REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, February 05, 2002; 10:12 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Lepper, Hanson, Chezick

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner McBride (family emergency), Commissioner Pavleck (medical appointment)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Susan Congrave, Nancy Lee Schafer, Doug Grindall, Dennis Hummitzsch, Ann Scholler, Christy Bubloz; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2002/02-01 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the January 29, 2002 special meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-03 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Auditor bills in the amount of $66,631.94 to include payment of $21.90 of non-board expenditures, and to approve payment of the January Board of Prisoners claim in the amount of $3,360.00. Payment detail on file in the Auditor’s Office. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-04 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to set the 2002 Board of Equalization meetings as follows: open session on Monday, June 17, 2002, take initial appointments on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 in the afternoon and closing the session on Friday, June 28, 2002. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-05 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve a contract with Falls Memorial Hospital for therapy service as recommended by the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-06 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to table the request for an on-call pay increase and on-call pay policy due to the absence of two Board members. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-07 Motion by Hanson, seconded Chezick to approve the revised County Billing Policy as recommended by the Central Finance Team. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Chair appointed Commissioner Chezick to attend a hearing in St. Paul to testify on behalf of the County on State redistricting plans submitted to the Court for consideration.

2002/02-08 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to accept the recommendation of the Highway Engineer for awarding the annual fuel bids. Bid results on file in the Highway and Administration Departments. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice that Lorella Fulton was hired as the Assistant Assessor with a starting date of February 7, 2002.

2002/02-09 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to table the request for conveyance of tax forfeit parcels due to the absence of two Board members. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-10 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to set aside $83,000 for timber and resource development reserves and $30,000 for park development reserves from the 2001 Trust Fund income as approved in the 2002 Land and Forestry Budget and as recommended by the Land Commissioner and to set aside the maximum of $4.00 per capita from the 2001 Trust Fund income for promotion as allowed under MN Statute with allocation as follows: allocate forty percent of the promotion funds from the 2001 tax forfeit apportionment to the cities within Koochiching County with allocation ratio to be the same as in previous year and with a letter to accompany the checks stating what the funds can be expended on and when they have to be expended and to allocate sixty percent of the promotions funds from the 2001 tax forfeit apportionment to the Koochiching Development Authority to be held and utilized for the promotion of tourism, agricultural and industrial development as defined in MN Statute and park development. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-11 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick authorizing the Land Commissioner to solicit and contract for two park attendants for the Rainy River early fishing season and to request a funding contribution from Lake of the Woods County. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the January 18, 2002 timber auction. 12,532 cords were sold for a total auction sale value of $336,161. All twenty tracts from the Intermediate Auction were sold and seven of the ten tracts from the Regular Auction were sold. Though there has been interest in the three remaining tracts, market appears to be the reason why the wood is not selling.

000 The Board Chair opened a public hearing at 11:05 a.m. to received public comment on the issuance of an Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License to Island View Lodge, which is under new ownership. The hearing is required under Minnesota Statute 340A.405, subdivision 2, section d. No written or oral comment was submitted. The Board Chair closed the hearing.

2002/02-12 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve an Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Island View Adventures, Inc. pending a signed purchase agreement and receipt of insurance coverage documentation as recommended by the License Committee. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/02-13 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to table the Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Minnesota for funding of the Extension Coordinator position due to the absence of two Board members. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:25 a.m. No comment was submitted.

2002/02-14 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to adjourn the meeting at 11:25 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.