REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004; 10:00 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Chezick

OTHERS ATTENDING: Kallie Briggs, Einar Sundin, Tom Toratti, Susan Congrave, Richard Lehtinen, Dennis Hummitzsch, Doug Grindall, James Treppe, J.J. Hasbargen, Attorney Joe Langel via conference phone; Reporters Laurel Beager, Jen O’Reily and Roger Jerome

2004/11-01 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/11-02 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes of the October 26, 2004 special meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/11-03 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee acknowledging the employment separation of Kim Rasmussen as a Home Health Aide on June 7, 2004. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/11-04 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a 3% salary increase to the elected Auditor/Treasurer, Recorder, Attorney, and Sheriff for 2005. Motion further acknowledges a 0% salary increase for the County Board for 2005. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice that Tammy Riley was hired as a part time Office Support Specialist on October 29, 2004 and that Nan Sether started as a Child Support Aide on November 1, 2004.

2004/11-05 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the monthly County Board expense claims in the amount of $8,949.08. Payment detail on file in the Auditor-Treasurer Department. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/11-06 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee adopting the Koochiching County Hazard Mitigation Plan which identifies possible hazards in the County and provides long-term and short term preventive action plans as required by FEMA to receive funding (public hearing held on October 26, 2004). Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Soil and Water Technician submitted a RC&D Assistance Application to the Board for the purpose of looking for funding to correct a shoreline erosion problem at the Margie Cemetery. Soil and Water is putting together the engineering plan which will include a cost estimate to correct this problem. The RC&D Council is agreeable to provide their assistance.

2004/11-07 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair to sign a Request for RC&D Assistance Application submitted by the Soil and Water Department to seek funding to correct a shoreline erosion problem at the Margie Cemetery. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Public Health Director provided the Board the Department’s Third Quarter 2004 Statistical and Financial Report. The Director then reported on the Department’s emergency preparedness activities which included radio programs for the public on preparing for an unlikely disaster, staff training, and completion of the health section of the Koochiching County Emergency Operation Plan. Currently they are working with the region on a plan for stockpiling supplies and noted that the shortage of the flu vaccine has been a good practice for this planning. With regards to the flu vaccine shortage, the Health Department is working to get another supply to the area and if successful, will work with local clinics and the hospital to vaccinate the remaining high risk population. The Director stated 1,650 vaccines have been given to high risk people only, which includes all nursing home residents. The Director believes more vaccine will come to our area as Koochiching, St. Louis and Itasca Counties were shorted the vaccine based on the population of at risk people in these counties.

2004/11-08 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Environmental Service Director to begin the recruitment process for filling the vacant Transfer Station Operator position with the contingency that because the filling of this position is tied to the adoption of the 2005 County Budget, approval to fill the position will require final approval by the Board, which will be considered no earlier than January 2005. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director, Land Commissioner and Soil and Water Technician reviewed information with the Board on the Corps of Engineer’s intent to change the wetland replacement ratio from 1:1 to 1.5:1 to conform federal and state rules. The information reported that those counties with a vast amount of wetlands will be significantly impacted by this change, including forest management. Staff stated that ditch blocking for creating wetlands and establishing regional wetland banks are also initiatives being pushed. A concern noted on the regional wetland bank is the replacement credit price will be based on land value in the region, which may be higher than a replacement credit based on land value in Koochiching County. The information stated that the Army Corp will be posting their plan for changing the mitigation ratio within 30 days for public comment. Board members requested continual updates on this issue and as more information is provided, the Board will consider meeting with officials to discuss the concerns for Koochiching County. It was noted that Koochiching County was provided flexibility in their local wetland plan for application of the wetland rules due to the vast amount of wetlands in this area and that this flexibility needs to be retained.

2004/11-09 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper approving a road vacation request by Richard Peterson to vacate a part of County Utility Road #27615 marked as “Lane” on the Plat of Crystal Point, lying east of Lot 17 and south of Lot 16 starting at a point 30 feet east of the southeast corner of Lot 17, thence west to the southeast corner of Lot 17, thence north to the southwest corner of Lot 16, thence east to the southeast corner of Lot 16, thence running in a southwesterly direction to the point of beginning. Said road vacation was approved after confirmation from the Highway Engineer that there is sufficient space at the end of the unvacated road for Highway maintenance equipment to turn around. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 A property owner in the area of the old Town of Craig requested the old town street providing access to his and others property either is vacated or maintained by the County due to the public using the road to look at the abandoned Town of Craig. Currently property owners using the road work together to purchase and spread gravel on the road to maintain a suitable access to their properties but the additional public travel erodes their work very quickly. If the Board is not interested in vacating the road, they are asking that gravel be provided for the road and they will continue to snowplow. The Highway Engineer and Foreman did visit the area and felt one load of gravel could take care of the problem or they would support a road vacation as long as access was provided for property owners. The Highway Engineer stated that there are many roads in the County that property owners would like maintained however, county funds can not possibly maintain all these roads so the Highway Engineer requested direction on this request. Board members stated concern with vacating the road as it may deny access needed at a future date and felt supplying gravel was a better option.

2004/11-10 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee directing the Highway Engineer to provide gravel for a road formerly known as Second Street off County Road 5 as he determines necessary to improve the existing access. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board meeting was recessed until 2:30 p.m.

2004/11-11 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to close session at 2:33 p.m. to discuss the appeal process for a court ruling on Swatek v. Koochiching County. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried. Attending the closed session were Commissioners Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, and Lepper, the County Attorney, the County Coordinator and Attorney Joe Langel via conference call.

2004/11-12 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to open session at 2:55 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.

2004/11-13 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 2:55 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Adee, Hanson, Lepper. Motion carried.