REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, February 18, 2003; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: Einar Sundin, Duane Nelson, Terry Murray, Doug Grindall, Brad Bokovoy, Shawn Mason, J.J. Hasbargen, Dennis Hummitzsch, Mike Kochniuak, Marty Gordon, Eric Norstad, Steve Oswald; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2003/02-27 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2003 special meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-29 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $61,616.23 with payment detail on file in the Highway Department and authorizing Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s January vendor payment list verifying Board’s review. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-30 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to defer the request by the City of International Falls to fund the full 2003 KEDA budget request to the March 11, 2003 KDA meeting for consideration. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to table participation in the Daily Journal’s annual changing time edition until more is known on the impact to the county budget with State cuts. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Chezick, Pavleck; voting no: Hanson. Motion carried.

2003/02-32 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson accepting low bid based on vehicle preference for a Sheriff squad vehicle from Hinckley Chevrolet for a 2003 Chevrolet Impala in the amount of $17,570.20 plus tax and registration. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-33 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve an addendum to the Range Center Service Agreement with a rate increase for NDAC services. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The KCCS Director asked for clarification on tabling the request to fill a vacant social worker position. The Board tabled the request so the position remains vacant under the County’s hiring freeze. The Director stated that to contract out the Rule 25 Assessment work it would cost about $15,000 annually in county dollars (about $155 per assessment) and is a requirement for the Court. Other duties contained in the vacant social service position would have to be absorbed by current staff if the position is not filled. Until a long-term solution is decided on Rule 25 Assessments, the Director recommended a service contract until the end of March. The Board asked if current staff could pick up the Rule 25 work and eliminate the need to spend additional county dollars for the service. The Director stated that staff would need to be trained to provide the service and that absorbing the work will be looked at.

2003/02-34 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to deny the request to fill the social worker position left vacant by a recent resignation under the County’s hiring freeze. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-35 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick approving a service contract with Sharon Frank for Rule 25 Assessment service until March 31, 2003. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board requested a full report on a vendor payment for cab fare (recent billing was over $1,600). The KCCS Director stated the service is for taking clients to medical appointments when the Blue Bus is unavailable and is paid by medical assistance dollars. He believed the billing in question was for a service period of four to five months. The Board asked that a full report be provided on this payment along with history on provision of this service.

2003/02-36 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Highway Engineer to seek bids for two-year service agreements for trapping of nuisance beaver along public maintained roads, along forestry roads accessible by vehicle or ATV and back woods areas as determined necessary (unallotment by the Governor for the 2002/03 State Budget cut funding for nuisance beaver removal to counties, increasing county cost up to $2,000). Bids will be open on March 17 and presented to the Board on March 18. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Brad Bokovoy, resident of Woodland Apartments, requested the County’s support in placing a stop light at the crosswalk in front of Super One as it is very difficult and dangerous for the elderly and disabled to cross this busy Highway. He suggested a stop light with a push button and noise response indicating a light change. With the help of Commissioner Pavleck, he approached the City with the problem. International Falls Councilor Shawn Mason stated that the City’s Street Commission will recommend to the Council next Monday to contact MnDot and request a study of the area with a request for a stop light at the crossing. The Committee suggested moving the crosswalk to an intersection, which MnDot could better support. The City also has concerns with pedestrians’ safety at this crosswalk, especially during stadium events when there is a high volume of people and traffic. But like the request for a stop light at Keenan Drive, traffic counts drive MnDot’s decisions. MnDot’s study on Keenan Drive found low traffic counts so a stop light was not approved. Some time after this determination there was a fatality at the intersection and pressure was put on MnDot to install the light. There is only one reported hit (non-fatal) at the Super One crosswalk but there are many people who have reported near misses. A letter from the County to MnDot supporting the study and placement of the light at this crosswalk would greatly help the City.

2003/02-37 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee accepting a petition requesting a safer crosswalk across Highway 11 in the vicinity of Super One and approving a letter from the County Board to MnDot requesting a study of this area for a safer crosswalk for the public. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer brought back the bid results for County Road 57 Bridge work with the recommendation to award low bid based on total bid or to reject the bids and rebid for next year’s work. The bid includes removal of the old bridge, which will be paid for with County dollars. The Board raised the question as to whether they were tied to accepting the low bid based on total bid or could they accept the bid that presents the least amount of expense to the County (in the best interest of the County). The County Attorney, called in for the discussion, stated she would further research bid law and provide the Board an opinion by the next meeting.

2003/02-38 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to table bid results on County Road 57 Bridge work until the February 25, 2003 meeting for further information from the County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-39 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to set aside $115,000 for timber and resource development reserves and $30,000 for park development reserves from the 2002 Trust Fund income as approved in the 2003 Land and Forestry Budget and as recommended by the Land Commissioner and to set aside the maximum of $4.00 per capita (new census figures will drop allocation slightly) from the 2002 Trust Fund income for promotion as allowed under MN Statute with allocation as follows: allocate forty percent of the promotion funds from the 2002 tax forfeit apportionment to the cities within Koochiching County with allocation ratio to be the same as in previous year and with a letter to accompany the checks stating what the funds can be expended on and when they have to be expended and to allocate sixty percent of the promotions funds from the 2002 tax forfeit apportionment to the Koochiching Development Authority to be held and utilized for the promotion of tourism, agricultural and industrial development as defined in MN Statutes. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-40 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee issuing a letter of recognition to the Highway Department engineering staff for being chosen as District One County Highway Engineering Department of the Year (2002). Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/02-41 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick authorizing the Land Commissioner to solicit and contract for two park attendants to provide site management at four County administered river access points for the Rainy River early fishing season and to request a funding contribution from Lake of the Woods County. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the January 17, 2003 timber auction, which resulted in all tracts being sold with a total auction sale value of $411,016.67. The Board asked the Land Commissioner at a future date to review how stumpage prices are determined.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:35 a.m. No comment was received.

2003/02-42 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 11:36 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.