SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, June 24, 2003; 9:30 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Pavleck (County Business Out of Town)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Steve Blair, Dutch Boeckers, Susan Congrave, Della Warren, Terry Murray, Jaci Nagle, Senator Tom Saxhaug, Mitch Berggren; Reporters Jen O’Reily and Laurel Beager

2003/06-35 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with addition and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-36 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of June 17, 2003 with corrections. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-37 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. in the amount of $3,657.20 for personnel legal and negotiation services with payment from the Administration and Board Legal Budgets, to approve payment to Flaherty & Hood in the amount of $7,028.33 for lobbying services with payment from the Legislative Budget, to approve payment of the Public Health bills in the amount of $16,909.98 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, to approve payment of burial case #628090 in the amount of $978.69 and to approve a MN Lawful Gambling Application for Exempt Permit – LG220 for the G.R.S. Community Center for December 13, 2003. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-38 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant an abatement to Greg and Brenda Crowe, parcel #93-11-10010 and #93-11-10030 for change in classification due to business closure and to Richard and Kathy Lundquist, parcel #07-99-00662 to take off the tax roll due to expired lease. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-39 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson authorizing full payment of 2003 County organization membership dues at the discretion of the department head in consideration of budget constraints. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve CUP #0304 for Jerrie Glawe, 6881 County Road 31, Big Falls, for a two guest room Bed and Breakfast, to approve CUP #0305 to David and Barbara Cassibo, 4381 County Road 152, Intl Falls, for a two guest room Bed and Breakfast and PLT #0301 for the Mannausau Family, 2840 Hwy 11, Loman, for creation of 13 new lots along Rainy River subject to having a licensed designer show an ISTS site and an alternate site on each lot and a statement on the Final Plat that the access road will not be built to County standards. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-41 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee authorizing the Environmental Service Department to purchase a 763 Bobcat at a price not to exceed $25,000 and based on submitted state bid price of $23,165 as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Payment from the 2003 Environmental Service Budget. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director submitted the Department’s Quarter 1, 2003 Financial and Statistical Report to the Board. The Director informed the Board that the Minnesota Department of Health found the Department in full compliance with Federal and State regulations resulting in Medicare Certification and Department of Health Relicensure. The Director informed the Board that a public information meeting was held on the Home Care Service Transition Plan as the first step in its implementation. The next step will have the Director setting a meeting of the committee to begin work on the components of the plan.

2003/06-42 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to renew the Joint Powers Board Agreement for the Koochiching Family Collaborative with exclusion of Northland Counseling due to non-participation and contingent on the County Attorney’s review. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director informed the Board that Regional Epidemiologist Amy Dewey has been hired to assist regional local public health departments with health risks associated with Bioterriosm and other infectious elements. Although she does not have a bottom dollar for public health state funding cuts at this time, eight separate grants will be consolidated into a general local public health grant at a reduced rate but will come with flexibility as to services provided by the grant. Reduction in funding at the high end is 50% (being challenged at this time based on different interpretation as to what is included in the base grant) and at the low end 25%. Some of the grants combined are the CHS Subsidy, MCH, WIC, TANF Youth, MN Enable, TANF and Family Planning. Other grants remain individualized such as Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness. The Board will receive a full report on the state funding cuts to Public Health and the County Budget when more details are known.

2003/06-43 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson acknowledging receipt of the Professional Advisory Committee minutes from the May 29, 2003 meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-44 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee authorizing full application to the Minnesota Department of Health for the Public Health Department to administer the WIC Program for Koochiching County, contingent on receipt of the grant dollars for the program. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-45 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing Community Service to RFP for a one and two bedroom SLS service as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-46 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve a service agreement with Rainy River Waivered Services as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon review by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick.. Motion carried.

2003/06-47 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to approve a service agreement with Northome, Inc. for County client services as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon review by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-48 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve the service agreement renewals for a State Operated Social Worker located in Koochiching County and a State Operated Shared Social Worker as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon review by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-49 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick authorizing expenditure from the 2003 Community Service Budget for nine new computers and 15 new Windows XP Licenses as required for upgrades to the SSIS Program and network communication in the Agency as recommended by the Community Service Director and Information System Manager. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-50 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: case #41665 licensing for family day care for seven children and case #40279 relicensing for group family day care for twelve children. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/06-51 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Hanson to table authorization to post signs for County facilities due to the new conceal and carry legislation as counties are prohibited as a public entity to do so under the law. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:30 a.m. No comment was provided.

000 Senator Tom Saxhaug met with the Board to provide an overview of the 2003 legislative session with regards to the impact to counties with changes at the State level due to budget cuts. Though there was sympathy for Northern Minnesota, the money was too tight and those with the majority in the Legislature came out a little better. Overall counties took a bigger hit than other local units of government which he felt was due to a lack of understanding of what counties provide. The counties received hits in their general aid in addition to big hits in Health and Human Services. In addition, his biggest fear is the trickle down affect of cost shifts to counties by the state and other local units of governments when their cuts are said and done. For example, small rural cities may cut their law enforcement to achieve the cuts received in LGA, which in turn means the County may have to provide the service. There are examples on all levels where counties may have the ball dropped on them. He stated that the Port Authority designation was approved for Koochiching County. Commissioner Hanson stated that the port authority would give the County a unique opportunity to attract import businesses and that work is being done now to obtain federal foreign trade zone status. Marketing will be very important and Senator Saxhaug suggested that the State help in this area. Commissioner Hanson stated that they would also look to the State for financial assistance in the next bonding session for this project. A written overview on the outcome of the 2003 legislative session with regards to the impact to counties was provided to the Board. The Senator and Board agreed to stay in contact as issues come up as a result of this session and for issues to address in the next session.
2003/06-52 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 2:25 p.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick. Motion carried.