REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, October 21, 2003; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Terry Glowack, Ann Scholler, Pam Lagoo, Marty Cody, Duane Nelson, John Mastin; Reporters Laurel Beager, Jen O’Reily and Roger Jerome

2003/10-24 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-25 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the October 14, 2003 special meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-26 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Highway bills in the amount of $122,437.96 with payment detail on file in the Highway Department; to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. in the amount of $406.00 for personnel legal services with payment from the 2003 Administration Budget and to authorize Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s September vendor payment listing verifying Board’s review. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-27 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Pavleck to approve the purchase of seven historical 1890 pews for the third floor courtroom with cost not to exceed $10,500 from the 2003 Third Floor Courtroom Historical Renovation Project Budget as recommended by the Heritage Committee with delivery and set up by December, 2003. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve a one-day On Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor License for a November 8, 2003 Annual Deerhunter's Dance sponsored by the Cingmars Farmers Club and to approve a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Premises Permit Application LG214 for the Woodland Inn for a two-month period beginning November 1 and ending December 31, 2003 and to approve a two-year Minnesota Lawful Gambling Premises Permit Application LG214 for the Woodland Inn for a period of January 1, 2004 and ending December 31, 2005 as recommended by the Licensing Committee. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-29 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to authorize a request for proposal to seek one attorney to provide Court Appointed Attorney services for one year beginning January 1, 2004 as recommended by the Assistant Auditor, Judge, Court Administrator and County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-30 Motion by Pavleck, seconded Adee to adopt the following resolution to participate in the Fidlar Software Program through MCIS:

WHEREAS the existing County Recorder Indexing System (CRIS) is a DOS application that is over eighteen (18) years old and is now being phased out and support for this system will discontinue at the end of 2004; and

WHEREAS the indexing function being performed with this system is a legislative requirement for the County Recorder’s Office and therefore an indexing program must be purchased to replace the current system; and

WHEREAS Minnesota Counties Information Systems (MCIS - a joint powers organization) is the current software and support provider for the existing CRIS program; and they have pursued several alternative solutions as a replacement product through a Request for Proposal process; and they have determined that the Fidlar Software product is the best solution; and they have negotiated a reasonable pricing structure for sharing costs with other counties; and

WHEREAS the Fidlar Software product has been proven to work with electronic recording capabilities with two (2) pilot counties in Minnesota; and

WHEREAS a proposal has been made by the Koochiching County Recorder to participate with MCIS and other counties in the licensing, support, and services costs of using the Fidlar Software product;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners hereby agrees to participate in the proposed Fidlar Software program through MCIS as part of a group of not less than thirteen (13) counties. Participation by less than thirteen (13) counties automatically renders this agreement null and void. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve a revised Appraiser position description to reflect changes in qualifications as recommended by the Assessor and Coordinator and to authorize the Assessor to fill the vacant Appraiser position based on the revised position description. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioners attending the October AMC District meeting stated that OHV legislation and budgets were the main topic of conversation. Koochiching County’s position on the new OHV legislation was strongly and clearly laid out to Senator Bakk and Senator Tomassoni who attended the meeting. With regards to budgets, counties reviewed the impact of state cuts and mandates on their county budgets. The next State financial forecast will be out in November and no one is optimistic of a positive forecast. Members stated that regardless of the financial forecast, the vast amount of changes that happened at the last legislative sessions still need to be reconciled and they feel the financial impact of these changes will not be known for some time. Discussion was also had on a bonding bill for the next legislative session.

000 The Sheriff informed the Board that the State is looking at regionalizing 911 Dispatch Centers with a report due back to the legislature on January 15, 2004. The Sheriff stated that due to the County’s remoteness and size, he does not feel a regional center will be able to dispatch calls for Koochiching County. A possible outcome of this might be that we have to consolidate our 911 Dispatch Center with the State Patrol in Virginia but again, the Sheriff stated this would be too far removed and would put our citizens and community at risk. The Sheriff will stay informed and report back to the Board.

000 The Board was informed that Jan McClanahan resigned as the Assistant Emergency Manager.

2003/10-32 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to appoint John Mastin as Assistant Emergency Manager with service per diem as allowed under the Emergency Management Grant and as recommended by the Sheriff. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-33 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson that the County of Koochiching continue its membership in the Joint Powers/Mutual Aid Agreement for a Boundary Waters Drug Task Force to coordinate multi-jurisdictional controlled substance law enforcement duties and received federal grant funds. Be it further resolved that the Koochiching County Sheriff is authorized to execute such agreements as are necessary for the Boundary Waters Drug Task Force. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-34 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve an Agreement for a 2002 Domestic Preparedness Grant of $15,000 for a Minnesota/Ontario International Emergency Preparedness Exercise with grant terms on a reimbursement basis and with no local match requirement. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-35 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing Commissioner Chezick, as the County Board’s representative on the Regional Emergency Management Service Board, to seek grants for Koochiching County for emergency response equipment. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.

2003/10-36 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Adee, Hanson, Chezick; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.