SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 25, 2003; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Richard Lehtinen, Tom Torratti, Bob Peterson, Jaci Nagle, Duane Nelson, James Hummel, Dennis Hummitzsch, Tom Morris, Doug Grindall, Dennis Johnson, Kurt Larson, Joe McKenny, Bryan Henrickson; Reporter Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2003/03-29 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-30 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2003 regular meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Public Health bills in the amount of $29,314.06 with payment detail on file in the Public Health Department, 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 and to approve payment of burial case #1044816 in the amount of $2,251.00. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-32 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Coordinator to enter into a service contract with Cost Consultants to audit the County’s telephone and utility billings for overpayments and cost savings contingent on review and approval of the contract by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-33 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, State of Minnesota, has been authorized to undertake a program to provide Family Homeless Prevention assistance; and

WHEREAS, KOOTASCA, Inc. has developed an application as an Administering Entity for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program; and

WHEREAS, KOOTASCA, Inc. has demonstrated the ability to perform the required activities of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that KOOTASCA, Inc. is hereby authorized as an entity to be charged with the administration of funds made available through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program in the County of Koochiching. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-34 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick authorizing the I.S. Manager to expend up to $240 from the 2003 Information System Capital Outlay Budget to purchase a bar code scanner for the Auditor/Treasurer’s Department to automate the posting of property tax payments and voting history. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director reported to the Board that the six source water assessments for transient facilities having surface water as their water source have been completed per the agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health and that the County was compensated $3,000 for the assessment work. Assessments were done for Camp Idlewood, Camp Koochiching, Island View Lodge, Rainy Lake Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge and Sha Sha Resort.

2003/03-35 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to approve the Scott’s Land Plat as recommended by the Planning Commission, Plat File No. PLT0202. Said Plat meets all county requirements and is consistent with the Rainy/Rapid River Plan and the County Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-36 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson appointing Tim McBride, Jim Palm, and Bruce Polkinghorne as viewers required per M.S. 116A.11 for the proposed Jackfish Sewer Project whose duties are to estimate damages to all lands and properties affected by the proposed system and report their findings. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director registered a concern with the Board regarding the State’s position to not fund local water plans and whether this lack of support for local water plans gives greater status to the State’s basin plans. This seems a logical conclusion based on BWSR not funding local water plans because they do not view them as a core service, yet the State continues to establish basin plans. The Director stated his concern to the MPCA Basin Planner whose reply was that the basin plans were never intended to have power over local plans. The Board expressed concern, as they did not understand the need for the basin plans in the first place since the State required all counties to have local water plans. The Board questioned who would have the final say when the local and basin plans conflict, which they will. Commissioner Lepper and the Environmental Service Director both serve on the basin committee for this area and will continue to monitor the development of these plans with the County’s best interest in mind.

000 The Board and Environmental Service Director reviewed proposed legislation requiring property owners to file information on their septic systems, subject to a filing fee. The County is required to make a list of home owners with inadequate compliance information based on the records filed and all owners on the list must have a compliance inspection conducted. The legislation proposes a County fee for septic pumping and increased license fees, which will go to a State loan program for replacement of systems. The Board will review the legislation with other counties at the AMC Legislative Conference. The Board stated that this is a sign that stricter ISTS requirements are coming.

2003/03-37 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to table a motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve service rates with Northland Counseling for mental health services until the April 1, 2003 meeting when the KCCS Director is available. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-38 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: case #50779 relicensing for group family day care for twelve children and case #35600 relicensing for group family day care for fourteen children and group family foster care for six children. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-39 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to table the report on cab fare expenditures in the Community Service vendor payments until the April 1, 2003 meeting when the KCCS Director is available. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/03-40 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee adopting the revised fee schedule for the Sheriff’s Department with rates effective May 1, 2003. Charging for Taking Prisoners: Nett Lake $60 per day, Border Patrol $60 per day, U.S. Marshall $60 per day, Outside Huber - $60 per day, Outside County Prisoners $60 per day, DOC Prisoners $60 per day, Intl Falls Prisoners $10 per day, Weekend or Intermittent Prisoners $35 per day (payable upon intake). Prisoner Charges: Local Huber $25.00 per day, Sick Call $5.00 and Booking Fee $10, Convicted Offender confined in the Koochiching County jail is to pay the cost of medical and dental services required by that offender during his incarceration and payable to the County Jail upon inmate’s release. Civil Processing: Service $35 plus mileage, Not Found Paper $35 plus mileage, Mileage Rate .35 cents per mile with a minimum mileage charge of $5.00, Collection After Execution 10% first $250 and 6% remaining, Preparing Levy - $20, Writ of Execution - $55, Securing Property $75 plus officer time and mileage, Deputy or Civil Process Officer Rate $35 per hour, Redemption Sale $300, Sheriff Sale - $35 plus officer time, Sales Notice $35, Drafting Certificate of Sale $35. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Sheriff presented a general agreement between Voyageur’s National Park and the Sheriff’s Department which was tabled previously by the County Board due to concerns about deputizing park officials to enforce state and local laws. Board members again expressed concern about the wording in the agreement and questioned why the agreement needed to be in place.

2003/03- 41 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to table a motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson to approve the general agreement between Voyageurs National Park and the County Sheriff’s Department. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck; voting no: Adee. Motion carried.

2003/03-42 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to add to the agenda review of legislation for selling tax forfeited land to Boise Forte, H.F. 1134, as requested by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner and the Assistant Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the 2002 Tax Forfeit Trust Fund apportionment which resulted in $1,368,883 of revenue for the 2003 County Budget. A 2002 Department activity report was also reviewed with the Board.

000 The Land Commissioner presented a draft bill by Aitkin County supporting intermediate auctions. The proposed legislation was introduced based on differing legal opinions as to whether intermediate auctions were allowed. The Land Commissioner stated that Aitkin County’s bill as written follows Koochiching County’s process. He stated that St. Louis County has presented their own form of this bill which differs in the language and asked the Board to review the matter with St. Louis County officials.

000 The Land Commissioner provided a copy of H.F. 1134 which supports a private sale of tax forfeited lands to Boise Forte Band as was previously recommended by the Land Commissioner and determined by the Board that the county’s land management interest would best be served if the fractional interest in the lands were consolidated and the lands were returned to private ownership. The Board again provided its support for the selling of this land as proposed but with the contingency that the bill’s final language be reviewed by the Board.

000 MnDot representatives met with the Board to present their annual report and to discuss the conditions and plans for Highway 11 west of Junction 11/71. An overview of the Northeast MN Area Transportation Partnership was provided along with the proposed 2004 to 2006 regional and local projects including 2006 federal project recommendations. Discussion was held on Highway 11 west of Junction 11/71. District 2 representatives stated that three priorities were chosen from the list of safety improvements recommended by the Highway 11 Task Force, which were to strengthen the road (making 10 ton), turn lanes and correct the erosion problems. These priorities have an estimated cost of $300,000 per mile and planned from County Road 4 (Frontier Landing) to the Clementsen Bridge. Improvements will also occur in the Lake of the Woods plan (coming the other direction to the Clementsen Bridge). Commissioner Hanson supported the task force plan, however, after the plan was completed the floods came and more damage was done to the highway. He stated that large pieces of the surface are breaking up. He stated that crews are doing a great job taking care of the problems but reconstruction plans should be hurried due to safety concerns. Other Board members expressed concern with the absence of guardrails at the sharp corner by Indus and would like to see rails replaced. MnDot representatives stated that improvements to the Highway are in the ten-year plan and the safety concerns are known. However, until the funding becomes available, will need to rely on maintenance for the time being. The Highway Engineer noted that Highway 11 west of the Junction was also submitted as a priority in the County’s application for federal transportation funds. A summary was provided on ATP Enhancement Projects. No applications were submitted by the County this year but applications are anticipated for next year. The Board discussed problems with MnDot’s recent decision to place weight limits and the Board questioned when the County ceded its right to place limits on their county roads. In addition, the County was still below freezing when the statewide limits were placed. The Board thanked the representatives for meeting with them to discuss area transportation matters.

2003/03-43 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for culverts with bid results to the Board on April 22, 2003. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment. No comment was presented.

2003/03-44 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to adjourn the meeting at 12:25 p.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.