SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Thursday, June 02, 2005; 10:00 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Richard Lehtinen, members of the public; Reporter Laurel Beager

2005/06-01 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-02 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes from the May 24, 2005 special meeting with correction. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Board received notification that Dale Klosner was hired in the Environmental Service Department as temporary inspector for the Jackfish Sewer Construction Project.

2005/06-03 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Personnel Committee to follow through on offering a transitional modified job position to an employee sustaining a work related injury resulting in permanent physical limitations disallowing further employment in the County position previously held and to bring back recommendations to the Board for official action as needed. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-04 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment to Flaherty & Hood in the amount of $2,973.93 for April lobbying services with payment from the 2005 Legislation Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-05 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper approving appointment of Kelly Blome to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors as the International Falls Hospitality representative as recommended by the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-06 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair to send a letter to Forest Capital Partners, both the corporate headquarters in Boston, MA and the local office in International Falls, to request a meeting of the Firm’s officials and County Board members to discuss mutual benefit scenarios with regards to the utilization of the lands they purchased from Boise Cascade which are located in Koochiching County. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board recognized Koochiching County resident Hazel Utter who celebrated her 100th Year Birthday on June 2nd and who volunteered many years of service to the community as a member of the VFW Auxiliary. A member of the County Board will present her with a certificate of recognition at her Birthday celebration on Saturday.

000 The Environmental Service Director presented the County Board four proposals for engineering and inspection services during the construction of the Jackfish Sewer System and through certification of the project to the MPCA. The Board originally received a service contract from Ayres Associates, current engineer for the project, but due to the amount exceeding what was budgeted for the service ($550,000 proposal amount), the Board requested quotes from other firms. The Director presented three more proposals submitted by means of the County’s request for proposals which were due on May 31, 2005. The additional proposals received were Benchmark Engineering at $210,450, Municipal Engineering at $259,420 and RLK Kuusisto at $405,600. The amount budgeted for this service is $300,000. From a risk assessment standpoint and before addressing the other quotes provided, the Environmental Service Director stated that Ayres Associates should be considered as they designed the project and would provide the County the greatest confidence for inspection and project certification to the State as the project engineer. With regards to the other proposals submitted, a committee opened and reviewed the proposals on May 31 and then the Environmental Service Director conducted further review with each firm of which was presented to the Board in a written report. Further review with the Board focused on the proposal amounts, the number of hours submitted by each firm and the qualifications of each firm. With regards to service hours, the lowest quote provided 2,600 service hours and the highest quote provided 5,950 service hours. All proposals are at a cost not to exceed. The Environmental Service Director based on resources, experience in similar type sewer projects (this firm was the engineer for the Crane Lake Sewer Project) and expertise of the firm, would recommend RLK Kuusisto. The Director informed the Board that he had service contracts from Ayres Associates and RLK Kuusisto but has not received service contracts from the other two firms. He stated that review of the awarded service contract was needed to ensure the County is comfortable with the terms and conditions. All four firms are prepared to start service as early as Monday, June 6, 2005. After discussion, the Board Chair polled members for direction. The Board was unanimous in their position that they wanted a service contract within the amount set in the project budget contingent on the proposal providing the service needed for the project, that they wanted the service contracts of each firm reviewed for terms and conditions to ensure the County’s best interest are covered and to be afforded more time to review and obtain more information before making a decision to select a firm.

2005/06- 07 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to table action on approving a service contract for engineering and inspection services for construction and certification of the Jackfish Sewer System until the June 7, 2005 County Board meeting with the project’s legal counsel to review each firm’s proposed service contract for terms and conditions to ensure they cover the County’s interest and with the County Board to select the firm when provided the information requested and needed to guide a decision. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-08 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.