Koochiching County Board Minutes 5-04-04

Board Minutes

for

May 04, 2004

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, May 04, 2004; 9:30 a.m.

OTHERS ATTENDING: Paul Nevanen, Duane Nelson, John Mastin, Einar Sundin, Kathy Ruelle, Paul Mielke; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2004/05-01 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes of the April 27, 2004 special meeting correcting Board motion 2004/04-32 by substituting a full resolution for HIPAA compliance as presented by the Coordinator. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-03 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the County Board monthly expense claims in the amount of $8,847.72, to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. in the amount of $59.20 for personnel legal services and to approve payment of the April Board of Prisoner Claim in the amount of $2,775.00 with payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer Department. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-04 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to appoint Marilyn Johnson as the County representative on the Arrowhead Library Board. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-05 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick authorizing the Board Chair to appoint a member to the Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) River Task Force as requested by the CVB. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried. (Board Chair appointed Commissioner Hanson to the Task Force.)

2004/05-06 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee approving Assignment of Security Agreements with the banking institutions as recommended by the Auditor/Treasurer. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The KEDA Director provided a template for a business subsidy policy required by the State for local governments having JOBZ sub zones. Four areas within the County have been designated for the JOBZ and therefore jurisdiction of these sub zones are under the County Board. KEDA recommends the template for the business subsidy policy as presented and will present the same template to the Cities of International Falls, Big Falls and Northome to adopt for sub zones under their jurisdiction. The Business Subsidy Law requires a public hearing before adoption of the policy.

2004/05-07 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to set a public hearing for Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. for the purpose of adopting a Business Subsidy Policy for JOBZ sub zones within the County. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Undersheriff presented a COPS Grant application to the Board to hire a full time deputy. The grant would provide $125,000 over a three-year period with a requirement that the position be maintained by the County for one year after the three-year grant expires. The grant requires that 75% of the deputy time is spent in and around schools. The Department felt that because the schools are so widespread in the county, it would also allow for sheriff deputy duties. The Undersheriff stated that Public Health applied for a three-year Underage Drinking Prevention Grant for $75,000 for each year for three years and a portion of this grant is earmarked for collaboration with law enforcement. He believed the figure was about $30,000 with one half for county law enforcement. He believed between the two grant sources and that the fact it would be a new employee starting at the beginning of the pay scale, there would be little or no cost to the County for three years. It is anticipated the financial forecast for the County would improve to cover the full cost in the fourth year. The Department is down one full time deputy due to budget cuts and this plan would provide a means to help fill the void. The Undersheriff stated that the demand for these grant funds is large but would like the Board’s support to submit the application after talking with the schools to seek their support. Board members questioned how the position would help the department when 75% is dedicated to the schools, leaving only 25% to serve as a county deputy. The Sheriff stated that having this deputy out in the county to call on when needed would help with the shortage of patrol deputies. The Board felt more information was needed and directed the Coordinator to work up the full cost of a deputy hire from the first to the fourth year of hire and to get information from the Public Health Director as to the status of the Underage Drinking Prevention Grant and allocation for law enforcement purposes. The information and request will be provided to the Board at the May 11 meeting for further consideration.

2005/05-08 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to award the following road construction bids as recommended by the Highway Engineer: SAP 36-606-08, SAP 36-625-06, SAP 36-636-06 to Hawkinson Construction Company in the amount of $1,116,466 and SAP 36-640-03 to All Season Contracting in the amount of $433,312. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 A request was presented to the Board to have the County improve a portion of UT 399 beyond where existing county maintenance ends to allow access to private property. The property owners intend to place a residential mobile home and pole barn to store construction equipment on the property. The property owner felt about 900 feet of improvement was needed with a gully causing the biggest access problem. The Highway Engineer did not recommend the portion of road be improved as cost would be high due to the ravine, low ground and wetland issues and because the County has many portions of public access beyond what is currently maintained and resources are stretched now to improve and maintain what we have. Property owners have the option of improving the road themselves but the road will continue to be a public access. They can improve it to their standards or to County standards. If the road is improved to County standards the County would maintain the road. Under current policy an approach culvert and a certain amount of gravel and clay is provided to private residents for access but the culvert and materials needed due to the gully, will far exceed what is provided under policy. To assist the property owner, the County would supply the larger culvert at cost and haul it to the location. The Board agreed that there are not enough County resources to fix and improve all road accesses in the County especially with more people buying properties beyond maintained roads and therefore the Board took no action on the request to improve a portion of UT 399 which is currently not maintained by the County.