Koochiching County Board Minutes 3-23-04

Board Minutes

for

March 23, 2004

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 23, 2004; 9:30 a.m.

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Duane Nelson, Terry Murray, Doug Grindall, Bill Laudtke, Eric Norstad, Richard Lehtinen, Susan Congrave, Nancy McHarg, Deb Polkinghorne, Wanda Grashorn, Paul Mielke, Mark Trompeter; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Jen O’Reily

2004/03-31 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-32 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2004 regular meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Auditor bills in the amount of $21,047.51, to approve payment of the Public Health bills in the amount of $11,508.54, to approve payment of Community Service financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented and to approve payment of the following burial case payments: #252873 in the amount of $2,021.50 and #69177 in the amount of $2,815.00. Payment detail on file in the respective departments. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-34 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the License Committee to approve a one-day On Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor License for April 3, 2004 to the Birchdale Softball Club for a spring break-up dance. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee approving the following Quarter 1,
2004 County Budget adjustments as recommended by the Coordinator: deferring $80,885 of 2003 Public Health grant and donation dollars to the 2004 Public Health Budget for expenditure; due to staff changes reallocate $29,372 of the 2004 General Revenue Budget as presented; due to staff changes reallocate $20,054 of the 2004 Land and Forestry Budget as presented; adjust the 2004 Environmental Service Budget by increasing revenues $21,181 based on actual revenue received last year in tipping fee, recycling sales and demo fees and increasing expenditures $30,636 to cover the Interim Staffing Plan, Highway service billing and adjust the Public Health Nuisance Budget to reflect actual dollars in the account as of January 1, 2004; adjust the 2004 Community Service Budget increasing state aide by $7,281, decreasing federal aide by $1,750, increasing recoveries revenue by $19,307 with offsetting expenditure adjustments. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-36 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant abatement for parcel #95-01-0111 for homestead credit. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck informed the Board that while he was down in St. Paul providing the County’s position for changes in the ATV law, he sat in a committee meeting where the Clean Water Initiative was being discussed. A sixteen member panel, including a representative of the MN Chamber, proposed charging homes with septic systems $150 annually, homes with sewer $36 annually and businesses $150 annually to support the Clean Water Initiative. The original proposal charged $36 annually for a home with septic and zero for a home with sewer. Regardless of the fee amount, counties would be required to collect the revenue and turn it over to the State minus a small stipend. During discussion, opposition on charging the business the same as a home was raised as well as local government concern about collecting this tax locally and providing it to the state to allocate elsewhere. It appears ground work is being laid for legislation but probably not in this legislative session. It became clear in the discussion that there is no plan for how the money would be spent. With regards to changes in the ATV legislation, it continues to be an uphill battle on lifting restrictions on wetlands. Though many see the common sense approach and support revisions, there are many wanting wetlands protected and therefore support minimal to no change in the current ATV law.

2004/03-37 Motion Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing Board members’ attendance to a March 24, 2004 breakfast meeting with MN Chamber President Dave Olson at 8:00 a.m. at Barney’s Family Restaurant. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-38 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Sheriff to enter into an Off Highway Vehicle Grant in the amount of $8,711 with the amount issued in 2004 and again in 2005 with grant monies used for law enforcement staff time, purchase and repair of ATVs and supplies and equipment. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-39 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper approving the 2004 Boat and Water Safety Agreement with the State of Minnesota allocating funds to Koochiching County in the amount of $3,802 on a reimbursement basis and further authorizing Board Chair, Sheriff and Auditor’s signature to said Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing the Sheriff to renew a General Agreement with the National Park Service for emergency law enforcement and search and rescue support between the two agencies in and near Voyageurs National Park within the boundaries of Koochiching County with a renewal term of one year. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper; voting no: Pavleck, Chezick. Motion carried.

2004/03-41 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve a service agreement with Lutheran Social Services for supported living services in Northome as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-42 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: case #37791 relicensing for foster care for three children, case #50779 relicensing for group family day care for twelve children with change of premises and for foster care for three children, case #39295 licensing for family day care for ten children. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-43 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Highway Engineer accommodating the Snowmobile Club’s request to store their trail groomer at the Mizpah County Garage and authorize use of the underground fuel tank with permission granted to store the groomer immediately and that an agreement spelling out the liabilities and responsibilities of the County and Club be developed and reviewed by MCIT. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-44 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Department to purchase an Allegro w/G2 Software Data Collector package in the amount of $4,255 to upgrade the Department’s survey field equipment with cost covered by construction state-aide funds. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-45 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson awarding the following County vehicle bids: two 2004 Ford Taurus SE to Wherley Motors at a price of $25,594 less $4,000 for trade in of two vehicles, one full size 2004 Chevrolet Impala under State bid at a price of $14,217, one full size ½ ton 4x2 2004 Ford 150 pickup under State bid at a price of $11,916, one full size ½ ton extended cab 4x4 2004 Ford F150 pickup to Wherley Motors at a price of $18,471 and one full size ½ ton 4x4 2004 Ford F150 pickup to Wherley Motors at a price of $16,117 (awarded to low local bidder due to minimal price difference from the State bid). Motion further approves expense for sales tax and license fees which are not included in the bid amounts. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-46 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for concrete and metal culverts and hired truck rental. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-47 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve preliminary Plat #0401, a two-way subdivision of 8.4 acres located at 2386 Highway 11 West Loman, for Charles and Ellanora Wilson as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-48 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve Rezone #0402 from AF-1 to RR-1 and CUP #0401 for William and Donald Johnson to operate a canoe rental and sale of sporting goods business subject to the property being cleaned up and septic system sited prior to activating the proposed use. Property described as part of the SW ¼ of the SE ¼ and part of the NW ¼ of the SE ¼, Section 1, Township 69N, Range 24 W as recommended by the Planning Commission. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Planning Commission was approached by Kootasca with the idea of forming a county-wide housing coalition to focus on housing issues area by area within the County. The Planning Commission supported the concept as this issue was identified in the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and recommended that the County Board support the initiative. The coalition would be an undertaking of Kootasca. Since this is an idea at this time, questions as to the goals and outcome as well as commitment by the County could not be answered.

2004/03-49 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee supporting Kootasca’s concept in forming a county-wide housing coalition. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-50 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Health Director to enter into agreements with facilities as identified in the County’s Public Health Preparedness Plan for establishing mass clinic sites (identified at this time Northome Senior Center, Mizpah Community Building, Falls Elementary School, Rainy River Community College, Indus School and possibly South Falls Community Building) contingent on the County Attorney’s review of the agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair presented a Small Pox Vaccination Program Award from the Department of Health to Public Health Nurses Deb Polkinghorne, Wanda Grashorn and Nancy McHarg for their commitment to small pox prevention by receiving the vaccine to ensure nurses were available to provide the vaccine to others should an outbreak occur. The County Board thanked the staff for their dedication.

2004/03-51 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson recognizing the public service and dedication of Deb Polkinghorne, Wanda Grashorn and Nancy McHarg and providing the Board’s sincere appreciation for their participation in the small pox immunization program thereby ensuring that the public has nurses available to provide the vaccine should an outbreak occur. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-52 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee acknowledging the receipt of the Professional Advisory Committee’s minutes of March 3, 2004. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/03-53 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee to approve the Itasca Medical Care Contract to provide for service cost reimbursement contingent on the County Attorney’s review. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:15 a.m. Mark Trompeter provided the Board an article from the Duluth News Tribune on DNA fingerprinting which finds that the majority of E.coli bacteria found in Northland lakes and rivers comes primarily from birds and animals. Paul Mielke understood a change order was sent to the MPCA on March 2, 2004 with a request for a permit revision for the Jackfish Sewer Project and that the March 23, 2004 County Board meeting was the target date for awarding the contract for the project. Though the item was not part of today’s agenda, he asked whether the 2nd hearing as required under law for the sewer project was adjourned or recessed and whether the County will convene another public hearing if there are revisions to the project. The Board Chair stated that legal counsel representing the County will guide on the process required under law and that the public hearing held in December 2003 on the project was recessed, not adjourned. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment.