2003 ELECTION OF COUNTY BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR WAS CONDUCTED BY THE CLERK TO THE COUNTY BOARD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 07, 2003; 9:30 A.M. BY A FOUR TO ONE VOTE COMMISSIONER CHARLES LEPPER WAS ELECTED AS BOARD CHAIR AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE COMMISSIONER WADE PAVLECK WAS ELECTED AS VICE CHAIR.

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 07, 2003; 9:45 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Jaci Nagle, Jan Derdowski, Richard Lehtinen, Steve Blair, John Slatinski Sr., Tom Netland, Doug Grindall, Tim Anderson, Corey Eide; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2003/01-01 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the December 31, 2002 special meeting with changes. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-03 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to approve payment to the Association of Minnesota Counties for 2003 dues, to approve payment to Arrowhead Regional Development Commission for 2003 ACA dues and lobbying fees, to approve payment to the Association of Minnesota Counties in the amount of $5,400.00 for the annual cost allocation plan for obtaining federal dollars for administration of federal programs, to approve payment of the County Board monthly per diem and expense in the amount of $11,195.62, and to approve payment of the December Board of Prisoner claim in the amount of $2,330.00. Payment detail on file in the Auditor’s Office. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried. (Due payments subject to conditions stipulated in 2003/01-08.)

2003/01-04 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to award the low and only 2003 publication bid to the Daily Journal and Northome Record as a joint bid with a 3% rate increase from 2002 rates. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-05 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick accepting the recommendation of the Central Finance Team for revisions in the County Budget Guideline updating document information and providing more flexibility to the Budget Coordinator and Financial Managers in approving internal budget adjustments contingent on the 2003 Budget Directives being adhered to and with an information report to the County Board on internal revisions made without their approval. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair requested Board members to review County committees and appointments for 2003 and provide requests or comments to him within a week’s time. The Board Chair will schedule committee time at the January 14, 2003 meeting to review the 2003 Committee listing before making appointment decisions.

2003/01-06 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick that the Koochiching County Board supports South Koochiching-Rainy River School District #363 in its project to develop a series of walking and cross country ski trails in the C.W. Bray School Forest located adjacent to the Northome School Property as a benefit to the students and the general public. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-07 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to add discussion of annual due payments to the agenda. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-08 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick authorizing payment of only one half of annual membership dues for 2003 with second half payments determined at a later date when more information is known on the impact to the County from the balancing of the State’s financial deficit. Motion further directs notification to all departments of this payment directive. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-09 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck authorizing payment of $5,482.62 from the 2003 Information System Capital Outlay Budget for support software for new systems approved in Board Motion 2002/12-26 and for compatibility of systems in the Land and Forestry Department as recommended by the I.S. Manager. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Extension Coordinator requested feedback from the Board on continuation of the hire of the University of MN part time 4-H Coordinator position since the County Board placed a hiring freeze and the County will contribute $6,500 to the position. The majority of funding for the position comes from the University and Family Collaborative. The position will enhance 4-H services with development of new programs, which will be supported by grant funds. The Extension Coordinator stated that $2,000 of temp hire was eliminated from her 2003 Budget in lieu of adding this position. Questions were asked about unemployment and it was assumed that since the position would be under the University the unemployment cost would be borne by them. As stated in previous discussion on the filling of the transfer station operator position, the Board does not want to hire someone who will give up their previous employment and in a short time have to lay them off. Within a few months, more information will be known on how the State’s financial deficit will impact the County and would be a better time to consider filling positions. Department Heads need to be looking at the worst case scenario and be planning how they will make cuts in their department. The worst case scenario could account for ten percent or more cut in their approved 2003 expenditure budget. Members also stated that cuts might be forthcoming in Collaborative and University funding. The Board deferred discussion on the matter until later in the meeting after they discuss the vacant transfer station operator position with the Environmental Service Director.

2003/01-10 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to table action to later in the meeting on a motion by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Adee authorizing the Extension Coordinator to expend fifty percent of the County dollars set aside in the 2003 Budget for the 4-H Coordinator position as they felt it was outside the hiring freeze for county positions. Voting to table the motion: Lepper, Adee, Chezick, Pavleck; voting not to table: Hanson. Motion was tabled.

2003/01-11 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson directing the Environmental Service Director to consult with the County Attorney on a situation occurring with the Silverdale Canister Site Contract for non-purchase of insurance and report back to the County Board at the next meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-12 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to approve payment to Ayres Associates in the amount of $1,638.01 from the Environmental Service Jackfish Sewer Account for work on the Project’s EAW with funding reimbursement to be determined at a later date from Environmental Trust dollars reserved for the project. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 In response to the Board’s inquiry as to operations at the Transfer Station due to the vacant transfer station operator position, the Environmental Service Director stated that the Board’s decision to leave the position vacant was not based on an evaluation of the Department’s services but merely the fact that the position became open. One person has to be on the floor at all times at the transfer station to monitor hauling and dumping so other site work is not getting done. He has had department staff helping out at the facility but other department operations are falling behind. He feels the department was targeted prematurely and that he should be allowed to come back with a proposal on how to handle cuts in his department. Board members stated that with the possibility of unallotment yet for 2002 and the ongoing state deficit problems, they had a responsibility to start curtailing the County budget and began to take action in December. The Board also expects the Highway Department to assist at the site along with department staff. The Board intends to meet with all its department heads to review the County Budget in light of the current deficit and to develop a worst case scenario plan with cuts from the State. At this time department heads will have the opportunity to present their budget reduction plan. It was again noted that in the worst case scenario, a minimum of a ten-percent cut should be considered in each budget with the understanding it could be more. Director will continue to work the situation in the interim and meet with the Highway Engineer to seek assistance at the transfer station.

000 In further discussion with the Extension Coordinator on the 4-H position, she was asked what her plan would be if the Board does not approve the funding. She would ask for one half of County funding or in the worst case scenario, use more of the Collaborative funding to make up the difference. Using more of the Collaborative dollars now, however, reduces the length of time in which funding is available for the position.

2003/01-13 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to table action on the request to expend 2003 County budget funds for the UOM 4-H position until the January 14, 2003 meeting to allow members more time to consider the issue. Voting yes: Lepper, Chezick, Pavleck; voting no: Adee, Hanson. Motion carried.

2003/01-14 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson accepting the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve REZ #0203 (zone change from O-1 to R-1) and CUP #0204 for a home occupation to operate a trucking business for Tom Netland on property located south of Ericsburg. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-15 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to tentatively agree to the Highway Department providing minimal maintenance for a portion of County Road 98 to Tom Netland’s property based on a signed agreement between the two parties and submitted to the Board for acceptance. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-16 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for the bridge replacement on County Road 57 over the Valley River with revision to the bid spec as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-17 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids on February 3, 2003 for annual requirements of diesel fuel, furnace oil and propane gas and for purchasing gasoline and diesel fuel from service stations both within the County and for out-of-county travel. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-18 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson authorizing use of a portion of Park Avenue south of County Road 133 in the Plat of Crystal Beach to allow access to private property with the stipulation that the County is under no obligation to construct or maintain the road and that the road remain public. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:05 p.m. No comment was presented.

2003/01-19 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to add call for bids for additional bituminous overlay work to the agenda. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-20 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing the Highway Engineer to add to his call for bituminous bids on February 3, 2003 Lake of the Woods and Koochiching County Highway 18, CSAH 85, CSAH 118, UT 392 and CSAH 24 as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-21 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 12:16 p.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.