SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, April 22, 2003; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Doug Grindall, Duane Nelson, Bob Byman, John Mastin, City Representatives and members of the public from Big Falls and Northome, Terry Murray, Susan Congrave, Nancy Lee Schafer and representatives from Interim and River Oaks Home Care Agencies; Reporters Laurel Beager and Jen O’Reily

2003/04-38 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-39 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2003 regular meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment to Flaherty and Hood in the amount of $1,587.25 for lobbyist services with payment from the Board Legislation Budget, to approve payment of the Public Health bills in the amount of $17,893.20 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. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-41 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve a zero (0%) salary increase to the elected Auditor/Treasurer, Recorder, Attorney, and Sheriff for 2003. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-42 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick accepting the following low bids for culverts as recommended by the Highway Engineer: Johnston Fargo – riveted and spiral corrugated steel culverts, Contech Construction Products – aluminized spiral culverts, Johnston Fargo – spiral polymer pre-coated culverts, Elk River Concrete Products – concrete culverts, Elk River Concrete Products – 88” span concrete arch culverts; Hancock Concrete Products – concrete arch culverts over 102”, Elk River Concrete Products – concrete box culverts. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Chezick informed the Board that due to the State’s budget deficit, funding allotted to LCMR projects is being diverted to the State’s general fund thereby taking the funding for the approved Water Quality Coop grant. He requested direction from the Board on submitting another grant application to the LCMR as the project is a viable wastewater management option for the County. The Board supported continuous effort to seek funding for the Water Quality Coop for the County.

000 Commissioner Pavleck informed the Board that with State funding cuts to counties and directly to Arrowhead Regional Corrections (ARC), the ARC Board recommended cuts be made to the budget based on a ten percent reduction in member counties’ allocations for 2004. The Agency will look at attrition and voluntary lay off and leave of absences and the drug court concept (offenders are first given the option to successfully complete treatment, diverting them from the court system) for cost savings in the budget.

000 Representatives and members of the public from Big Falls and Northome met with the Board to state concern with the decision to not fill the vacant deputy position for the Big Falls area and to request that it be filled. The Big Falls Mayor spoke on the group’s behalf. The Mayor stated that having law enforcement in this area is a priority service need and understood from reading the newspaper that there would be no deputy assigned to the area. There is a strong need to have law enforcement stationed in this area as response time from deputies stationed in Northome, Littlefork or International Falls will take too long. In addition, pulling these deputies to service Big Falls will diminish law enforcement services in other areas of the county. The Sheriff stated that Northome, Big Falls and Littlefork each have an assigned full time deputy and that not filling the Big Falls deputy position will put more pressure on the other two positions. The Sheriff believes the position needs to be filled. In addition, he stated concern with the Undersheriff as he lives in Big Falls and will be expected to provide law enforcement in addition to his other duties. A member of the audience stated that there are many recreational properties in this area and lack of law enforcement may mean more break-ins and/or destruction of property. The presence of law enforcement is needed. Commissioner Hanson stated his and his constituents’ strong position for law enforcement in Big Falls and Northome and that the position should be filled. Commissioner Chezick stated that given the size of the county, out-county law enforcement is needed, however, he is not ready to support filling the position until the County knows its final position on state cuts impacting the county’s budget. He stated that the anticipated size of the cuts means large cuts in the budget, including the Sheriff’s Budget. He stated it might mean cuts in positions requiring reallocation of duties and service areas of current deputies. Commissioner Pavleck agreed public safety is a priority but this priority is everywhere in the budget (examples: public health, community service, and highway). He feels the Board is not treating anyone differently but following the budget directives put in place to help get a handle on the amount of budget cuts facing us next year and these directives include a hiring freeze to avoid having to lay persons off. Estimating hard cost for a deputy position including a squad, he used $80,000 and compared that figure to $3,600 which is the amount small cities are paying the County for law enforcement service. A member of the audience stated that the deputy is only in Big Falls about 30% percent of the time so using the full cost figure as a comparison is not justified. This led to a question by Commissioner Pavleck as to why a full time deputy is needed in the area. In summarizing, he stated that the Board has to work with the budget cuts facing them but that the Sheriff can reallocate the resources to provide law enforcement in the County. A member of the audience stated concern because incidents may occur in the middle of the night. Commissioner Hanson did not feel the position should be held hostage to the budget as this is a priority service and the position should be filled. People in this area live 40 miles from International Falls and 30 minutes from Littlefork and Northome and constituents need a stationed deputy to feel safe. The Sheriff again stated that the position is needed. He has 8 full time deputies (one to be vacated) and three part time positions to serve the county. Five of the deputies are assigned to the International Falls area. Commissioner Adee feels the position is critical to the Big Falls area for visibility and response time, especially with a financial institute located in the City. Commissioner Hanson wants to see the Sheriff bring the request to fill the position to the Board for consideration and in the meantime, wanted assurance from the Sheriff resources would be allocated to cover the area. The Sheriff will do his best to cover the area but might have to use more part time. The Board Chair summarized stating that the Board understands everyone’s concerns but the County Budget will have a severely reduced amount of funding by next year so we need to look at all service needs of the County and decide then where to allocate funding. With regards to bringing a request to fill the position, with the hiring freeze in place approval to replace the position is unlikely at this time and would be better handled when the Board meets with the Sheriff to discuss the Department budget.

2003/04-43 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to extend the Rule 25 Assessment Service Agreement to the end of 2002 to be used as a back up to County staff should a need arise as recommended by the KCCS Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/04-44 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the following burial cases: #490404 in the amount of $1,771.50, #147302 in the amount of $908.18 and #NCN in the amount of $2,602.25 and accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: case #25915 relicensing for family day care for ten children, case #57648 relicenisng for foster care for five children with change of premise, case #61642 licensing for foster care for three children. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Pubic Health Director presented the action plan for the County’s involvement in home care services as reviewed at the last meeting with the Board. The Director requested direction on how to respond to a list of questions anonymously submitted to her. Because the questions were submitted anonymously, the Board agreed that a response could not be provided. However, Board members stated that at some point they would like to see the questions answered. Two motions were made by Board members to adopt the action plan as presented but were withdrawn due to disagreement on a review process to support the action plan.

2003/04-45 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to adopt the action plan as submitted by the Public Health Director stating the County’s role in delivery of home care service and to establish a committee of two Board members and the Public Health Director to review refusal of service issues. Voting yes: Chezick; voting no: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck. Motion failed.

2003/04-46 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to adopt the action plan as submitted by the Public Health Director stating the County’s role in delivery of home care service and to form a committee to support the plan with further discussion and establishment of the committee’s membership and role at the May 6, 2003 meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck; voting no: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director in response to the Board’s inquiry on the use of TANF grant dollars to support Extension services, stated that the TANF dollars have to be used by the end of June and that the amount allowed for the Public Health Department have been utilized. The dollars were then provided to the Extension Service to support like services.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:45 a.m. Jim Marchetti from Interim Health stated that the County is critical to the process of home care service in the County and development of a working relationship between the County and providers is crucial and they will do their part. Becky Griffith from River Oaks stated that there has been tension between the County and providers with regards to home care services and a positive relationship needs to exist to serve the clients. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment.

2003/04-47 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.