SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 28, 2003; 10:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Susan Congrave, Terry Murray, John Bowers, Jaci Nagle; Reporters Roger Jerome and Laurel Beager

2003/01-47 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-48 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2003 regular meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board reported that a performance review was conducted with the KCCS Director on Tuesday, January 22, 2003 in closed session and resulted in a satisfactory review with another performance review scheduled in six months.

2003/01-49 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson authorizing the following 2003 Budget adjustments: adjusting deferred revenue for the Survey Enhancement Project funding to $10,982 reflecting the actual year end balance (increase of $110), adjusting for the Soil Survey Project funding in the County Development Budget to $21,000 to better track actual expenditures to total amount dedicated to the project (increase of $10,000), and to add $9,500 to the General Revenue Fund Miscellaneous Revenue and non-contracted services in the 2003 Extension Budget to account for the Family Collaborative Grant and expenditure of funds for the part time 4-H Coordinator Position. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck; voting no: Lepper. Motion carried.

2003/01-50 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the first half of 2003 NCLUCB membership dues as directed in Board Motion 2003/01-08. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-51 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Public Health bills in the amount of $37,892.28 with payment detail on file in the Public Health Department. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director updated the Board on bio-terrorism preparedness. Four staff in the department, including the Director, volunteered to receive the small pox vaccine and it is anticipated this will occur in February. Staff also underwent intensive training on providing the vaccine including assessing and counseling the client. Phase II of the program will vaccinate other local law enforcement and medical personnel who have volunteered for the vaccine (about twenty individuals at this time). Liability issues continue to be ironed out and each person volunteering for the vaccine is given an information packet, assessment and is required to sign a waiver. The reason for the local preparedness is high population areas will be given priority by other response teams so low population areas need to have a plan in placed to take care of their people should an outbreak occur. The City of Fort Frances is interested in the County’s planning process and would like to participate where they can.

2003/01-52 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to renew an addendum to the ODC Service Agreement as recommended by the KCCS Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-53 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to approve a State of Minnesota Shared Services/Income Agreement as recommended by the KCCS Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was informed that financial worker Shirley Merkling is retiring on April 30, 2003 and that the individual hired in the State social worker position has resigned. A request to the State to refill the State social worker position has been done.

2003/01-54 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of burial case #1088992 in the amount of $2,196.50 and to approve payment of Community Service social service and financial claims and administrative expenditures as presented with payment detail on file in the Community Service Department. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-55 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck accepting the following recommendations for Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing: case #06842 relicensing for family day care for ten children, case #18330 relicensing for family day care for ten children, case #11468 closing home for family day care at provider’s request, case #37480 closing home for family day care at provider’s request, and case #55505 relicensing for foster care for four children. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The KCCS Director requested filling the financial worker position due to an upcoming retirement, understanding that the Board has placed a hiring freeze. He stated that financial worker caseloads are high and it will be difficult to spread this caseload to the other financial workers. Board members stated that the State budget deficit is real and will have an impact on County services and funding and that they expect supervisors to pick up workloads until our situation with State cuts are known and revisions in service can be made. The hiring freeze does not eliminate positions but directs positions not be filled.

2003/01-56 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to deny the KCCS Director’s request to fill a financial worker position under the current hiring freeze. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The KCCS Director informed the Board that under proposals for balancing the first phase of the State’s Budget deficit, the Senate plan is to delay payments to July 1, 2003 which are now paid quarterly to counties. This means over $100,000 to Koochiching County in Family Preservation and Child and Adult Mental Health funding. Counties fear that this delay of payment into the State’s next biennium may result in a cut in the funds altogether when they balance the next phase of the State’s budget deficit for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:40 a.m. No comment was received.

000 John Bowers of MCIT/Meadowbrook Insurance Group met with the Board to provide the annual Risk Management Report from Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust. The Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust is a joint power risk pool of 81 of the 87 Minnesota counties. Mr. Bowers reported on the Trust’s administration, coverage, and health, training and education programs. The Trust has been very successful and has provided its members dividend payments and rate reductions. Koochiching County has aided in this success by its continued low claims. He also stated that some of the counties not in the MCIT pool at this time and other county associations are looking at MCIT coverage due to the low rates. MCIT Insurance Group has been recognized nation-wide as one of the best insurance pools. In closing, Mr. Bowers stated he would return this year to review coverage documents with staff and provide risk management training.

2003/01-57 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing the Information Systems Manager to apply for a 2002 State and Local Supplement Appropriation Planning Grant from the Division of Emergency Management to perform a business analysis impact study so that a better information systems disaster recovery plan can be created. Maximum allocation is $5,000 and requires no local match. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Information Systems Manger informed the Board that in phase I of balancing the State’s budget deficit, the LCMR Grant for the Parcel Base System has been targeted for possible cut, however, the County will receive reimbursement from the grant funds for services rendered to the time cancellation of the grant is received.

2003/01-58 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve Board member’s attendance to a February MCIT Seminar in St. Paul on handling workforce reduction. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-59 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee adopting the following resolution:

WHEREAS, America's conservation, environmental and agricultural organizations supported the passage of the 2002 Farm Bill, and currently await successful implementation of the Conservation Title. These groups expect full funding of the Conservation Title to protect and conserve America's working lands, while improving and enhancing America's natural resources.

WHEREAS, the security of our homeland depends on an abundance of food and fiber, the quality of the soil producing these goods, and the quality of our water. The quality of our natural resources defines the quality of our lives. The American public demands government action to sustain the health of our natural resources.

WHEREAS, the nation's conservation districts pride themselves on accountability; they provide results for each public dollar spent.

WHEREAS, the success of third party vendors to deliver conservation technical assistance depends on the availability of technical assistance dollars associated with each Farm Bill program. Without these dollars, NRCS will be unable to maximize the assistance of private technical service providers and local conservation districts. As a result, Farm Bill financial assistance dollars will go unspent; thousands of Americans will not realize their benefits.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the National Association of Conservation Districts requests the Administration provide adequate funding for technical assistance to implement Farm Bill conservation programs. The Administration should:

1. Fund the House of Representatives 2003 budget proposal (at approximately $930 million) for conservation technical assistance. Honor the intent of the U.S. Congress that speaks for the American people.

2. Ensure NRCS receives full reimbursement for technical assistance provided to Farm Bill programs. Honor the President's Management Initiative, which requires that agencies receive funds equaling the full cost of programs.

3. Follow the direction of the law, and not allow the Section 11 cap to limit technical assistance funds reimbursement to NRCS as stated in the Farm Bill. The General Accounting Office states it is not legal to use NRCS Conservation Operations funds for implementation of Farm Bill programs.

4. Protect state and local funds leveraged by federal dollars. Through local conservation districts and state conservation agencies, federal conservation technical assistance funding leverages local and state dollars for additional conservation initiatives. Successful Farm Bill program implementation depends on the continued support and participation of local conservation districts, state conservation and natural resource agencies, state agricultural agencies, and state governors. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/01-60 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 12:20 p.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.