REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, April 05, 2005; 9:45 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Adee (other county business)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, John Mastin, Doug Grindall, Richard Lehtinen, Terry Murray, Paul Mielke, Melissa Fuller, Ray and Ruth Anderson; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Mike Freeman

2005/04-01 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-02 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the March 22, 2005 special meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-03 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs approving the agenda for the meeting in the Birchdale community on April 19 at 6:00 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-04 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $11,585.15, to approve payment of the monthly County Board expense claims in the amount of $9,505.30, to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler in the amount of $852.50 with payment from the Administration Budget and to approve payment to Flaherty & Hood in the amount of $1,408.47 with payment from the Legislative Budget. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer Department. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-05 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant abatement to Lyle Sunne, parcel #78-10-11000, for homestead credit. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-06 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Premises Permit Application – LG 214 for Island View Lodge at 1817 Highway 11 East in International Falls for a period of May 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005 as recommended by the Auditor/Treasurer. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was informed that Marion Rutkowsky resigned as a County Home Health Aide on March 25, 2005.

2005/04-07 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Board Chair to sign a letter to the Governor and copied to state legislators requesting the restoration of funding proposed for cut in the State Budget for community based suicide prevention programs. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-08 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve payment from the City’s Sunset Cove Waterline Account as follows: to the City of International Falls in the amount of $1,500.69, to the City of Ranier in the amount of $8,767.95 and to the County in the amount of $53.76. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-09 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck approving the 2005 Boat and Water Safety Agreement with the State of Minnesota allocating funds to Koochiching County in the amount of $6,419 on a reimbursement basis and further authorizing Board Chair, Sheriff and Auditor’s signature to said Agreement. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-10 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Sheriff to fill two vacant part time correctional officer positions. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-11 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for nuisance beaver removal with bid results to the Board on April 26, 2005. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-12 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs awarding low bid to Rajala Construction in the amount of $926,311.61 for SAP 36-617-05 (CSAH 17 grading and aggregate base) as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-13 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to table discussion on the CSAH Program due to the absence of a Board member and reschedule for April 19 as a committee item. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-14 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck acknowledging and filing a citizen petition submitted to the County Board proposing a connection from Highway 11 East to the Van Lynn Road at County Road 93. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-15 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to request a highway easement from the Minnesota Commissioner of Natural Resources across State land lying adjacent to CSAH 15 in the SE ¼ of the SW ¼, SW ¼ of the SE ¼, and the SE ¼ of the SE ¼, Section 16 and the SW ¼ of the SW ¼, Section 15 and the NW ¼ of the NE ¼, Section 23; all in Township 151 North, Range 29 West. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that the Notice to Proceed was delivered to the contractor for the Jackfish Sewer Project construction and written information was provided confirming the $600,000 of grant funding from the Army Corp for the project.

2005/04-16 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to set the assessment hearing for the Jackfish Sewer Project for Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. with location to be determined and with published notice of the date, time and location. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/04-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve a service agreement with Stellher Human Services, Inc. for an early intervention assistant for a school social worker as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was informed that Shelly King was promoted to Child Support Enforcement Aid and Nan Sether resumed the position of Office Support Specialist effective April 4, 2005.

000 The Community Service Director provided the Board a current organizational chart of the Agency and a proposed organizational chart for filling some of the staffing voids in the Agency. Board Chair asked the Director to request time at a future committee meeting to further review the information.

2005/04-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing Board member’s attendance to a White Tail Deer Forum hosted by the DNR as County Board representation was requested. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:10 a.m. Paul Mielke addressed the Board with a variety of concerns over the Jackfish Bay Sewer project. Melissa Fuller posed questions and provided statements to Board members with her concerns of forcing sewer on properties on UT 224. Ray Anderson expressed his concern over the proposed rock quarry operation in the Margie area and stated his opposition to the project. Ruth Anderson also expressed her opposition to the proposed rock quarry operation and stated that ecology should not be ruined for a quarry operation. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment.

2005/04-19 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.