SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, August 26, 2003; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Dorlyn Desens, Lorella Fulton, Marty Cody, Paul Nevanen, Becky Flynn, Barb Paulbeck, Doug Grindall, Dennis Hummitzsch, Terry Murray, Sara Prosen, Susan Congrave, Della Warren, Richard Lehtinen, Bob Peterson, Patti Ballan, John Carlson, Barb Metzger; Reporters Roger Jerome, Jen O’Reily, Laurel Beager

2003/08-27 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2003 special meeting with correction. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-29 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee adopting a Sub-zone Resolution of Approval to Authorize Tax Exemptions:

WHEREAS job creation, business development, and individual wealth growth in Koochiching County, Minnesota have been less than the national and state averages; and,

WHEREAS the resulting affects of such lagging job creation, business development, and individual wealth growth have harmed and are forecasted to continue to harm the economy of Koochiching County; and,

WHEREAS the Job Opportunity Building Zone (JOBZ) Program created in Minnesota Session Laws 2003, 1st Special Session, Chapter 21, Article 1 allows for the formation of tax free zones;

WHEREAS an application for tax free zone designation in Koochiching County is being prepared for submission to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development via the ARDC; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board, at its meeting held on 26th day of August 2003, upon careful consideration and review, approves the specific areas designated in the application for tax free zones, approves of the use of tax exemptions and tax credits within the designated zones (subject to proper review and approval by the other appropriate taxing authorities within the zones), and encourages the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to approve the Tax Free Zone Application being submitted by the ARDC.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Koochiching County agrees to provide all of the local tax exemptions and credits required and provided for under the Job Opportunity Building Zones (JOBZ) Legislation and agrees to forgo the tax benefits resulting from the local and state tax exemptions and credits provided under the Job Opportunity Building Zones (JOBZ) Legislation. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-30 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck approving the employment separation of Appraiser Becky Flynn on October 1, 2003 and Assessor Clerk Dana Routier on September 15, 2003. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-31 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing the Assessor to fill the appraiser position under the current position description and to set committee time at a future Board meeting to further review filling of the vacant Assessor Clerk position. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 A proposal was presented to the Board from the Undersheriff to approve a grant to pay for deputies time to conduct compliance checks on all county liquor establishments due to concern with the number of serious accidents and deaths related to underage drinking. The intent of the program is to educate businesses and their employees and that letters were sent to the business establishments advising them of the compliance check program. The Board questioned the need for the program as law enforcement can conduct compliance checks now and wanted to hear from the businesses. Due to a miscommunication on the date to present the request to the Board, the Sheriff nor Undersheriff was available for information.

2003/08-32 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to deny the grant proposal for liquor establishment compliance checks. Voting yes: Chezick, Pavleck; voting no: Lepper, Adee, Hanson. Motion failed.

2003/08-33 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to table the grant proposal for liquor establishment compliance checks until the September 2, 2003 meeting when the Sheriff and/or Undersheriff will be available. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-34 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Chezick to rehire Terry Glowack as Complex Superintendent effective September 1, 2003 with credit for prior work experience setting salary at 95% with 100% effective January 1, 2004 and crediting previous service years as the County Complex Superintendent for earning of vacation and sick leave benefits. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Chezick, Pavleck; voting no: Hanson. Motion carried.

2003/08-35 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair to send a letter of appreciation to Dorlyn Desens for temporarily managing the County’s buildings and grounds. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-36 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the Highway Engineer to award the following low bids for construction projects: Wagner Construction for SAP 36-620-08 and SAP 36-646-02 and to Thorson, Inc. – Division of Northstar Materials for SAP 36-601-10, SAP 36-632-07 and SAP 36-632-08. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-37 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Land Commissioner to begin the appraisal process for a private land sale to the Boise Forte Band as authorized in special law with payment of the appraisal to be negotiated with the Band and further, authorizing the Board Chair to set a meeting with the Band to discuss the land sale. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner provided additional information on the selling of substandard lots in the City of International Falls in the County land sale. Commissioner Chezick stated that in talking with the City they were fine with selling the substandard lots at public auction, rather than nonpublic sale to adjacent landowners so will not request a revision to the County land sale list.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the August 6, 2003 timber sale – sold 17,556 cords for a total auction sale value of $521,572. Information was also provided on the five-year trend of average timber sold values and comparatives to other counties.

2003/08-38 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to accept the Children’s Justice Act Grant in the amount of $5,235 as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-39 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the following burial cases: #183129 in the amount of $2,208.25 and #514726 in the amount of $1,912.25. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve the following foster day care and day care licensing recommendation: case #73345 relicensing for group family day care for twelve children. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/08-41 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee 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, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/08-42 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to add a request to transfer an employee to cover a leave of absence to the agenda at the request of the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/08-43 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Community Service Director to temporarily transfer Susan Thorstad-Salmi to an account clerk position to fill in for an employee on leave of absence, with transfer effective the date of the leave of absence. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 Representatives from ARDC Area Agency on Aging provided the Board a report on the County’s aging demographics. The report was done as a planning source for senior services.

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

2003/08-44 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to add approval of the Family Collaborative Coordinator Contract to the agenda as requested by the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck.

000 The Public Health Director provided the Department’s Quarter 2, 2003 Financial and Statistical Report and updated the Board on the transition of Home Care stating that the Department has created a tracking process for reporting to the Home Care Transition Committee.

2003/08-45 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to renew a service contract for ENABLE services in School District 361 with Maggie McBride with reduction of hours as recommended by the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director informed the Board that there is a balance of the Bio-terrorism Grant specifically for equipment purchases and recommended the purchase of a generator and walkie-talkies to be used in emergency management situations. The equipment is intended for public health, as refrigeration would be required for their vaccines during a power outage.

2003/08-46 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Public Health Department to expend the remaining Bio-terroism Grant dollars for emergency management equipment with contingency that equipment be maintained for County use. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director informed the Board that the Community Health Conference is being held in September with the focus on emergency preparedness and is soliciting local emergency management officials’ attendance. The Department is applying for various grant sources such as suicide prevention, tobacco dollars through tri-county and family planning though the women’s health center. The Department will begin orientation at the end of September for taking over the WIC program and the Director was appointed to a Local Public Health Services Task Force organized by the MN Department of Health.

2003/08-47 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the Public Health bills in the amount of $15,315.57 with payment detail on file in the Public Health Department. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/08-48 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve a service contract with Della Warren as Family Collaborative Coordinator as approved by the Joint Powers Board and as recommended by the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/08-49 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve REZ #0303 and CUP #0307 per the site plan for construction of two commercial storage buildings for Paul Radford at the northwest corner of Highway 332 and Van Lynn Road as recommended by the Planning Commission. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

2003/08-50 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson authorizing the Environmental Service Department to pay $3,660 to Curtiss White Goods for picking up and disposing of white goods and $1,728.06 for a computer governing device for the baler. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

000 Representatives from the AB/Backus Facility Group met with the Board to request their assistance in finding core funding services to maintain and make capital repairs to the building. A specific request to form a subordinate taxing district was presented with the intent to have the decision done by referendum in this process. The Group strongly supports retaining this building for its auditorium and as a historic and community asset. Currently annual operation cost is $200,000 and they have a five-year plan for capital improvements for fire and safety purposes. Their plan does not accommodate at this time access issues such as elevators. Along with their other funding sources and donations, core funding of $100,000 annually could operate and repair the building. The Board did not disagree that the facility is an asset, however, how to support the facility was the question, especially in poor financial times. The Board agreed to set committee time to review their position on this matter after additional information is obtained on the legality of a subordinate taxing district for this purpose, special legislation options and what happens to the property if it is abandoned.

2003/08-51 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 2:50 p.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.