SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, May 14, 2002; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Duane Nelson, Ann Scholler, Dennis Hummitzsch, Einar Sundin, Doug Grindall, Richard Lehtinen, Ron Laurion, Raoul Lufbery, Frank Bahr, Larry Beach, Muriel Severt, Doug Skrief, Ed Oerichbauer, Terry Glowack, Corey Elmer via telephone, Vicki Giauque, David Johnson, Jennifer Hasbargen, Marty Gordon; Reporters Terri Buller and Roger Jerome

2002/05-21 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-22 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the May 7, 2002 regular meeting. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-23 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson accepting the employment separation of Charles Lessard from the position of Deputy Sheriff as of May 1, 2002. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck approving a revision to the County’s Travel Policy covering the minimum charge placed by lodging facilities for local calls and the County’s Credit Card Policy for submitting reimbursement claims for use of personal credit cards for travel purposes. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-25 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant an abatement to Randal Ciminski for parcel #93-23-00460 for homestead credit. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve payment in the amount of $751.50 to Griffith Law Office for legal work on Voyageurs National Park matters with payment from the Board’s Legal Budget and authorizing Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s April vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to adopt the following resolution for the application of Budget FY 2003 IRRRB funds:

WHEREAS, the County of Koochiching (hereafter the “Applicant”) is a governmental subdivision, organized and operating under the laws of the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, the Applicant has a need for a grant to assist with economic development authorities as permitted under Laws of Minnesota for 1987, Chapter 182 and environmental programs which are allowed funding under MN Statutes 298.17; and

WHEREAS, the Applicant is submitting its request for application to the IRRRB for Budget FY 2003 grant funds.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Applicant’s organization hereby authorizes and approves making application to the IRRRB for FY 2003 funds to assist in economic development and environmental programs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Applicant’s Board Chair and County Coordinator are hereby authorized and directed to sign and submit application for the said grant monies and all applicable contracts, documents and agreements associated with the grant or the application. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-28 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson that based on investigation and preliminary discussion in closed session, to issue a written reprimand to an employee on policy violation with placement in the personnel file to be removed in two years as long as there are no further disciplinary instances and authorizing the Board Chair to conduct a non-disciplinary consultation on the avoidance of an appearance of a conflict of interest. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-29 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for access to the State’s repository of arrest photos as recommended by the Sheriff. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-30 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson authorizing a budget transfer of $4,800 from the 2002 Project Budget to the 2002 Sheriff Capital Outlay Budget to cover the cost of light bars, radios and striping for the new squad vehicles; to approve a budget line item transfer in the 2002 Sheriff Budget of $253.00 to cover expenditures over and above the Traffic Safety Award Grant (transfer $253.00 from 01-200.6402 to 01-200.6661); and to approve expenditure out of the Sheriff’s Zero Tolerance Account to cover any excess cost associated with the donation of the snowmobile by the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club (estimated cost of $508). Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/05-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson revising the Board of Prisoner rates as recommended by the Sheriff with a rate of $7.00 per day for under 400 prisoner days in the month and a rate of$5.00 per day for over 400 prisoner days in the month. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.
000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the contractors chosen for 2002 park maintenance, notified the Board of reimbursement from the local chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association for the purchase of clover seed mix, provided the Board a copy of the County’s recreation map and informed the Board on forest road grading projects, contracts and funding.

2002/05-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson authorizing the Land and Forestry Department to make payments under a contract basis for road grading projects so that payments can be made at the time of grading completion. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

2002/05-33 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to authorize the Highway Engineer to call for bids for bituminous surfacing of CSAH 1, CSAH 10 and UT 285 with the bid opening on June 10 and results provided to the Board on June 18. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 Due to an upcoming condemnation hearing, the Highway Engineer requested that the bid award for the Gold Shores Road Project be deferred to the next Board meeting. The Board concurred.

2002/05-34 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to added information on a 2004 County Highway Accountant Conference and transportation funding for bridge and wetland replacement to the agenda. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer informed the Board that the Annual County Highway Accountant Conference will be held in Koochiching County in May 2004, which will bring over 100 individuals to the area for three days. The Highway Engineer also requested Board’s support to contact local legislators to express the need for transportation funding for bridge replacement and wetland replacement due to upcoming projects. Contact would have to be made immediately as a vote on the transportation bill is scheduled for this afternoon. Commissioner Pavleck stated that our legislators are well aware of our needs and the importance of transportation funding and did not see the need to take action to allow the Highway Engineer to relay the message.

2002/05-35 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to contact local legislators with the County Board’s position that at a minimum, transportation funding be approved for bridge replacement and wetland replacement. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson; voting no: Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 Cost information on the Jackfish Bay Area Sewer Project was not available so the Board Chair deferred action on the archeology study to the next agenda. However, the Board did discuss use of the Environmental Trust Fund dollars to support up-front expenditures to keep the project moving forward. The Environmental Trust Fund dollars were obtained from the sale of lakeshore property in the Rainy Lake area under special legislation and are reserved for environmental and natural resource improvement projects per the special legislation. Commissioners were in support of dedicating a portion of the funds to the sewer project contingent on the funds being reimbursed when project funding is available.

2002/05-36 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper dedicating $125,000 of the Environmental Trust Fund for the Jackfish Bay Area Sewer Project contingent on the amount being reimbursed to the Fund when project funding is available. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Complex Superintendent and Heritage Committee met with the Board to update them on the 2002 Courtroom Historical Restoration Project. They requested direction on the lighting for the courtroom as the current bid does not provide sufficient lighting. They suggested upgrading the lighting by 30%, which has a ballpark cost of $8,000. With regards to the heating for the room, they are recommending that the old heaters be placed for aesthetics and use small radiators (which will be hidden) throughout the room for actual heat. This will also allow the room to have its own temperature gauge. Installation of the original heaters for heating purposes is estimated at $5,700, which is much more than the plan suggested. Also the bid price came in $3,600 more than budget. They estimate the project budget to be short by about $15,000. The start date for the project is July or August with a completion date of three to four months. The Board requested the Committee obtain firmer numbers and bring back a funding request for consideration. The Board will consider allocation from the Sinking Building Account. The Committee also requested direction from the Board on when to open the time capsule. The Board suggested the Committee draft a plan for the event with cost and bring it back to the Board.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:45 a.m. Frank Bahr informed the Board that nothing has been done to date on settling the difference in stumpage and scaled prices on his timber permit, which was raised last year. The Board directed that a neutral third party be brought in to resolve the difference. The Board agreed to place the item on next week’s agenda to discuss the issue with the Land Commissioner. No other comments were presented.

000 The County’s lobbyist updated the Board via telephone on activities at the State Legislature. All in all things are not going very well. To accommodate the remaining budget shortfall, it appears accounting shifts of school and CSSA funding covers the majority of the legislature’s plan. It also appears at this point that the transportation and bonding bills are close to dead. A tax bill is still on the table with a good chance of passing and that the County’s request to add the lost tree growth revenue to the levy limit is still intact. The Legislature plans to have things wrapped up by tomorrow night with Sunday being the day for a veto override should it be necessary. With regards to the next biennial, latest figures show deficit projections of $2 to $3 billion, which is much worse than first projected. The legislature plans to deal with 2004/2005 deficit in the next legislative session, which addresses this budget cycle. If the Legislature completes its work this session, their plan to balance the 2002 and 2003 budget deficit will not have substantial impact on the County. However if the 2004-2005 deficit projections are close, next year may be a different situation.

000 Staff met with the County Board to provide their findings and recommendations on service contracts for providing fire, ambulance and first responder service in the County that are funded through taxing districts. Staff recommend that contracts with volunteer groups contain language that a person be chosen from the organization to administer compliance to ensure that general liability, work comp and property coverage is purchased for the group at amounts specified by the County, that an updated asset inventory is maintained and to ensure that individuals in the organization are properly trained and certified with documentation kept on file. In addition, the organization should be audited annually to ensure compliance. This level of compliance would also be required in the service contracts with the cities. The second recommendation is to schedule a meeting of providers and the Board to discuss area-wide taxing districts for fire, ambulance and first responder services. It was agreed that Commissioner Hanson would talk to the groups in his district to get their feedback and that Administration would send a letter to the service providers informing them of the recommended requirements for their feedback. The Board agreed to schedule a meeting for June 25th to further discuss emergency service with staff and interested providers.

000 The Highway Engineer and Legal Counsel informed the Board that the condemnation hearing for property required for the Gold Shores Road Reconstruction Project is scheduled for Monday, May 20, 2002.

2002/05-37 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to adjourn the meeting at 2:50 p.m. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.