2005 ELECTION OF COUNTY BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR WAS CONDUCTED BY THE CLERK TO THE COUNTY BOARD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 04, 2005; 9:30 A.M. BY UNANIMOUS VOTE COMMISSIONER MIKE HANSON WAS ELECTED AS BOARD CHAIR AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE COMMISSIONER KEVIN ADEE WAS ELECTED AS VICE CHAIR.

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 04, 2005; 9:35 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Adee (traffic blocked due to train delay)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Doug Grindall, Richard Lehtinen, Julie Kennedy, Jerry Petermeier, Mark Hawkinson; Reporter Laurel Beager

2005/01-01 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-02 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve the minutes from the December 21, 2004 regular meeting with correction. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received temporary hire notice of Bonnie Culbertson in the Community Service Department.

2005/01-03 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck ratifying payment of the Auditor 2004 year-end claim listings in the amount of $55,817.95, $7,899.58 and $4,125.42; to approve payment to the Arrowhead Counties Association in the amount of $1,400.00 for 2005 membership with payment from the 2005 Board Budget; to approve payment in the amount of $5,320 to the Association of MN Counties for the annual cost allocation plan with payment from the 2005 Administration Budget; to approve payment to the Association of MN Counties in the amount of $5,767.00 for 2005 general dues, $405.00 for 2005 MN Association of County Social Services dues and $583.00 for 2005 Local Public Health Association dues with payment allocated to specific department budgets; to approve payment to the National Association of Counties in the amount of $370.00 for 2005 dues with payment from the 2005 Board Budget; to approve payment of the monthly County Board expense claims in the amount of $6,602.13. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer Department. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-04 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve a service agreement for the Koochiching County DUI/Substance Abuse Court with Troy Gilbertson for an evaluation model of the DUI/Substance Abuse Court with payment not to exceed $2,010.00 as recommended by the Koochiching County Drug Court Team. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-05 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to award the low and only 2005 publication bid to the Daily Journal and Northome Record as a joint bid with a 2.5% rate increase from 2004 rates. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair requested Commissioners to review the County Committee List and appointments and provide change requests or comments to him within a week’s time. The Board Chair will make 2005 appointments on January 18, 2005.

000 The County Board expressed continued interest in acquiring former Boise woodlands and would like discussion with the new owners to see what options are available, if any, for county acquisition of the lands. The Board agreed to appoint two members to actively pursue the County’s interest in acquisition of former Boise woodlands.

2005/01-06 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Board Chair to appoint two Board members to pursue the County’s interest in acquiring some or all of the former Boise woodlands. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried. (The Board Chair appointed Commissioners Hanson and Pavleck.)

2005/01-07 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper whereas the Minnesota Department of Transportation wishes to cooperate closely with local units of government to coordinate the delivery of transportation services and maximize the efficient delivery of such services at all levels of government; whereas occasionally opportunities arise for local governments to provide services to Mn/Dot; whereas the parties wish to respond quickly and efficiently to such opportunities for collaboration and have determined that Mn/Dot having the ability to write work orders against a master contract would provide the greatest flexibility. Therefore be it resolved that the County of Koochiching enter into a Master Contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation with the County Engineer and County Board Chair authorized to execute such contract and any amendments thereto. Be it further resolved that the County Engineer is authorized to negotiate work order contracts pursuant to the Master Contract, which work order contracts will provide for payment to the County by Mn/Dot and that the County Engineer may execute such work order contracts on behalf of Koochiching County without further approval by the County Board. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The County Engineer was advised by propane dealers that if the County is going to bid propane supply with a firm price, the best time to bid would be in June. The Engineer stated his intent to wait until June to bid for propane contingent on the current propane supplier willing to extend the current contract until a new bid is awarded.

2005/01-08 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to seek annual fuel bids for diesel, gas and in and out county service stations with a bid opening on February 7, 2005 with bids presented to the Board on February 8, 2005. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-09 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs approving Board members’ attendance to a January 19, 2005 Koochiching County Housing Forum at the Holiday Inn in International Falls as a Board activity as requested by the Koochiching Housing Coalition. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director and SEH Consultant hired to prepare the EAW for the Hawkinson Rock Quarry informed the Board that the EAW process is completed and is recommended that an EIS is not needed as the EAW includes conditions to mitigate concerns raised on the operation. If the Board agrees with the recommendation, the next step is to bring forth the conditional use permit for Board approval which will include conditions in the EAW. Because the Planning Commission has already approved the CUP for this project, final action on the permit is with the County Board. Board members and Hawkinson Construction representatives discussed the Company’s willingness to work with the community to reduce the operation’s impacts when they could and would do so through hours of operation as well as the time of the year when operations take place and/or to be flexible to accommodate concerns as they arise that are not specifically addressed in the EAW.

2005/01-10 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck that the Koochiching County Board determines that there are no potential significant environmental effects reasonably expected to occur from the Hawkinson Construction Company, Inc. mining and asphalt production project located southeast of the unincorporated community of Margie described as the NE 1/4 of the NW ¼ south and east of the R/R and the SE ¼ of the NE ¼, Section 11, Township 153N, Range 26W and that there is no need for an Environmental Impact Statement. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 10:47 a.m. No public comment was presented.

2005/01-11 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the regular meeting at 10:48 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.