SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 11, 2005; 10:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Susan Congrave, Doug Grindall; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2005/01-12 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-13 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2005 regular meeting with correction. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-14 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $7,074.21. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-15 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to cancel the regular meeting of February 1, 2005. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-16 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to set a pay rate at 80% of A13 for temporary hire Vicky Wickstrom in the Community Service Agency for providing office support while an employee is on leave per the County’s Temporary Hire Policy. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-17 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee deferring a Step 3 Courthouse Union Grievance disputing vacation earnings to the Personnel Committee to handle for the Board. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck that due to the County discontinuing direct home care service and the resulting work load and home care revenue reduction, to eliminate a full time home care nurse position and severing the employment of Sharon Obermaier, the employee hired to the home care nurse position, with an employment separation date of February 14, 2005. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer reviewed three proposed bridge replacement projects, Bridge No. 7172, 93477 and 5804, scheduled for 2006 and 2007. As required under the bridge grant application process for state and federal bridge replacement funds, the Board advertised an open session at today’s meeting to receive public comment on the proposed bridge replacement projects. The Board Chair opened the session for public comment. No written or oral comment was received.

2005/01-19 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper whereas the Highway Engineer presented to the Koochiching County Board the following bridge replacement projects scheduled for 2006 and 2007: Bridge No. 7172 – CSAH 8 over Nett River, Bridge No. 93477 – County Road 71 over Cross River, and Bridge No. 5804 – CSAH 1 over the Big Fork River; whereas as part of the grant application process for state and federal bridge replacement funding, an open session to receive public comment on the proposed bridge replacement projects was advertised and held at 11:00 a.m., January 11, 2005 as part of the County Board meeting and where no oral or written public comment was received. Be it resolved that the Koochiching County Board hereby accepts the recommendation of the County Highway Engineer to seek state and federal bridge replacement funding for Bridge No. 7172, 93477 and 5804. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/01-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the County Highway Engineer for the annual bridge inspection. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board stated concern with the recent traffic delays on the Van Lynn Road due to the train. The Highway Engineer referenced state law which states a train can not block a road for more than 10 minutes. In the past four months, the train has delayed traffic three to four times for very long periods of time. Commissioner Adee stated the last delay was three hours and that there are sixteen to seventeen trains a day carrying chemicals across this road. That there are fifty homes on the east side of the tracks that are completely blocked in when the train is crossing the road. How do you get emergency services to and from these homes when the train has the road blocked for long periods of time?

2005/01-21 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee directing staff to contact the appropriate Railroad Officials so that a meeting could be set to discuss the Board’s concerns with the frequent and long traffic delays caused by the trains on the Van Lynn Road. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:25 a.m. No comment was received.

2005/01-22 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 11:25 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.