SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 10, 2002; 9:50 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Chezick (out of town – scheduled appointment)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Richard Lehtinen, Steve Kluess, Mike Kamnicar, Terry Glowack, Tom Morris, Dennis Coleman, Dennis Hummitzsch; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2002/09-12 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/09-13 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes of the September 3, 2002 meeting with correction. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/09-14 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve payment of the August Board of Prisoner claim in the amount of $2,625.00 and authorizing Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s August vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2002/09-15 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the following 2003 tax levies for the special taxing districts: Fire District 1 (Northome) levy of $8,512, Fire District 2 (Littlefork) levy of $36,895, Fire District 2 (Loman) levy of $8,200, Fire District 3 (Birchdale) levy of $6,000, Fire District 4 (Williams) levy of $2,000, and Fire District 5 (Big Falls) levy of $15,000. Motion further approves the following revised uniform fire protection contracts with automatic renewal clauses for Fire District 1 – Northome, Fire District 2 – Littlefork, Fire District 2 – Loman, Fire District 3 – Birchdale, Fire District 4 – Baudette, and Fire District 5 – Big Falls and authorizing Board Chair’s signature to said contracts. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/09-16 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve the following 2003 subordinate taxing district levies: Littlefork Ambulance levy of $19,950 less HACA, Northome First Responders levy of $5,834 less HACA, and Rainy River First Responders levy $8,000 less HACA. Motion further approves service agreements commencing on January 1, 2003 with automatic renewal contingent on approval of the district’s annual levy for Littlefork Ambulance, Northome First Responders and Rainy River First Responders. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/09-17 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners agree to sponsor the Ridgerunner Snowmobile Club and Voyageurs Snowmobile Club in the MN Trails Assistance Grant-In-Aid Program covering the Caldwell Brook and Blue Ox Trails and the Hagerman, Voyageurs West and Lowman Trails. Sponsorship by the County requires that a Club/County Agreement be initiated. As sponsor, the County is accountable to the State for expenditures charged to the program; sponsorship does not require financial support or liability for cost from the County. County Board does hereby authorize the required County signatures to said Grant-In-Aid Agreement. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/09-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson authorizing the transfer of $3,000.00 from the Project Budget to the Attorney Budget to provide additional funding for service needs and anticipated budget deficit. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/09-19 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper approving the expiration of the County’s ISTS Test System Pilot Project and authorizing the transfer to $1,060 from 12-124.6660 to 12-392-101.6291 to cover final expenditures for the project. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Laurentian RC&D Coordinator Steven Kluess met with the Board to explain the services of the organization and to inform them of current projects in the County. The mission of the organization is to help people care for and protect their natural resources and to improve local economies, environment and living standards. The organization is the delivery system for rural development and catalyst for federal, state and local governments to work together, enabling community projects to get completed. Currently they are assisting with the sewage lagoon failure, working with Northome on a new library and bear education facility and the Firewise Program which helps communities plan and respond to wild fires. They also assisted Mizpah with their community building project and provided grant resources for the Jackfish Sewer Project. The Board stated their support and appreciation as these types of support systems are greatly needed for rural communities and counties.

000 District 2 Planning Engineer Mike Kamnicar met with the Board to discuss MnDot’s plan to close the Manitou Rapids Rest Area near Indus. A few years ago the DNR approached MnDot to expand water access and shore fishing at the site and now with State budget cuts, MnDot is looking to transfer responsibility of the site to the DNR and/or County. A priority list was reviewed for closure of rest areas (or transfer of responsibility) recommended by MnDot based on population and road counts. One site in Lake of the Woods County is being transferred to the City of Baudette, pending legislation authorizing this transfer and they are in negotiations with Roseau County for transfer of another site, which too would require legislation. (MNDot can transfer responsibility to another state agency, such as the DNR, but special legislation is required to transfer responsibility to a local unit of government.) In the case of Manitou Rapids, MnDot believes this site is more a recreation site than a roadside rest. Commissioner Hanson stated that MnDot has taken down the rest area signs on the Highway so no one is aware there is a rest area. He also informed the Board that the public meeting held by MnDot on this closing gave only a few days notice to the public and at the meeting we were basically told that if the funding is not found, they will close the site. The public was very opposed. In looking at the priority list, the rest area sites slated for closure are rural and northern with nothing proposed for closure in the metro area. On August 30, 2002 a meeting was held with the DNR Trails and Waterways willing to consider taking over responsibility of the site (having $25,000 to $30,000 to restore small boat access, shoreland fishing and use of ATVs). However, they did not feel they could cover the maintenance cost as they too are under budget constraints, (estimated at $1,200 annually) and looked to the county to cost share this expense. Also there is a wash out at the site, which needs to be fixed and he understood negotiations would happen with MnDot for this repair and snowplowing of the site. In summary, MnDot is walking away from its obligation and wants either the DNR and/or County to take it over which greatly upsets him. Commissioner Pavleck agreed. Rural taxpayers pay gas tax to fund these sites yet their rest areas are closed to maintain sites in the metro area. He feels this is a blatant disregard for rural taxpayers as they need resources just as much as the metro area. He is greatly disappointed and feels this is grossly unfair. Commissioner Lepper agreed and stated that the money saved by MnDot in transferring responsibility/cost to another governmental entity will not go to improve roads in northern Minnesota. The Board understands MnDot’s need to find cost savings due to State budget constraints, however, they take issue with the unfairness used to decide what areas are cut. Also with the State’s budget problems, the Board anticipates more situations like this occurring where the State will want local units of government to take over their cost if they want the service in their area. The Board understands the importance of this site to the local people and will continue to monitor the situation. Commissioner Hanson stated that at this time use of the site is restricted and will not be opened next spring. Commissioners discussed the option of taking responsibility of the site rather than providing funding to the State.

000 The Complex Superintendent provided the Board the results of the annual County building inspection. Overall the buildings and grounds are in good shape with exception to the Northome Forestry Office which is undergoing repair at this time.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:35 a.m. Dennis Coleman requested additional maintenance and gravel on an access road to his property located on old Highway 217 east of the Galvin Line. The road is designated as a forestry road and is graded four times a year with one pass. The road is accessed mostly in spring and fall for recreational purposes. They would like more grading in the fall and spring and would like the road crowned, as much of the gravel is pushed off to the side of the road. They would also like a layer of gravel on the road, at least the first quarter mile of the two mile road. Property owners feel this is a fair request for taxes paid in the area. The Assistant Land Commissioner stated that maintenance of the road is under contract requiring grading four times a season with one pass (in and out). He did notify the contractor after Mr. Coleman’s visit to the office to grade the road with a double pass. With regards to gravel, he stated that there is no gravel resource in the area and would have to hire a contractor to bring it in. We maintain these forestry roads to a quality where we can get in but our needs and time of access are not the same as landowners and leaseholders. The Department wants to make the roads passable but has limited funding for this purpose. The Department agreed to see what more they could do to improve the condition of the road. No other comment was presented.

2002/09-20 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper approving the proposed 2003 County gross levy at $3,169,533 less HACA Aid of $26,471 and less HACA portion due to subordinate districts. The 2003 levy reflects transfer of tree growth tax due the County of $264,000 and results in no increase. The 2003 proposed gross levy breakdown is as follows: General Revenue - $1,119,533; Community Service - $1,200,000; Public Health - $100,000; Highway - $500,000; Environmental Services - $150,000; Regional Corrections - $100,000. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/09-21 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 3:20 p.m. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion carried.