SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, May 24, 2005; 10:00 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Dennis Hummitzsch, Gail Rognerud, Bill Torseth, Paul Eklund, Rod Otterness, Terry Murray, Bruce Mattson, Jeri Nordlund, Dale Olson, Susan Congrave, Ann Scholler; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Mike Freeman

2005/05-92 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-93 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes of the May 17, 2005 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was notified that part time Correctional Officer Mindy Holmstead resigned for other employment.

2005/05-94 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the County Board meeting schedule for the summer months as presented by the Coordinator (June through August). Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-95 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve a MN Trail Assistance OHV Grant Agreement for FY 2005 for the purpose of facilitating a transfer of $12,000 for the existing Blue Ox ATV Trail from the State Program to the Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club and authorizing the Board Chair and Auditor’s signatures to said Agreement. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-96 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the Health Department claims in the amount of $11,915.25 and to approve payment of Community Service Department’s financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented. Payment detail on file in the respective departments. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck, representing the County Board on the ARC Board, presented revised scenarios reallocating ARC costs to the five member counties. The option adopted by the ARC Board upon support of the five member counties has Koochiching County paying an additional $63,641 per year. The ARC Board is willing to apply these increases over a two year period due to budget constraints. Commissioner Pavleck stated that the option approve is based on usage so it makes alternative sentencing programs all that more important to keep our costs down.

2005/05-97 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs approving Option #4 for allocation of costs to member counties for utilization of Arrowhead Regional Correction services with a letter sent to the ARC Board from Koochiching County requesting that the $63,641 increase be implemented over a two year period (2006 and 2007 budgets). Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner updated the Board on land transactions taking place and/or proposed for the area around the old Holler School involving conveyance procedures and school trust land.

2005/05-98 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve an application for repurchase of forfeited land described as Lots 17 and 18, Block 9, Carson and Lupies First Addition for David Farmer as recommended by the Land Commissioner within County Policy. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Members of the City of International Falls Council and representing the Falls Recreation Board requested further support from the County in providing a vehicle to the Falls Recreation Club. The County pulled a Land and Forestry vehicle from their 2005 County Auction for direct sale to the City to provide a truck to the Fall Recreation Club. The sale amount was determined at $1,300. Representatives stated that the Club was able to sell their old truck for $414 leaving a balance of $886. Due to budget constraints, the Recreation Board requests the County to donate the remaining balance. The Board Chair explained that the vehicle was purchased with Tax Forfeited Trust Funds and therefore the vehicle can not be donated from this Fund. The donation would require the County to pay the Trust Fund.

2005/05-99 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing payment from the surplus revenue retained by the General Revenue Fund from the 2005 County Surplus Auction in the amount of $886 to be paid to the Tax Forfeited Trust Fund to allow for the donation of the used Land and Forestry Vehicle to the Falls Recreation Club and further, the Club will submit payment of $414 to the County Treasurer to be deposited in the Tax Forfeit Trust Fund for the remaining balance due for the truck. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-100 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper approving an amendment to the Stellher Human Services Agreement increasing hours for June to accommodate the summer program as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-101 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: case #22750 relicensing for foster care for one child and case #39705 relicensing for family day care for ten children. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Bruce Mattson representing those afflicted with mental illness explained to the Board how the Hardwig House, ODC and other support programs greatly help those with mental illness. He thanked the Board on behalf of himself and others for their continued support in ensuring this much needed support exists in our community. The Board was informed that a new corporate home was established creating 12 jobs and allowing 4 residents to return to the County. As a promotion for Mental Health Month, a mental health awareness walk is scheduled for May 25th at 5:00 p.m. at Smokey Bear Park.

2005/05-102 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a service contract with ODC for road side cleanup on Highway 11/71 near the transfer station and County Road 107 as recommended by the Environmental Service Department. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-103 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve a preventative maintenance contract with Excel Manufacturing for one year at a cost of $82.66 per month for the baler at the transfer station as recommended by the Environmental Service Department. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Solid Waste Technician informed the Board that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) further reviewed the plan for accommodating new legislation prohibiting disposal of TVs and computer monitors in landfills at the County Board’s request. There is proposed legislation in the 2005 legislative session moving the July 1, 2005 deadline to July 1, 2006, however, nothing passed in the regular session so will have to wait for the outcome of a special session to see if this date changes. Regardless, SWAC feels the June free disposal of TVs and computer monitors should occur to dispose of what we can without additional cost. If the deadline is moved to July 1, 2006 the County could then hold another one month free disposal just prior to the new deadline. Once the new regulation is established, a fee will be charged to dispose of these items as the County will need to transport them to regional disposal center. At this time, SWAC does not have a recommendation for electronic disposal fees.

2005/05-104 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation from SWAC to establish a one month free disposal of TVs and computer monitors (electronic devices with picture tubes) with the Environmental Service Department to provide county wide public notice to educate them on the new disposal requirement and the free disposal program. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-105 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing expenditure up to $2,000 to retain the services of John Vigen and authorizing Environmental Financial Consultant Scott Harder in conjunction with John Vigen and the Environmental Service Director to establish for recommendation to the County Board a policy on deferring vacant property assessments for the sewer project and establishing guidelines for properties where owners want to build this year and take advantage of the sewer project funding for lateral line and grinder pump. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-106 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve a medical director contract with the International Falls Clinic as recommended by the Health Director and contingent on the County Attorney’s approval. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/05-107 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to renew an ENABL Contract with School District 363 for the 2005/2006 school year as recommended by the Health Director and contingent on the County Attorney’s approval. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Health Director provided the Board the Department’s Quarter 1, 2005 Financial and Statistical Report. The Board was informed that Health and Social Service staff will meet with community based home care agencies on Tuesday, May 31, at 3:00 p.m. of which the County Board is invited.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:45 a.m. No comment was provided.

2005/05-108 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing expenditure up to $500 from the Highway Budget to donate services to the Northome Fair Association for hauling concrete from the fair grounds to the Big Falls demo site at the direction of the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer as requested by the Board, has requested proposals from engineering firms for inspection of the Jackfish Bay sewer construction with proposals due May 31, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. The proposals require an inspector on site June 6, 2005 at which time construction will commence. Since the County Board will not be meeting until June 7th, the Board would need to either empower a committee and/or Board Chair to approve the recommended contract or set a meeting of the Board to act on the recommendation. Upon review of the matter, the Board Chair set a special meeting for Thursday, June 2, 2005 in the County Boardroom at 10:00 a.m. to receive and act on a recommendation for a construction inspection contract for the sewer project.

000 The Board Chair opened a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. for the purpose of receiving public comment on proposed revisions to the County’s Liquor License Ordinance. Present for the hearing were the full County Board, Coordinator and Assistant Auditor. The Ordinance revisions entail updating language, hearing procedures and defining eligible applicants. The Assistant Auditor, coordinating the County’s Licensing Committee, stated that no written comment was received but she had one request for a copy of the revision. She also informed the Board that the written comment period expires on May 25th. The Board Chair noted that no one was in attendance to provide oral comment on the revised ordinance proposal. The Board Chair upon closing the hearing stated that pending any written comment requiring further review by the License Committee, the revised ordinance will be presented to the County Board on June 7, 2005 for approval.

2005/05-109 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 1:45 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.