REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 19, 2002; 9:30 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner McBride (Death in the Family)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Pete Schultz, Jaci Nagle, Doug Grindall, Walter Leu, Gus Peterson, Andy Hubley; Reporter Roger Jerome

2002/03-30 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/03-31 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the March 12, 2002 special meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/03-32 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $84,126.72 with detail on file in the Highway Department. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/03-33 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve a one-year service contract beginning April 1, 2002 with ARDC to utilize their GIS staff to organize a centralized GIS system for the County and to provide training to staff as recommended by the Coordinator and Information Systems Manager. Motion further authorizes a 2002 Budget Adjustment allocating $19,000 from the GIS Specialist position to the GIS Budget to cover the service contract and to cut the remaining funding for the GIS Specialist position. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/03-34 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick authorizing a refund to Michael and Linda Sherfy of $1,580.00 for 2002 Liquor and Tobacco License fees as circumstances prevented them from obtaining the place of business for which the licenses were purchased. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Sales Representative Pete Schultz provided the proposed County layout for the “Changing Times” edition to be published this year by the Daily Journal. The Heritage Committee assisted in the layout with credit going to Doug Skrief for the text. To complete the layout, a picture of the Board in the third floor courtroom will be added to represent work being done to historically preserve the room. The Board was very pleased with the layout.

000 AMC Executive Director James Mulder, via a telephone conference, provided a legislative update. With respect to the bill passed to balance the first phase of the State budget deficit, the most damage will come with counties having to pick up ten percent of nursing home placement cost for individuals under age 65 and the ten percent cut in SCORE grants. There are other minor issues but these seem to be the major issues. The second phase to balance the remaining State deficit is still under consideration by the House and Senate. The House and Senate at this point have completely different plans to balance the deficit. The Senate plan will have little impact on counties whereas the House Plan proposes to make cuts in human service funding which will have a large impact on counties. If the Senate and House do not pass a bill to balance the deficit, it then allows the Governor to make his own cuts which could mean severe cuts to local governments as he feels local governments need to play a part in balancing the State deficit. AMC has sent a strong message that cuts in aids to local governments mean tax increases and that they should cut programs not just the funding otherwise the financial burden is placed on local governments. The House and Senate are still trying to reach agreement on a bonding bill. Bridge and transportation bonding appears to have agreement but the remaining portion of the bonding bill is in dispute. The last major issue is an increase in transportation funding through a gas tax increase. Most of the dispute is over the formula for apportioning the new revenue. AMC’s position supports a gas tax increase because funding is needed to maintain our transportation infrastructure and supports a new formula for new money. There are not enough votes in the House or Senate to increase transportation funding through a gas tax unless there is change in the formula, which has caused the metro and non-metro dispute. Commissioner Pavleck stated concern with rural representation. Mulder stated that power in the Senate would move south with redistricting and that AMC needs to address its representation with changes from redistricting. Mulder stated that the Legislature intends to adjourn the end of the month with or without a transportation bill. Mulder feels that if the bill is passed in this session the issue will be put to rest for a few years. If it does not get resolved this year, he feels more things become at risk and there is a chance the entire funding formula will be looked at next year. He feels suburban legislatures will test their powers next year.

000 MnDot representatives presented the Board proposed 2003 to 2005 regional and local projects funded with federal transportation funds. In review of the 2005 project plan, funding is adjusted to account for a $23 million advanced construction pay back. A bridge replacement is planned for the Silverdale area and was noted by Commissioner Pavleck that the bridge may be of historic value. MnDot representatives stated that the State Historic Preservation Officer will determine if the bridge has historic value and if it is determined to be of historical value, MnDot has to offer it for sale to the County. MnDot officials reviewed the proposed projects for Koochiching County for FY 2003 to 2005. Also on Monday, March 25, 2002 two plans will be presented to the Highway 11 Task Force for improving safety on Highway 11 west of the junction. Plans are based on maximum and minimum levels of funding with both plans improving safety.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:50 a.m. No comment was presented.

2002/03-35 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck approving a grant application to the LCMR to establish a self-sufficient Water Quality Cooperative to protect and improve the Rainy Lake Basin water quality. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/03-36 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Board Chair to send a congratulatory letter to Keith Aili for his participation and placement in the Iditarod. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/03-37 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 11:55 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick Pavleck. Motion carried.