REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, February 15, 2005; 10:00 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioners Briggs (Family Medical Matter)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Terry Glowack, Doug Grindall, Duane Nelson, Delmer Anderson, Peggy Olson, Julie Schumacher, Dennis Hummitzsch; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2005/02-21 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-22 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes from the February 8, 2005 special meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-23 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s January vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-24 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to appoint Bob Anderson to the citizen-at-large position on the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission for a term of two years commencing January 1, 2005 and ending December 31, 2006. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-25 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the following 2005 Sheriff Budget adjustment as recommended by the County Coordinator to correct personnel line item budgets: 01-200.6104 decrease budget amount by $3,700; 01-200.6108 decrease budget amount by $22,000; 01-200.6100 increase budget amount by $22,000. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing Board members’ to attend a site meeting for the Peat Horticultural Project at the Pine Island Bog with a tentative date of February 24, 2005. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Complex Superintendent to seek quotes for annual snowplowing services for the Courthouse and Forestland facilities with the recommendation for a service contract to come back to the Board for approval. Approval is based on the Car Pool Committee’s agreement to set aside funds annually to cover the snowplowing expense. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-28 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to award the following vehicle bids as recommended by the Highway Engineer and Car Pool Committee: 2005 Ford Taurus SE car from Wherley Motors with a bid price of $12,815 for Car Pool; 2005 Ford F250 crew-cab pickup from Wherley Motors with a bid price of $22,702 for the Highway Department; 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup from Sheridan Motors with a bid price of $17,981 for the Complex Department; 2005 Ford F150 pickup from Wherley Motors with a bid price of $16,383 for the Land and Forestry Department. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer and the Board briefly reviewed the road project priority list for consideration in the federal transportation bill and agreed that should a connection route for public safety be decided by the Board, it be given priority in the list for federal transportation funding.

2005/02-29 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to award the following vehicle bids as recommended by the Sheriff for replacement of two squads: Sheridan motors with a bid price of $16,971 for a 2005 Chevy Impala car and $17,888 for a 2005 Chevy Silverado extended-cab pickup. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Sheriff informed the Board that David Hay resigned as a part time Deputy.

2005/02-30 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Sheriff to purchase a defibulator for the Jail with a total cost with warranty of $2,497.43 with payment from the 2005 Sheriff Capital Outlay Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the following internal line item adjustment for the 2005 Sheriff Budget to allow for the purchase of two in-squad cameras for a cost of $6,292 on the state bid price list: transfer $2,000 from the Office Supply Budget, $3,300 from the Vehicle Repair Budget and $1,000 from the Training Budget to the Capital Outlay Equipment Budget as recommended by the Sheriff. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Representatives from the Koochiching Housing and Redevelopment Authority met with the Board to provide the history of the organization and what the program provides today. Back in the early 1970s Northome requested HUD assistance for new housing as housing was substandard in the City. HUD assistance would not be provided unless a certain amount of population was covered. Northome proceeded to get the support of other cities and the County and in 1972 the Koochiching Housing and Redevelopment Authority was formed thereby allowing HUD to provide federal funding for housing in the County. By 1976 thirty-six housing units were established in the County. Today the Authority administrates a program to provide HUD funding to low income to help cover rent costs with 128 receiving assistance and with a year and one half waiting list for new clients. It does not operate programs for housing redevelopment or development. HUD oversees the Authority to ensure all federal requirements for use of federal funds are met and the Authority is also audited once a year. With regards to the Authority’s request to the County to provide annual funding for Board per diem expense, it was explained that HUD funds could be used to reimburse Board members’ mileage but could not be used to pay them for serving on the Board. HUD requires a Board of Directors and requires they meet at least once a month. To help retain and recruit Board members, the Authority requested the County to provide funding for per diem under the County’s Citizen Committee Expense Policy for only the required monthly Board meetings.

2005/02-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee that under the County’s Citizen Committee Expense Policy, to allocate $2,500 annually to the Koochiching Housing and Redevelopment Authority for the purpose of providing per diem to its Board members for the required monthly meetings at $40 for members and $45 for the Chairperson and that at year end, the Housing Director will report any unused balance to the County Coordinator for reduction in the next year’s allocation. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

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

000 The Land Commissioner presented proposed legislation for Board review that would have money from the sale of any Tax Forfeited land on public waters go into an account managed by the DNR Commissioner for Riparian Enhancement Projects. This proposed legislation removes funds from the Tax forfeited Trust Fund before apportionment, in other words, removes money from local taxing districts to give to the State. The Land Commissioner did inform the Board that within just a few days of hearing about this proposed legislation, local governments have submitted oppositions to this bill and the Land Commissioner requested Koochiching County do the same. The bill is sitting in Senator Saxhaug’s subcommittee at this time.

2005/02-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck strongly opposing SF 777 and HF 786 whereas money from the sale of any Tax Forfeited land on public waters go into an account managed by the DNR Commissioner for Riparian Enhancement Projects with the Land Commissioner to send a letter detailing the County’s opposition to this legislative proposal and include the County’s disappointment that local units of governments were not consulted on this issue. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/02-34 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.