Board Minutes

for

November 20, 2001

 

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, November 20, 2001; 9:45 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Richard Lehtinen, Nancy Lee Schafer, Debra Landmark, Sharon Obermaier, Susan Congrave, Doug Grindall, Pam Lagoo; Reporters Terri Buller and Roger Jerome

2001/11-30 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-31 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2001 special meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice of the following temporary hires: Compu Learn employee Marge Raastad in the Extension Office, high school students Linda Barg and Trella Nicodemus in the Assessor’s Department and Allison Curtis for fill-in clerical in the Sheriff’s Department.

2001/11-32 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $78,812.17 with detail on file in the Highway Department; to approve payment to Griffith Law Office in the amount of $1,648.50 and to Kalina, Wills, Gisvold & Clark, P.L.L.P. in the amount of $4,928.75 for legal service on Voyageurs National Park issues with payment from the Board’s Legal Budget and to approve payment to in the amount of $182.00 to Johnson, Killen and Seiler, P.A. for personnel legal service with payment from Administration’s Legal Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-33 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the License Committee to approve the following 2002 Tobacco Licenses: Loon’s Nest, Rainy Lake Houseboats, Y Knot Quick Stop, Rainy Lake One Stop, Korner Kwik Stop, Country Sampler Restaurant and Saloon, and the Woodland Inn; and to approve the following 2002 Liquor Licenses: Rainy Lake Houseboats – Off Sale Intoxicating Liquor, Woodland Inn – On Sale, Off Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Liquor, Loon’s Nest – Off Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor, Rainy Lake One Stop – Off Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor, Country Sampler Restaurant and Saloon – On Sale, Off Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Liquor, Thunderbird Lodge – On Sale, Off Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Liquor, Korner Kwik Stop – Off Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 County Board representation is requested at a round table discussion scheduled for the afternoon of November 28, 2001 at the Holiday Inn on the merging of the International Rainy Lake Board of Control and the Rainy River Pollution Board. This meeting is open to the public but discussion is limited to the representatives at the table. At 7:00 p.m. that evening a meeting is scheduled to received public comment on the merging of the two boards and the International Joint Commission’s report on the 2001 high water occurrence. The Board will decide their position on these matters after more information is obtained at the meetings. The Board Chair appointed Commissioner Pavleck to represent the Board at the round table discussion with an alternate to be chosen as needed.

2001/11-34 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper authorizing Board’s attendance to the November 28 round table discussion and public meeting held by the International Joint Commission to discuss the proposed merging of the International Rainy Lake Board of Control and International Rainy River Pollution Board and the 2001 high water occurrence. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-35 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to approve a Snowmobile Safety Enforcement Grant Agreement between Koochiching County and the State of Minnesota – Commissioner of Natural Resources in the amount of $5,278.59 and authorizing Board Chair’s signature to said Grant Agreement. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-36 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride approving a service contract with Cindy Aune to operate the Silverdale Canister Site for one year beginning December 1, 2001 as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2001/11-37 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of $792.72 to each of the seven canister site attendants from the Environment Service Budget for up front cost associated with their service agreement. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 Public Health Nurses submitted a request for an increase in their on-call pay rate due to the amount of time required for home care and hospice cases. Five nurses rotate weekly on-call shifts and typically are on call seven days a week for all non-work hours. Caseloads vary from one shift to another so it is difficult to specify how much time is spent being on call. Cost of on-call pay is added in as part of the medical reimbursement request for service so no county dollars are expended on this cost. The Highway Engineer submitted a salary adjustment request based on what other county engineers are paid in the State. The engineer position is banded at the top of the pay equity salary scale and it was suggested that the salary level of this banding be looked at. The County Recorder requested a salary adjustment comparable to the Auditor and Treasurer due to the extra responsibilities acquired with the taking of the vital statistics. The Board to review the information presented at a committee meeting scheduled for November 27 and provide a decision on the pay adjustment requests at a later date.

2001/11-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to set the 2002 pay rates for the non-union hourly employees at a 3% increase over their 2001 pay rate and support Board motion 97/02-21 for establishing earning of leave time, paid holidays, and health benefits and clothing/equipment allowances at the levels established in the respective bargaining unit contract within their department. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to set the 2002 salary for exempt/salaried employees at a 3% increase over their 2001 salary and support Board motion 97/02-21 for establishing earning of leave time, paid holidays, and health benefits and clothing/equipment allowances at the levels established in the respective bargaining unit contract within their department. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-40 Motion by Chezick, seconded by McBride to approve a 3% salary increase to the elected Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Attorney, and Sheriff for 2002 upon receipt of a written statement from each of the elected officials requesting the increase. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-41 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to set the County Board’s salary of $13,315 and the daily per diem rate of $125.00 for the year 2002 (no change from 2001) and approve the 2002 Per Diem and Expense Policy. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2001/11-42 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to table action on the request by the Public Health Nurses, Engineer and Recorder for pay adjustments. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:48 a.m. No comment was provided.

2001/11-43 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 11:48 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.