Koochiching County Board Minutes 12-31-02

Board Minutes

for

December 31, 2002

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, December 31, 2002; 11:00 a.m.

OTHERS ATTENDING: Kevin Adee, Kevin Peterson, Terry Murray, Susan Congrave, Marie Mettler; Reporter Kelly Cameron

2002/12-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/12-39 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the December 17, 2002 regular meeting with correction. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/12-40 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to reclass the County’s Forfeited Tax Expendable Trust Fund as a Special Revenue Fund for the year ending December 31, 2002 as requested by the State Auditor for GSAB 34 purposes and as recommended by the Assistant Auditor. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/12-41 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick authorizing expenditure of $915.89 from the 2002 Election Budget with the understanding that the budget will be over due to re-balloting caused by the Wellstone tragedy. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/12-42 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve a 2003 Legislative Service Agreement in the amount of $20,000 with Flaherty and Hood for monitoring legislative proposals that impact the County. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Hanson requested Board support of a resolution opposing additional restrictions of Lake Sturgeon harvest in Minnesota-Canadian Border Waters as proposed by the DNR. Local opinion is that the current management program is working and should be allowed more time to prove its effectiveness on improving the sturgeon stock. He stated that the DNR proposal has to go through the legislative process and with the State’s fiscal problems and change in officials, he is not sure what will follow. Commissioner Pavleck addressed DNR Fisheries Manager Kevin Peterson stating that three years ago Canada and the public opposed the DNR taking sturgeon from the border waters and transplanting them in another watershed and now the DNR is proposing to reduce the taking of sturgeon. Mr. Peterson stated that in 1996 a decision was made to take sturgeon from Rainy River and transplant them in the Red River System. They took about 378 sub-adult sturgeon, which was a small percent in comparison to the harvest taken at that time. Since then they reevaluated their position and discontinued the transplanting program. With regards to the current proposal to reduce harvest, the DNR is responsible for fisheries management and looks long term when making its decisions. They do not disagree that stock is healthy now but want to ensure a healthy stock for the long term. The DNR previously cut the season by two weeks, created a slot limit and changed the possession limit from one a day to one a year in hopes of reducing harvest. However based on data, harvest amounts remain the same so they are now proposing to further restrict the possession limit. In response to a question from the Board, Mr. Peterson stated that Canada continues to have the longer season and he believes their possession limit is one per day. Commissioner Pavleck asked if public comment matters. Mr. Peterson stated that public comment is important in their decision-making process but at the same time it is not a vote as the DNR has the responsibility to manage fisheries. Commissioner Pavleck asked what the intent of the Canadian government was to manage sturgeon stock. Mr. Peterson understood that Canada was going to make reduction changes but to date no changes have been made. Commissioner Lepper asked if the sturgeon harvest was being evaluated statewide or is it limited to just our watershed? Mr. Peterson stated that the only other place to harvest sturgeon is in the Saint Croix River and at this time the DNR feels the harvest limits are adequate so no change is being proposed. Commissioner Pavleck stated that Canada has no incentive to make any change if we are reducing harvest on this side and that change should be done as a joint effort with Canada if the goal is to ensure healthy stock.

2002/12-43 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners oppose the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources proposed additional restrictions on the Lake Sturgeon harvest in Minnesota-Canadian Border Waters as Lake Sturgeon stocks have been recovering for decades. Further, the stock has improved steadily and with the removal of the commercial harvest and the widely supported change of possession limits in 2001, Lake Sturgeon are abundant and no further change in harvest limits are warranted. The Koochiching County Board requests that copies of all comments received on this proposal be forwarded to Koochiching County along with a list of the legislators that will author this bill in the 2003 Legislative Session. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck.
Motion carried.

2002/12-44 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve a 2003 Lease Agreement with Range Center, Inc. for the DAC Building with a lease rate of $8.00 per square foot. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2002/12-45 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick adopting the following resolution supporting the Minnesota County Restructure Act of 2003:

WHEREAS the state of Minnesota is facing a troubled economic cycle and has a projected $4.5 billion budget deficit for the next biennium; and

WHEREAS the administration and individual legislators have stated that counties should be a part of the solution to the state’s deficit; and

WHEREAS the state legislature will consider cutting and/or eliminating aids to counties, which are used to provide essential services to the citizens of Minnesota and such cuts would result in increased local property taxes; and

WHEREAS the counties will be partners in achieving a budget solution but such a partnership is currently impractical for counties as the majority of county budgets consists of mandates imposed by the state and federal governments over which the counties have no discretion; and

WHEREAS a fundamentally new county/state relationship must be developed in which county governments have the discretion and flexibility with which to cost effectively and efficiently offer services.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners, comprised of the undersigned individuals, support passage of the Minnesota County Restructure Act of 2003 based on the following three key provisions:

1. Counties may provide those services that contribute to the health, safety, welfare and economic well being of the county. Counties may provide services unless directly prohibited by the state.

2. All mandates, maintenance of efforts, rules requiring the delivery of services and reporting requirements excluding those rules and mandates that originate or access federal monies are repealed.

3. Counties shall have immunity stemming from all lawsuits for failure to provide non-mandated services.

2002/12-46 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck renewing service agreements with Northland Counseling for MH and Clubhouse services as recommended by the KCCS Director. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director presented a request for the County to act as fiscal agent for a grant to plan, develop and implement a Community Clinic/Family Planning Center. The proposal comes as a result of Planned Parenthood closing and comes from a group of health care stakeholders in the County. This proposal requires no fiscal contribution from the County but will require in-kind services of the Director and staff for reporting and referrals should the grant be approved. In-kind match also includes other stakeholder contributions. Commissioner Pavleck asked who pays after the center is developed? The Director stated that the proposal depends on further grant funding, which will be looked at in the planning stage. This planning grant requires a fiscal agent with a grant application deadline of January 7, 2003. Though Board members supported the service, they stated concern with the County ending up with the center and financial responsibility, especially during the time of fiscal crisis in the State.

2002/12-47 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper approving a grant application to the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care for the planning and development of a family planning center as recommended by the Public Health Director with the County to serve as fiscal agent. The motion further states that no county dollars are approved for the grant and that implementation of the plan, should the project move forward, requires further review and approval by the County Board. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

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

2002/12-48 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: McBride, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.