SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 27, 2004; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Duane Nelson, John Mastin, Doug Grindall, Dennis Hummitzsch, Richard Lehtinen, Paul Mielke, Mark Trompeter, Mike Kochanuick, Susan Congrave, Della Warren; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Jen O’Reily

2004/01-34 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-35 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2004 regular meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-36 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Auditor bills in the amount of $15,066.85, to approve payment of $2,500.00 for one-half of the 2004 NCLUCB dues with payment from the Resource Management Budget, to approve payment of the Public Health bills in the amount of $47,248.48, to approve payment of Community Service social service and financial claims and administrative expenditures as presented and to approve payment of burial case #602593 in the amount of $1,596.50 and case #382137 in the amount of $2,001.00. Payment detail on file in the respective departments. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Citizens for Backus/AB Board sent a letter to the County and City of International Falls requesting appointment of representatives to a committee to look at options/support to form a Community Center of Art/Culture in the Backus/AB Complex. The Board was informed that the City Council took action denying the request to appoint City representatives to the Committee. Without the participation of the City, the County Board took no action on the request.

000 The Board was informed that part time Deputy Jake Skifstad resigned on December 18, 2003 and part time Dispatcher Tom Filipiak resigned with a last day of work on November 28, 2003.

2004/01-37 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a 2004 Snowmobile Safety Enforcement Grant Agreement between Koochiching County and the State of Minnesota - Commissioner of Natural Resources in the amount of $4,871.01 and authorizing Board Chair’s signature to said Grant Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to award low bid to Sheridan Motors for a 2004 Chevy Pickup in the amount of $14,873 (after trade-in) as recommended by the Sheriff for replacement of a squad vehicle. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee providing the Board’s support to look at options to obtain an airboat for ice and water rescue operations. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: case #06729 closing home for family day care per provider’s request, case #43119 closing home for family day care per provider’s request, and case #07560 relicensing for foster care for one child. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-41 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson authorizing an adjustment to the 2004 Environmental Service Budget adding $57,322 to the Water Plan expense and deferred revenue to recognize the 2004 BSWR Grant received in 2003 and further, to authorize payment of $57,322 to the Soil and Water Department for water plan and wetland services per the 2004 Budget plan. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-42 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to approve a snow emergency private driveway widening agreement with a minimum charge of $25 plus $1.50/minute for any time after 15 minutes as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Adee, Chezick, Lepper; voting no: Pavleck, Hanson. Motion carried.

2004/01-43 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to add discussion of temporarily filling Heavy Equipment Operator vacancies due to leave of absence to the agenda. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/01-44 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Highway Engineer to temporarily contract snowplowing service to fill in for two heavy equipment operators out on leave under the terms of the Union Contract. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper; voting no: Chezick. Motion carried.

2004/01-45 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to set aside $110,000 for timber and resource development reserves and $30,000 for park development reserves from the 2003 Trust Fund income as approved in the 2004 Land and Forestry Budget and as recommended by the Land Commissioner and to set aside the maximum of $4.00 per capita from the 2003 Trust Fund income for promotion as allowed under MN Statute with allocation as follows: allocate forty percent of the promotion funds to the cities within Koochiching County with allocation ratio to be the same as in previous year and with a letter to accompany the checks stating what the funds can be expended on and when they have to be expended and to allocate sixty percent of the promotions funds to the Koochiching Development Authority to be held and utilized for the promotion of tourism, agricultural and industrial development as defined in MN Statutes. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The results of the survey to property owners within the proposed Jackfish Bay Sewer Project area were provided to the Board. 278 surveys were mailed, 4 handed out by the Environmental Service Department and 222 returned for counting. Of this number, 129 favored and 88 opposed proceeding with sewer at $100 or less cost per month. Five of the returned surveys were defective. The Jackfish Committee continues to look at whether the price of $100 or less is achievable and is expected to come back to the Board with an answer in the near future.

000 The Environmental Service Director reviewed a draft Interim Staffing Plan using Department staff to fill a vacant transfer station operator position. The Plan has been reviewed and recommended by the Personnel Committee. The Highway Steward on behalf of the Business Agent requested a meet and confer to discuss the plan.

2004/01-46 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to set a meet and confer with the Highway Union at the February 3 Board meeting prior to taking action on the Interim Plan. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:25 a.m. Mark Trompeter asked whether the project would move forward prior to acquiring the easements. The Environmental Service Director stated that if the cost can be achieved at $100 or less per month, and based on the majority wanting sewer at this cost, it would come to the Board for a decision. If the project is approved construction plans would begin immediately even before all easements are obtained. Mr. Trompeter felt that the easement issue needs to be resolved as property owners want fair compensation for the easement and damages which will add to the cost of the project, probably placing the $100 or less target out of reach. He feels this should be thought out before moving forward with construction. Paul Mielke stated that the percent given for the number in favor or against sewer from the survey should be taken against the total number of surveys, not what was returned for counting purposes. This way the percent of non-responses are accounted for. He stated that the easement issue is a big issue and needs to be dealt with now to get a true cost figure. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment at 11:55 a.m.

2004/01-47 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to add approval of a Suicide Prevention Grant to Public Health Business as requested by the Director. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Chezick, Lepper; absent: Hanson. Motion carried.

2004/01-48 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee approving ongoing full time status to Public Health Nurse Sharon Obermaier and approving part time Health Educator Marie Mettler’s hours at 24 hours/week with hour restoration continuing until such time as the deferred grant dollars from the 2003 Budget are used up with the Director to re-evaluate the funding and positions in six months, as recommended by the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Chezick, Lepper; absent: Hanson. Motion carried.

2004/01-49 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew CAC Waiver Contracts with River Oaks Home Health Care and Interim Health Care for 2004 and to renew the CADI, Elderly Waiver and Alternative Care Contract with Healthline Home Care for 2004 contingent on the County Attorney’s review and as recommended by the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Chezick, Lepper; absent: Hanson. Motion carried.

2004/01-50 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew the service contract with Falls Memorial Hospital for in-home physical, occupational and speech therapy as recommended by the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Chezick, Lepper; absent: Hanson. Motion carried.

2004/01-51 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve a Suicide Prevention Grant Agreement on behalf of the Family Collaborative for a total of $206,250 over a three-year period for public education and awareness with no cost to the County and as recommended by the Public Health Director and Family Collaborative Coordinator. Motion further authorizes the Board Chair to sign said Grant Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Chezick, Lepper; absent: Hanson. Motion carried.

2004/01-52 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee authorizing Board member’s participation in the Minnesota/Ontario Functional Exercise for testing the area’s terror alert and emergency response plans as a Board activity with tentative exercise dates of January 29 and March 18. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Chezick, Lepper; absent: Hanson. Motion carried.

2004/01-53 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 2:41 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Chezick, Lepper; absent: Hanson. Motion carried.