Koochiching County Board Minutes 2-11-03

Board Minutes

for

February 11, 2003

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, February 11, 2003; 10:00 a.m.

OTHERS ATTENDING: Duane Nelson, Florence Hervey, Richard Lehtinen, Gene Merriam, John Guenther, Kevin Peterson, Bob Peterson, Ron Laurion, Paul Mielke, Dennis Hummitzsch, Bob Lessard, Terry Murray, Ann Scholler; Reporters Laurel Beager, Jen O’Reily and Roger Jerome

2003/02-16 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/02-17 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2003 regular meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/02-18 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson tabling the resolution request on economic growth, homeland security and infrastructure. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/02-19 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee authorizing the Jail Administrator to attend a week’s training in Colorado for small jail management training with only cost to the County being transportation to and from the airport and to and from the training location (all other training and travel expense paid by the National Institute of Corrections). Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Sheriff has in possession a FEMA trailer which was used this past summer during the floods but has been made available to law enforcement agencies. The trailer is stored in the Highway garage. The trailer belongs to U.S. customs but would be utilized as a shared command center. The Board requested that more information be obtained as to ownership of the trailer before county dollars are invested in command center equipment and insurance.

2003/02-20 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to table acceptance of the FEMA trailer until more information is provided. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/02-21 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to table approval of a legal service contract for the Environmental Service Department for land use and zoning matters. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Chezick; voting no: Hanson. Motion to tabled carried.

000 DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam and Regional DNR Director John Guenther met with the Board to open lines of communication and discuss local issues. Board members expressed the importance of wood fiber production for jobs and revenue for the County and worry about continued pressure by environmental groups to stop utilization of these resources. In reference to the Peat Project, Board members stated frustration with obtaining federal permits for development of the commercial peat operation when the State has approved the operation and that the state must ask itself what right it has to use its own resources. In reference to working relationships with DNR staff, it was stated that there are always differences of opinion but DNR employees are very professional and knowledgeable. The Commissioner was asked to review state law on water jurisdiction due to the long standing question as to whether Minnesota or Voyageurs National Park has jurisdiction over waters in the Park. Paul Mielke suggested to the Commissioner to consider joining Alaska in their pending lawsuit on this same water jurisdiction issue. Bob Lessard stated that the new Commissioner has a different attitude than past DNR administration and that his appointment is a positive move. Board members expressed disappointment at earlier attempts to develop policy for off-highway vehicle use in the State and asked that elected officials be involved in this process. The Board was pleased that the Commissioner met with the Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club and urged them to stay in touch with this and other such groups. In closing the Commissioner stated that he took the position as DNR Commissioner not out of need but because he wants to have a positive impact on public policy. Partnerships with local units of government and local groups such as the Sportsfishing Club are critical in his mind and especially during times of financial constraints. Involvement at the local level is critical to managing resources. In closing he asked the Board to contact his office as things come to their attention. The Board thanked the Commissioner and his staff for attending the meeting and invited them back at any time.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that the environmental document for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project will be published on February 18, 2003 and the document will be sent to each property owner in the proposed sewer project area and available in his office and the library. He noted that this was the first joint state and federal environmental document. The document will be out for public review for 45 days with a certification date planned for April. The second $500,000 federal grant approved for the project is still pending funding from an approved federal budget.

2003/02-22 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick amending Board Motion 2003/02-07 authorizing expenditure of $920.00 plus sales tax from the 2003 Sheriff Building Improvement Capital Budget (code 6661) to replace a wire plate glass in the jail cellblock which was broken by an inmate with no cost reimbursement from the County’s Insurance Trust as the claim is subject to a $1,000 deductible. Voting yes to amend the motion: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Coordinator informed the Board that the full impact of the Governor’s unallotment to balance the State’s 2002/2003 Budget is still not known and State departments are still working on notification to LGUs on the cuts. At this time we are aware that the BSWR and Beaver Removal Grants were eliminated and that cuts were made in the SCORE Grant and CHS Subsidy. Departments are reviewing the unallotment cuts and will report to the Board with impacts to the 2003 Budget.
The Governor’s 2004/2005 State Budget plan will be available to the public on February 18, 2003, which will reduce the State Budget by $4 billion. A legislative session is scheduled for February 25, 2003 with our lobbyist to go over the Governor’s Budget plan for impacts to the County. The Board will attend the AMC Legislative Conference in St. Paul on March 25 through March 27.

2003/02-23 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee accepting the resignation of Carol Stillar, social worker in Community Services, on January 28, 2003. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director requested authorization to fill a vacant social worker position due to a recent resignation to provide for Rule 25 Assessments and Consolidated Funding service.

2003/02-24 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to table the request to fill the vacant social worker position. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/02-25 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to add discussion of a service contract to the agenda as requested by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director requested approval of a service contract to March 31, 2003 to conduct Rule 25 Assessments which is a required service for the courts. The Board Chair deferred the request to the February 18, 2003 meeting at which time a copy of the contract will be made available to the Board.

000 The Assistant Auditor reviewed with the Board the monthly Expenditure/Budget Guideline report as requested in the 2003 Budget directives. The report contained suggestions to the Board to review cost of newspaper circulation and car pool vs. personal vehicle usage expense. The Board agreed to review the issues during budget review sessions.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:24 a.m. Paul Mielke provided the Board a legislation proposal that would help homeowners fix failing septic systems, a Federal Lynx Protection Order where government must designate land for the endangered cat, which may affect construction plans and timber sales, (and impact the Sewer Project as the item needs to be addressed in the environmental review due to the Army Corp being a federal agency), and a MPCA news release on technology advancements in individual wastewater systems. Mr. Mielke asked the Board to consider this information for the Jackfish Sewer Project and ISTS management in rural areas. No other public comment was presented.

2003/02-26 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to table action on bid approval for the County Road 57 Bridge in the Silverdale area to the February 18, 2003 meeting due to the absence of the District Commissioner. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.