SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, May 25, 2004; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Mick Kuryla, Einar Sundin, Jaci Nagle, Terry Murray, Mike Ford via telephone, J.J. Hasbargen, Doug Grindall, Susan Congrave, Joe Van Guse, Kay Herman, Barbara Albert, John Faith, Becky Aitken, Richard Lehtinen, Dale Olson, Doug Brown, Keith Knaeble, Dennis Hummitzsch; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Jen O’Reily

2004/05-39 Motion by Adee, seconded by Chezick to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2004 regular meeting with correction. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-41 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $34,409.58, to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. in the amount of $5,078.30 for personnel legal service with payment from the Administration and Board legal budgets, to approve payment to Flaherty and Hood in the amount of $4,448.03 for lobbying services with payment from the Legislative Budget, to approve payment of the Public Health claims in the amount of $13,487.88 and to approve payment of Community Service financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented. Payment detail on file in the respective departments. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-42 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper approving an addendum to the Van Lynn Tower Site Lease Agreement revising the original rental fee and lessor for renewal of the Lease Agreement for another twenty-five years. Motion further approves an adjustment to the 2004 Sheriff Budget of $250 with an offsetting 2004 revenue transfer from the 911 Account to cover the rental fee for 2004. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper; abstaining: Adee. Motion carried.

2004/05-43 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick setting the Board’s summer meeting schedule whereas the regular meetings for July and August are cancelled and setting Board meetings for July and August on Tuesday, July 13, July 27, August 10 and August 24 with the regular monthly meeting schedule to resume in September. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-44 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair to send thank you letters to legislators supporting change for Koochiching County in the ATV legislation and also to the County’s State Representative and Senator for overall support in the 2004 legislative session. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board reviewed a letter stating that no action was required if the County wished to remain a participant in the Northeast Minnesota HOME Consortium Joint Cooperation Agreement as the agreement has an automatic renewal. The Board’s last review of the program and membership was in 2001. The Board took no action, therefore remaining a participant in the program.

2004/05-45 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Information Systems Manager to enter into a service agreement with ARDC with a cost not to exceed $2,000 for staff Arc View training with payment from the 2004 Information System Budget. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-46 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the following burial payments: case #735425 in the amount of $1,898.50 and case #566187 in the amount of $179.30. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-47 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation for case #00465 closing home for day care services at provider’s request. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-48 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to close session at 10:00 a.m. to discuss pending litigation with the MCIT Attorney and the County Attorney, representing the County in the case. Attending the session was the full Board, Coordinator, MCIT Attorney via telephone and the County Attorney. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-49 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to open session at 10:33 a.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-50 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair to attend a scheduled magistrate mediation session on June 1 as advised by the attorneys representing the County in pending litigation, Larson vs. County, to represent the Board’s position in any negotiations. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-51 Motion by Chezick, seconded by Lepper to reappoint Doug Grindall as the County Highway Engineer for a term of four years. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-52 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick authorizing approval and the Board Chair and Highway Engineer’s signatures to a five-year commercial lease with Mn/Dot allowing for crushing, stockpiling and a staging area as recommended by the Highway Engineer (State Pit No. 36035, Lease No. 36015). Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director presented the Department’s Quarter 1, 2004 Statistical and Financial Report. She informed the Board that the Underage Alcohol Prevention Grant was accepted by the State and is now pending for approval of federal funding.

2004/05-53 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew the following contracts as recommended by the Public Health Director with no changes: Interim Health Care for waiver services, River Oaks Home Care for waiver services, Life’s Companion for waiver services, Northern Itasca Health Care Center for waiver services, and Maggie McBride for ENABLE school activities. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/05-54 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson acknowledging an Emergency Preparedness Program Report from the Public Health Director outlining the Public Health Department’s involvement and activity to date. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 A representative for Citizens for Backus/AB submitted their 2004-2008 Business Plan along with a proposal to have the County and City work together to research new funding sources to increase culture and recreation in the County, a request for a resolution stating the County’s support of the Citizens for Backus/AB for the performing arts and a request for funding in the amount of $40,000 for 2004 and through 2008 with the intent that the County and City would work together to cost share the amount. In researching funding for culture and recreation in other counties and cities, the representative stated that Koochiching County ranks 61 out of 87 and the group believes the current $12 per capita for culture and recreation in the County should be doubled through new funding sources, not looking to reallocate the current pie. The City of International Falls at their meeting on May 24 agreed to form a committee to look at new funding sources as requested and will be requesting the County’s participation to serve on the committee. Mick Kuryla stated that his information shows $58 per capita for culture and recreation but could not get the figure separated for culture and recreation. He stated that in tight financial times, culture and recreation should not be a high priority. Barbara Albert living in the Littlefork area feels the AB/Backus Center provides culture for the County and is as important as recreation (naming snowmobiling as an example). John Faith stated there is county-wide support for their efforts because of the public’s support of performing arts in the County. Becky Aitken stated that there are grants the group can apply for but without City and County support their applications will go nowhere. The applications need government support to get recognized. Commissioner Hanson stated that the County already agreed they would sit on a committee if the City would participate and that resolution 2002/03-20 is already on the books recognizing the potential of the Backus/AB Complex and supports community efforts to establish the complex for culture, education, history and recreation.

2004/05-55 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to join the City of International Falls to establish a working committee to look at improving funding county-wide for culture and recreation with the understanding that the City would be forming the committee and requesting County Board members to serve on the committee. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 With regards to the $40,000 request for 2004, the representative stated the City deferred the request to their budget committee for consideration. The Board Chair stated that at the end of the day, money is going to be the deciding factor and the County Budget has been substantially reduced, causing reductions in major county service areas. In addition, culture and recreation is identified by each unique area of the county and therefore the County will need to look at this from a county-wide perspective. The representative stated that the $40,000 is 20% of their operating budget with the remaining portion supported by users. When asked what would happen if the funding was not provided, the representative stated it will be very difficult to get through the year as high energy bills have increased their costs. Board members were in agreement that the 2004 County Budget does not have funding to support the group’s request for 2004. Board members informed the audience that messages coming to them through their county affiliations and government representatives is that the state budget problem is not fixed and next year the State is expected to face a $600 million to $1 billion deficit depending on what the economy does. The Board took no action on the 2004 funding request from the group. The Board agreed to allow the group to submit its funding request for review in the 2005 budget process.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:45: Mick Kuryla stated his concern that property assessment for tax purposes is not being done equally in the County causing some properties to pay more taxes due to valuation increases and others not paying because they have not been reassessed. The law requires all properties to be assessed every five years. His concern is that he is paying more taxes than he should because assessments are not being done and stated that the County needs to address this. The Board Chair stated that current staff work hard and can only do what they can with the resources they have and if hiring more appraisers is the answer than taxes would need to be increased to cover the cost as there is no other funding source to consider at this time. With no other comment the Board Chair closed public comment at 12:10 p.m.

2004/05-56 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick accepting the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve CUP #0403 for Danny Johnson for a taxidermy business at his home at 2185 County Road 98 and CUP #0405 for Suelynn Bennett for a long arm quilting business at her home at 3816 County Road 98. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director provided a preliminary report to the Board for operations at the transfer station if Fort Frances recycling is increased, as anticipated, due to a change to a bag tag system. The report stipulated that based on the projection of increased recycling, the second transfer station position would need to be filled or they could not service Fort Frances needs. Doug Brown, Operations and Facilities Division Manager for the Town of Fort Frances informed the Board that the Council will decide tonight whether to change to the bag tag system. If the new system is approved, it will require residents to buy their bags for disposal of MSW and it is anticipated that residents will recycle more materials to make more room in the bag for waste. They anticipate recycling to increase three-fold. The Town Council has allowed the public time to comment on the proposed change and there has been some opposition. In addition, the Council asked for four revisions in the proposed by-laws for the new system and should be ready to make a decision. Opposition mostly came in the form of a new tax. This user fee is coming at a time of increased town taxes, sewer and water rate increases and provincial tax increases. The Board Chair stated that the County is committed to working with Fort Frances where possible but without knowing if the new system is approved and if the volume will increase, it is difficult to take any action. Mr. Brown informed the Board that the relationship with the Environmental Service Department and staff has been very good and very professional and appreciated the assistance of Koochiching County. He then stated that if the Council approves the new system, it will go into effect next Monday as the original plan which was presented back in January has this effective date. Board members agreed that once there is confirmation changes will occur, they will meet in committee to look at options to service an increase in Fort Frances recycling. The Board also agreed to have the Environmental Service Director start drafting a service contract with Fort Frances so that the Board can review from a risk management perspective.

2004/05-57 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve a repurchase application from Kenneth and Sheila Carey for all of Block 10, Plat of Ranier per County Policy and as recommended by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the May 7, 2004 timber auction – 22,081 cords sold for a total auction sale value of $732,457 with all tracts sold during the auction.

2004/05-58 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee approving the sale of granular and fill material from Tax Forfeited land for CSAH projects per the Highway Department bid addendum and clay fill from Tax Forfeited land for the State Highway 6 project as recommended by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the 2003 Income Apportionment and the 2003 Department Activity Report.

2004/05-59 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 2:40 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.