MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 07, 2004; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Marty Cody, Terry Murray, Ann Scholler, Richard Lehtinen, Steve Shermoen, Walt Whitbeck, Raoul Lufbery, Joe Van Guse, Dennis Hummitzsch, Doug Grindall, Gerald Albrecht, Joel Maggert, John Slatinski, Eugene Larson, Gary Loop, Harvey Dvergsten; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Jen O’Reily

2004/09-01 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes of the August 24, 2004 special meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-03 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $28,292.56 and to approve payment of the County Board monthly expense claims in the amount of $5,929.62. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Department. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-04 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant abatement for parcel #93-97-01512 for Bryce Clinton due to clerical error. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-05 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair and Auditor’s signatures to the MN Trail Assistance Program Snowmobile Traditional Grant Agreement for the purpose of facilitating a transfer of $51,450 for the existing Hagerman, Voyageur West and Lowman Snowmobile Trails and $24,000 for the existing Caldwell Brook, Blue Ox and Lunstrom Snowmobile Trails from the State Program to the respective snowmobile clubs. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-06 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to re-appoint Marty Cody to fill the four-year term of County Assessor beginning January 1, 2005. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper; absent for vote: Chezick. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director informed the Board that Nan Sether was promoted to a Child Support Enforcement Aide position and that she will start her new position when a replacement is hired to fill the Office Support Specialist position.

2004/09-07 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Community Service Director to fill a vacant Office Support Specialist position due to the hire of the Child Support Enforcement Aide. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-08 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Assistant Auditor to request professional fixed service quotes for the County’s annual audit for fiscal years ending 2004 and 2005. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-09 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Application for Exempt Permit LG220 for the G.R. S. Community Center for a December 11, 2004 raffle as recommended by the Auditor/Treasurer. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-10 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Chezick to approve the following 2005 tax levies for the following approved fire service taxing districts and to pay the respective 2005 service contract amounts: Fire District 1 (Northome) levy of $8,000 and contract payment of $8,775, Fire District 2 (Littlefork) levy of $30,000 and contract payment of $34,060, Fire District 2 (Loman) levy of $8,200 and contract payment of $8,200, Fire District 3 (Birchdale) levy of $5,000 and contract payment of $6,000, Fire District 4 (Williams) levy of $2,200 and contract payment of $2,200, and Fire District 5 (Big Falls) levy of $13,000 and contract payment of $15,000. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-11 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the following 2005 tax levies for the following approved subordinate taxing districts and to pay the respective 2005 service contract amounts: Littlefork Ambulance Service levy of $17,000 and contract payment of $19,950, Northome First Responders Service levy of $5,000 and contract payment of $5,834, and Rainy River First Responders Service levy of $6,000 and contract payment of $8,000. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-12 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to table action on setting a public hearing for a proposed Transient Merchant Ordinance until the September 14, 2004 meeting at which time the Board will receive additional information as to the need for the ordinance. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-13 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a contract with Wagner Construction to construct the Jackfish Bay Sewer Collection System in the amount of $8,277,900 and authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to execute the contract (signatures of the Project Engineer and Contractor required prior to Board Chair signature). Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper; voting no: Chezick. Motion carried.

2004/09-14 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to add Lots 1 through 6, and Lots 27 through 32, Block 6, Plat of South International Falls to the pending 2004 Land Sale List after review with the County Board on August 24, 2004 to allow for the potential of a larger commercial site. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/09-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew the County Surveyor Contract with Murray Surveying for a period of four years beginning January 1, 2005 with a rate increase over 2004 being the rate for 2005 and 2006 and language allowing future rate increases as agreed upon by both parties as recommended by the Survey Committee. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner informed the Board that the 1:40 p.m. committee meeting to review residency requirements in county leases will need to be rescheduled as the County Attorney is unable to attend.

000 A Representative of the AB/Backus Group requested two County Board members to serve on a temporary committee (life span of 18 months) to look at alternative funding sources for culture and recreation in the County. At this time the City of International Falls, School District 361 and AB/Backus Group have each appointed two members and the Historical Society Director and a member of the City’s Recreation Club will also serve. One area of alternative funding the committee will look at is sales tax as there is a push at the state-level to implement a state-wide sales tax for culture and recreation. The first meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2004 at 4:30 p.m. The County Board will want county-wide representation on this committee.

2004/09-16 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair to appoint two Board members to serve on a temporary committee to look at alternative funding sources for recreation and culture in the County. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried. (The Board Chair appointed Commissioner Lepper and Commissioner Pavleck with Commissioner Adee to serve as the alternate.)

000 The Highway Engineer reviewed the bid received for maintenance in southwestern Koochiching County which was deferred from the last meeting. The increase in the bid concerned the Highway Engineer and some Board members though understanding estimates had to be made to bid a three-year contract. In allowing public comment, Joel Maggert stated that the amount of the bid over the base bid is an estimate, not a guaranteed amount and would be paid only if additional maintenance was needed in these areas.

2004/09-17 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Chezick to accept the bid for a three-year road maintenance contract with Gerald Albrecht for the southwestern portion of Koochiching County. Voting yes: Pavleck, Lepper, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 A representative from the Snowmobile Club requested use of the ditches along CSAH 22 to reroute the snowmobile trail in that area for safety reasons. The Club after receiving concerns from landowners about using the old portion of CSAH 22 believed using the ditches on the new CSAH 22 was the best option for everyone.

2004/09-18 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Snowmobile Club to use CSAH 22 ditches to relocate the area snowmobile trail for safety reasons with the Highway Engineer to monitor for problems. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board deferred review of the Sander and Tandem Axle Dump Truck bids to the 2005 Highway Budget review for consideration as a 2005 expense item.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:30 a.m. Gary Loop addressed the Board with his concerns on the addition of bunks in the local jail and the State requiring local jails to take short-term offenders from prisons. He stated that local jails are not built or operated to prison standards and therefore counties should not be taking offenders from the prisons. There is already a problem at the local level in finding room for local offenders to serve their time but management tools such as home monitoring, jail time scheduling and alternative programs help to curb the problem. The local jail cycles from maximum capacity to operational levels on a monthly basis. He is concerned that taking in the short-term offenders from the state prisons will increase the time the jail is at maximum capacity which is a safety concern for the staff and he is concerned that the 911 Dispatch Center will not be manned as it should be because officers will be attending to prisoners. The Board thanked Mr. Loop for his insight and stated that the request for the additional bunks is scheduled for Board review on September 28, 2004. Harvey Dvergsten informed the Board of his concern with the sludge application by the North Koochiching Sewer District on a field next to his residence as the last few years he has been experiencing severe headaches which he associates to the sludge. He has talked with the North Koochiching Sewer Commission and was told they are handling and disposing of the sludge in accordance with state law. He asked the Board if there was anything the County could do to look into the matter. The Board agreed to send the issue to the Public Health Director to have her review the matter through her Department and/or the Public Health Nuisance Committee. With no other comment the Board closed public comment.

2004/09-19 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 12:07 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Chezick, Lepper. Motion carried.