Board Minutes

for

October 16, 2001

 

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, October 16, 2001; 10:10 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck
MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Terry Murray, Cindy Ellefson-Oswald, Ann Coulombe, Richard Lehtinen, Susan Congrave, Don Parmeter, Carl Brown; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2001/10-08 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/10-09 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2001 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice of the part time hire of Marguerite Holm as a Correctional Officer for the jail effective September 26, 2001.

2001/10-10 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $75,145.33 (including the addition of the payment to Traffic Marking Service in the amount of $36,488.79), authorizing Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s September vendor payment listing verifying its review, and to approve payment in the amount of $1,000.50 to Griffith Law Office and $52.50 to Kalina, Wills, Gisvold & Clark, P.L.L. P. with payment from the Board’s legal budget for research on Voyageurs National Park matters. Payment detail on file in the Highway and Auditor Departments. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/10-11 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride accepting the recommendation of the License Committee to approve a one-day On Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor License to the Birchdale Softball Club for a November 10, 2001 deer hunters dance and to approve a one-day On Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor License to the Cingmars Farmers Club for a November 3, 2001 deer hunters dance. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/10-12 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper approving the renewal of the Public Health Child and Teen Checkup Service Agreement as recommended by the KCCS Directorship. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper; absent for vote: Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/10-13 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride approving the renewal of the Trimin Systems, Inc. Service Agreement as recommended by the KCCS Directorship and further directing the County’s Computer Consultant to review this agreement for duplication of service and provide a report to the Board. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/10-14 Motion by Pavleck , seconded by Chezick approving the renewal of the NE Entrepreneur Fund, Inc. Agreement as recommended by the KCCS Directorship. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director reviewed bids received for construction of storage buildings for the Big Falls, Littlefork and Mizpah canister sites. The Department anticipated cost for each building under $2,000, however, the lowest bid received was $2,300. He recommends taking the low bid for construction of the storage building for the Mizpah site and look at construction of the other site buildings in 2002.

2001/10-15 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper accepting the low bid of $2,300 from Kent Franklin Construction for a storage building at the Mizpah canister site as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/10-16 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper authorizing placement of delinquent commercial service fees plus a ten percent penalty on the 2002 business tax statements for collection. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director presented a quote for an archaeology study for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project in the amount of $22,076.88 (only quote received). Funding for this study is not available in either the Environmental or Board’s Project Budget as reported by the Coordinator and she could not offer a funding source for the study in the 2001 budget. The Director stated that the reason the request is here now is that if the study was done now it would not delay the system’s construction next spring if it proceeds. The Committee will know by early November whether there is an additional $500,000 federal grant for the project, which would leave them $500,000 short of their projected household cost goal (Currently household cost is $85 and the additional grant will bring it down to the low $70s. Target was to reach $50 per household.) Public meetings will be scheduled in December. The Board was unanimous that they would not invest another dollar in the project until they know the project will proceed (the County already has over $300,000 invested and will be out the money unless the project proceeds). In addition they stated their disappointment with the contractor as all these additional costs should have been known and discussed up front when the project was first proposed. The question of whether an EIS will be required was also raised. Summer residents of the Jackfish area presented their concerns to the Board with the installation of this sewer system and stated that one out of twenty people of their area oppose the project. They requested the Board give consideration to their request to be omitted from the system as presented on petitions filed with the County. They also felt people were not informed on this matter and supported an independent survey to get a true position from the public. They asked that the County consider the residents who go south for the winter when seeking public comment or conducting surveys. One individual stated that she has no water at her summer place so did not know how sewer could work there. In response to a question as to why Gold Shores and Sha Sha were not considered in this project, Commissioner Pavleck stated that its was not economically feasible due to the large gap between Jackfish and Gold Shores.

2001/10-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to table action on a request for funding an archaeology study for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; abstaining: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director reviewed a home care case which is currently being managed by the Department until a new provider locates in Koochiching County. The Director stated that they anticipated management of the case for three to four months but were informed that establishment of the new provider is taking longer than expected. The Director provided the Board information showing expenditures and revenues specific to this case and options for obtaining additional nursing staff to help manage the case.

2001/10-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Public Health Director to contract for additional nursing staff as needed to manage home care case #001 until December 31, 2001 with the understanding that the contract can be terminated earlier at the discretion of the Director should the new provider become established prior to the end of the year. The Director will report to the Board on the status of the case by year end. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Don Parmeter representing the Rainy Lake Sportsfishing Club presented a resolution to the Board requesting the County file an injunction in MN District Court on the National Park’s restriction of ATVs for ice fishing transportation. Apparently the ban has been in effect for a while but many were not aware of it. They also received information that sightseeing flights over the Park are also banned. The Club again sees more restrictions and loss of rights. Commissioner Pavleck and McBride, the Board’s representatives on Park matters, stated that the revised management plan requests in excess of $2,000,000 to implement sixteen more plans which do nothing for marketing but move to restrict more uses. Whether local government has a voice in management decisions for the Park needs to be answered, one way or the other, and that they are moving the issue to the State arena for the answer as closure is needed. The Board thanked the Sportsfishing Club for bringing these issues to their attention and stated they would look into the matter.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:40 a.m. No comment was provided.

2001/10-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.