REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, April 01, 2003; 10:00 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Jan Derdowski, Einar Sundin, Duane Nelson, Bob Peterson, John Mastin, Terry Murray, Richard Lehtinen, Paul Mielke; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Jen O’Reily

2003/04-01 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the March 25, 2003 special meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-03 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to approve payment of the Auditor bills in the amount of $63,170.05 contingent on review of the $2,660 training expense for Hibbing Community College with the Sheriff; to approve payment of the Board’s monthly per diem and expense in the amount of $6,497.45 and to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler in the amount of $3,923.20 for negotiation services. Payment detail on file in the Auditor’s Office. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-04 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant an abatement to Allan and Jessie Johnson, parcel #97-02-06110, for homestead credit. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-05 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick approving a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Premises Permit Application LG214 for the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club, sponsored by “The Y”, as recommended by the License Committee. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair appointment members of the Management Committee to represent the Board on the Law Library Board with Commissioner Chezick as representative and Commissioner Pavleck as alternate.

2003/04-06 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson that Koochiching County certifies that the Emergency Shelter Program as administered by KOOTASCA, being located within our jurisdiction, has approval to receive funding from the State of Minnesota Emergency Shelter Grants Program. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-07 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick approving a grant application to the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota for the Extension Department requesting funding for a non-county 4-H Coordinator position, requiring the County to act as fiscal agent for the grant. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Extension Coordinator informed the Board that TANF dollars were provided by the Public Health Department as the local match to obtain a summer University intern position for youth activities. The Board agreed to discuss use of grant funds in the Public Health Department with the Director to ensure grant dollars are first considered for funding core services.

000 The Sheriff informed the Board that the $2,660 training expense with Hibbing Community College is an annual expense to provide required training for his deputies and is reimbursed by State training funds. The Board accepted the expenditure.

2003/04-08 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee accepting the employment separation of Bob Byman in the Sheriff’s Department (retirement). Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Sheriff requested authorization to fill the Undersheriff/Investigator position due to an upcoming retirement and based on his promotion selection for this position, also requested the filling of the Big Falls deputy position. The Board understanding the need to fill these positions, stated that the size of cuts facing the County has to be given consideration in all areas of the budget and the Sheriff’s Department is no exception. Having said this, the majority of the Board felt the replacement of the Big Falls deputy was needed while others felt the position should be covered with existing staff until the Board finalizes the 2003 and 2004 County budgets and makes a determination on funding levels. Public safety is a concern in all areas of the budget but with the size of cuts facing the County, we need to be looking at doing things differently. Letters supporting the replacement of the Big Falls deputy position were provided and reviewed with the Board. The Board was not in disagreement about the need to service the rural areas of the County but the funding deficit is real and has to be dealt with. Suggestions were made about looking to the Highway patrol for more service and/or mutual agreement with the City of International Falls to assist with law enforcement in rural areas. Ideas need to be explored and the Board is asking department heads to work with them. Sheriff staff stated that though it could be done, it is not in the best interest of public safety in the County to have existing staff cover the vacancy. The Board asked that the position be covered until they have time to review the budget and establish a funding plan for Sheriff services. Coordinator stated that the process is to first consider filling the Undersheriff/Investigator position and any positions that become vacant due to this hire would be addressed separately as the hiring procedure first needs to take place for the Undersheriff/Investigator position.

2003/04-09 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick authorizing the Sheriff to fill the Undersheriff/Investigator position. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-10 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve rate increases for the Northland Counseling Mental Health Service Agreement with the understanding that the total contract amount would remain the same as recommended by the KCCS Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was notified that Jeri Nordlund was hired as the State Operated Services Social Worker effective April 7, 2003.

000 The KCCS Director stated that as a result of the Board’s questions on cab fare expenditures, the Department reviewed the process for authorizing this expense. Cab fare is an authorized expense under Medical Assistance Transportation with restricted use. The review resulted in placing more control in the process to better confine usage per Medical Assistance requirements.

2003/04-11 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee that for lack of information at the meeting on whether the Board previously authorized the payment of cab fares in the Community Service claim listings, to approve said expenditures at this time. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:32 a.m. Paul Mielke recommended that the Board reconsider its appointment of Tim McBride as a viewer for the proposed Jackfish Bay Sewer Project as Minnesota Statute requires that viewers be disinterested parties to the project and in his opinion, McBride, having voted for the project and having involvement in the project as a Commissioner, is not a disinterested party. He requested a new appointment. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment at 11:35 a.m.

2003/04-12 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to approve a service contract with the Occupational Development Center to perform highway clean-up along Highway 11-71 between Menards and the Transfer Station and along County Road 107 leading to the transfer station with no increase in expenditure from the previous service contract as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck; abstaining: Adee. Motion carried.

2003/04-13 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to approve an increase in the appliance disposal tipping fee from $5.00 to $8.00 (per appliance) as recommended by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Environmental Service Department due to cost increases. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion

000 The Environmental Service Director provided the Board minutes from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) meeting of March 20, 2003 at which time discussion on an interim and permanent operating plan for the transfer station took place. SWAC felt that the best option for servicing the transfer station is for the County to fill the vacant transfer station operator position and provided a recommendation to the Board. The Environmental Service Director stated that the interim plan and study of future operation plans for the transfer station are being done as directed by the Board with the interim plan presented to the Board next week. At that time the Director will provide the requested financial report for processing recyclables from the City of Fort Frances. With regards to the recommendation from SWAC to fill the vacant position, the Board was appreciative of their concern and input but that management and personnel decision for the facility are the responsibility of the Board.

2003/04-14 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to table the SWAC recommendation to fill the vacant Transfer Station Operator position. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-15 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 12:20 p.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.