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

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Hanson (out of town on county business)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Terry Glowack, Butch Pariseau, Chad Bishop, Pete Schultz, Peggy Olson via conference call, Betty Mitchell; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2005/03-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/03-32 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the March 8, 2005 special meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/03-33 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Insurance Committee for renewal of a group dental plan with new provider Delta Preferred for preventive and limited basic coverage with rates of $14.26 for single and $29.18 for family (coverage through Self Funded Health Account) and the renewal of group life/ad&d coverage with Minnesota Life Inc. at rates of $2.40 per month/per employee (employer paid share plus additional coverage through the Self Funded Health Account with no change in rate) Coverage effective April 1, 2005 for both plans. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/03-34 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $35,197.86 with payment detail on file in the Highway Department. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/03-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to set a meeting of the county board in Birchdale on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the request of the Birchdale community. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board reviewed House File 826 for the Clean Water Legacy Act which imposes a minimum fee of $36 to fund programs to restore and preserve the state’s surface water. The collection of the fee from each household has no relationship to the amount of pollution produced by the household and that the bill requires the County to charge and collect the fee and then turn the money over to the State. Though the various program details have not been worked out, the funding would be allocated to various state agencies with some funding coming back to local units of governments in the form of a loan if their impaired water project is decided at the state level to be a priority. A rough estimate of money collected in Koochiching County is $400,000. The Board was informed that Senator Saxhaug would be introducing a bill that would fund the Clean Water Act through a portion of the state sales tax revenue but details in the bill with regards to the program itself were not known at this time. The Board went on record supporting Senator Saxhaug’s bill to fund the Act through a portion of state sales tax but that without seeing the text of the bill as to mandates and requirements on local governments the Board could not support the full bill.

2005/03-36 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper supporting Senator Saxhaug’s bill to fund the Clean Water Legacy Act through the use of state sales tax but that the County’s full support of the bill is contingent on review and acceptance of the bill text with regards to mandates and requirements placed on the county under the proposed clean water programs. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Complex Superintendent requested authorization from the Board to seek quotes for three building capital projects which are funded in the 2005 Budget but the 2005 budget directive requires the Board to approve all capital expenditure over $1,000. The three projects are installation of a fire alarm system in the Courthouse basement, roof top AC unit for 2nd floor courtroom and new AC condenser for first floor of the LEC. In addition, the Complex Superintendent informed the Board that there is insufficient power for the older part of the Courthouse due to the increased electrical equipment used to service offices. Once summer comes and the window AC units are operating, the Complex Superintendent stated power problems will occur. Through the Management Committee it was agreed that offices would not be segregated into small sections as this creates the need to heat and cool these smaller units, taking more power than if it was one open space. This policy was put in place due to power concerns raised previously by the Complex Superintendent. The Superintendent informed the Board that at present there is sufficient power for the two new sections of the Courthouse. The Complex Superintendent will seek assistance from an electrical engineer to assess the power supply for the old part of the Courthouse and to obtain a plan to fix the problem. At this time the Superintendent wanted to inform the Board of the potential power problem with the historical portion of the Courthouse. The Board agreed the matter needed to be looked at and requested the Complex Superintendent to come back with a recommendation on assessing and fixing the problem.

2005/03-37 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Complex Superintendent to seek quotes for installation of a fire alarm system in the Courthouse basement, roof top AC unit for 2nd floor courtroom and new AC condenser for first floor of the LEC and bring back recommendations to the Board. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Business Agent from the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 49, requested a meet and confer with a committee of the Board to review employees’ participation in the 49ers Central Pension Fund Plan, which the union felt was agreed to in last contract negotiations even though there was no written agreement to this fact. The Business Agent felt an oral understanding with the employer was reached to review the plan. The Board’s Personnel Committee submitted a report stating that the plan was reviewed and found a much different position for the employer than what was understood at negotiations as being just a matter of overriding the County’s payroll deduction policy for the number of participants required for a payroll deduction. Board members expressed their position to deal with the issue in negotiations and with no motions by the Board, the Board Chair moved on the agenda. The Business Agent than reviewed a complaint filed by the Union on behalf of Chad Bishop that he should have been hired as the Transfer Station Operator. The Board’s position is that this hiring decision did not violate the union contract and therefore is not subject to the grievance process. The Board did inform the Business Agent that a report to the Board is forthcoming from the Personnel Committee where the Board deferred review of the hiring policy and validity of the process used in hiring of the transfer station operator.

000 Visitors and Convention Bureau President presented their annual financial and activity report along with their accomplishments and goals. Their marketing is working well based on the measures established to monitor the program as numbers continue to increase.

000 Upon request to the Koochiching Housing Authority to establish a representative on their Board from the City of International Falls, the Authority Director responded by letter to the County Board that HUD mandates and their by-laws will not allow a Board member to be from within the City of International Falls. The Board and Director via conference call discussed the matter. The Director stated that the County Housing Authority was created under HUD direction to include the small cities and unorganized areas of the County for Section 8 programs. The City of International Falls has its own Housing Authority and Section 8 programs under HUD. However because the County Authority services many clients up in this area under their low income rental assistance program, the Authority received written permission from the City of International Falls to service clients in their City since their Authority does not service this program. The Board requested a copy of the County Authority’s By-laws for review which the Director stated she would send. All agreed that a representative on the County Authority Board should include someone from the International Falls area. The Director informed the Board that some time back they did have a Board member from the City of Ranier. The County Board’s original inquiry to the County Housing Authority was to establish a Board representative from the City of International Falls and suggested that this be established with the next upcoming term which is March 1, 2006 as information provided showed two representatives from the City of Littlefork. The Director explained that the person holding the March 1 term lives outside the City of Littlefork but uses the City address for mailing purposes so there are not two representatives from the City of Littlefork. The County Board revised its request to the Authority to recruit a representative from around the International Falls area and to consider this with the next vacant term. The Housing Authority Director stated she would bring this request to the Board for consideration.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:40 a.m. No comment was presented.

2005/03-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Board Chair to send a letter to federal delegates in support of retaining and funding RC&D programs which are slated for cut in the President’s budget. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 A representative from KOOTASCA requested the County Board’s support to a resolution establishing KOOTASCA as the entity to be charged with the administration of funds for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program in the County. The representative stated the program provides immediate but short term assistance for those who are homeless or become homeless. The representative also informed the Board that through a collaborative effort more funding is being sought to further assist those not able to maintain housing for themselves and/or their family.

2005/03-39 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper WHEREAS, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, State of Minnesota, has been authorized to undertake a program to provide Family Homeless Prevention assistance; and WHEREAS, KOOTASCA, Inc. has developed an application as an Administering Entity for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program; and WHEREAS, KOOTASCA, Inc. has demonstrated the ability to perform the required activities of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that KOOTASCA, Inc. is hereby authorized as an entity to be charged with the administration of funds made available through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program in the County of Koochiching. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/03-40 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.