of life.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:17 a.m. Doug Wickstrom and Marshall Sether addressed the Board with a complaint that the Sheriff’s Office is only using one twenty-four hour towing service provider when there are other businesses that provide this same service. They stated that if there is a problem with the way they provide service they would like the chance to correct it and provide the service. The Board Chair will discuss the matter with the Sheriff as county policy provides that service is quoted or bid and if the amount is minimum that efforts are made to ensure fair treatment of service providers. No other comment was provided.

2001/09-46 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meting at 11:25 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.