Koochiching County Board Minutes 11-13-01

Board Minutes

for

November 13, 2001

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, November 13, 2001; 10:16 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Jaci Nagle, Doug Talley, Richard Lehtinen, Doug Grindall; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2001/11-17 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-18 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes of the November 6, 2001 regular meeting with a name spelling correction. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-19 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride adopting the following resolution creating an Information Systems Unit under the County Administration Department:

WHEREAS, it is the wish of the Koochiching County Board to make the County’s operations more efficient while optimizing cost;

WHEREAS, a study has determined that inefficiencies exist within County operations in regard to information systems;

WHEREAS, fundamental changes must occur to keep up with the volume and complexity of current and future information requirements;

WHEREAS, it is the wish of the Koochiching County Board to build the necessary structure to sustain and improve information systems to serve the County’s needs and increase efficiency in services to the public;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners create an Information Systems Unit within the Administration Department;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners directs the Information Systems Unit to manage and coordinate all information systems purchases, activities and technical support for Koochiching County;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners staff the Information Systems Unit with an Information Systems Manager and appropriate staff. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve a C42 Information Systems Manager position description and authorize the County Coordinator to fill the Information Systems Manager position. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-21 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to transfer the existing Computer Department’s functions, inventory, budget and other resources to the Administration Information Systems Unit upon its creation and organization. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-22 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve 2002 Forestland Leases for Kootasca, Community Service, Public Health, A.E.O.A, Falls Hunger Coalition, and ODC and a NDAC Lease with Range Center Inc. with no change in terms or rates from 2001. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-23 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper authorizing Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s October vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board agreed to a tentative December meeting schedule which would cancel the December 4th regular meeting as Board members will be attending the annual AMC Conference, meeting on December 11th and December 18th and canceling the December 25th meeting due to that day being a holiday. The Board Chair will schedule special or emergency meetings as necessary.

2001/11-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to add setting a hearing date for the County’s proposed Land Use Plan to the agenda. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/11-25 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to appoint Bernie Uran of the Koochiching County Soil and Water Conservation District to the Big Fork River Board as a designee of the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride authorizing the Environmental Service Director to assist in the KEDA’s county-wide economic development planning as requested with level of participation at the discretion of the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-27 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride approving the following 2001 Environmental Service Line Item Budget adjustments: to cover the purchase price of the MSW trailer transfer $1,900 from code 12-391.6379 and $847.25 from code 12-391.6810 to capital outlay code 12-391.6670; to cover the cost of the Mizpah pole shed transfer $4,000 from code 12-395.6303 to 12-395.6291; to cover the budget shortfall for natural gas expense at the transfer station transfer $5,000 from 12-395.6410 to 12-395.6251. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director stated that the Planning Commission unanimously recommended adoption of the proposed Land Use Plan at their last meeting and that the next step is for the County Board to set a public hearing to receive public comment before considering the plan’s adoption. The Director stated that a summary of the plan would be published for the public prior to the hearing. The Board agreed to schedule a public hearing on the proposed plan for December 11, 2001 at 6:00 p.m.

000 The H ighway Engineer requested direction from the Board after receiving survey results from area residents on whether to proceed with widening and paving shoulders and flattening curves on a portion of CSAH 2 between TH 332 and TH 11/71 as approved in the five-year CSAH Plan. A survey was sent out to make sure area residents support the project before the department expends dollars on survey work and plan preparation. The survey resulted in twenty-three area residents favoring the project and willing to sell right-of-way and sixteen not in favor of the project and/or wanting more information. The Highway Engineer stated that the construction plan needs to meet State specifications in order to expend CSAH funding on the project and he believes seeking a variance for a scaled down project is questionable. He stated that the road has sharp corners with no shoulders, which does create safety concerns. The Board agreed to defer the project to a future date and reconsidered with additional information.

000 The Highway Engineer requested Board support to revise the five-year CSAH Plan to move CSAH 1 and CSAH 10 bituminous projects from year 2005 to 2002 and remove CSAH 31 and CSAH 30 from the 2002 bituminous plan if CSAH 30 (Sturgeon River Road) is not firmed up to allow for bituminous surfacing next summer. Commissioner Chezick in addressing the five-year CSAH Plan requested a meeting to again discuss a new route from Highway 11 East to Highway 53 via the truck route as he has safety concerns with the current route using the Burner Road. With regards to the Engineer’s recommendation to change project dates if the Sturgeon River Road is not ready for overlay next year, the Board directed the Engineer to first get feedback from the contractors and report back to the Board.

2001/11-28 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride directing the Engineer to initiate meetings with necessary parties to discuss a new route from Highway 11 East to Highway 53 via the truck route due to safety concerns with using the Burner Road. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

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

2001/11-29 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.