SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHNG COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, June 28, 2005; 10:00 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Adee (Board Appointed Agency Business)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Einar Sundin, Bob Peterson, Terry Murray, Susan Congrave, Nancy Lee Schafer, Marie Mettler, Steve Shermoen, Richard Lehtinen, Jack Walls, Kate Miller, Lee Grim, Larry and Elaine Beach, Kelli Sanders, Toni Stevens, Joe Richardson; Reporters Laurel Beager and Roger Jerome

2005/06-59 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-60 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the 2005 Board of Equalization meetings and the June 21, 2005 regular meeting with correction. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was informed that Wes Olson and Logan Bigler were hired in the Highway Department for summer work and Ron Hostetter was hired as a part time Correctional Officer.

2005/06-61 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment to Flaherty and Hood in the amount of $4,628.67 for May lobbyist services with payment from the 2005 Legislative Budget, to approve payment of the Health Department claims in the amount of $22,306.70 (payment detail in the Health Department) 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 Community Service Department). Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-62 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant abatement to Stanley Robert to remove a mobile home from personal property as is assessed as real estate. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-63 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Board Chair to appoint two Board members to attend a forum at the Voyageurs National Park Headquarters on June 29, 2005 for a presentation on a random survey of area residents to evaluate level of trust and satisfaction park neighbors have with the management of Voyageurs National Park. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried. (The Board Chair appointed Commissioners Briggs and Pavleck.)

2005/06-64 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Auditor/Treasurer to lease a new postage machine from Pitney Bowes under a 72 month agreement with an annual cost of $9,500 to include machine, maintenance and meter rental due to a change in postal regulations mandating digital postage machines. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-65 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve service contracts with Consumer Directions, REM Minnesota and Summit Fiscal Agency to provide fiscal support services to eligible recipients as recommended by the Community Service Director as new service required by the State. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-66 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to renew the following service agreements to reflect a date change to July 1, 2005 as recommended by the Community Service Director: ODC Waivered Services, PJ’s Foster and Waivered Services, Rainy River Waivered Services, Rainy River Waivered Services SLS, Rainy River Waivered Services In-Home, Rainy River Waivered Services Guardianship, REM SLS, REM SILS, Northome SLS, Littlefork Jackpine Chateau, Ita Bel Koo DAC, Interim Healthcare, Houglum SILS, Decker’s Family Care, and Lutheran Social Services. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-67 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of burial case #233222 in the amount of $2,221.50 and accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: case #25027 licensing for foster care for three children; case #41665 relicensing for family day care for seven children, case #60672 closing home for day care services at provider’s request and case #55612 relicensing for group family day care for twelve children. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 A presentation on Public Health Emergency Preparedness was provided the Board by the Public Health Director.

2005/06-68 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to add approval of a WIC Grant to the agenda at the request of the Public Health Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-69 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve a regional grant for the local WIC Programs in the amount of $3,300 with a portion of the grant to be provided to the County’s WIC Program with an in-kind match as recommended by the Public Health Director. Motion further authorizes the Board Chair to sign the Grant Agreement. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director provided the Board a draft letter to send to all property owners in the Jackfish area in which easements are needed for sewer. It is recommended that this final effort be made to secure easements for the Project before taking action required under the Relocation Act. The Project is requesting easements for $1.00. To assist with this effort, it is recommended that services be obtained to work with individual property owners to explain their easement route, answer questions, and address routing concerns in conjunction with the Project engineer and construction contractor. The deadline for acquiring easements is tentatively set for August 15, 2005 before the County will consider action under the Relocation Act. The Board was supportive of this effort and that the letter needed to inform the property owners that this service to provide assistance on easements would be available to them.

2005/06-70 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Environmental Service Director to send letters to the property owners in the Jackfish area in which easements are required for sewer informing them of the need for the easement, the asking price and the need for condemnation if the easement is not obtained within the scope of the project. Further, the Environmental Service Director is authorized to establish a service agreement to obtain an individual to work with individual property owners in the Jackfish Sewer area on their easement routes within the scope of the project and in conjunction with the Project engineer and construction contractor and to bring a recommendation back to the Board at its July 12, 2005 meeting. Further, the letter sent to property owners will inform them that this service will be available to them. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Legal Counsel for the Jackfish Sewer Project informed the Board that the property in which the sewer storage tank needs to be located was appraised by the County for making an offer and came in at $130,000. At this time a purchase offer at this price has been made and he recommends the County take assignment of this purchase agreement and take ownership of the property. A portion of the property will be retained for the storage tank and the remaining property resold by the County under M.S. 373.01. In discussion with the appraiser, retaining a portion of the property for the tank and the location of the tank, especially with the landscaping and covering to be done in the tank area, will have little impact to the resell value. As a benefit for both parties, the current property owner is willing to rent the property on a month to month basis and the County would be looking for the tenant to pay utilities, maintain the property, insure the property and pay some level of rent to offset taxes due on the property. The construction contractor intends to work on the storage tank as soon as the property is purchased and anticipates this would be done by fall. Interest has already been expressed for the remaining property.

2005/06-71 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to purchase property under M.S. 373.01 described as part of Lot 10, Auditor’s Plat 5 lying easterly of a line 150 feet west of and parallel with the east boundary line of said Lot 10, with a closing date of June 30, 2005 at a price of $130,000 with payment from the Environmental Trust Fund and with proceeds from the resell of the property and/or grant and rent revenue to reimburse the Fund up to the purchase price. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-72 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the County to establish a rental agreement under M.S. 373.01 to allow tenants to rent a County-owned residence described as part of Lot 10, Auditor’s Plat 5 lying easterly of a line 150 feet west of and parallel with the east boundary line of said Lot 10 with the terms of the agreement to require the tenant to be responsible for insurance, rent, utilities, property damage and other terms legal counsel recommends in the Agreement. Motion further authorizes the Board Chair to sign the rental agreement as recommended by legal counsel. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:45 a.m. Gene Larson, elected official on the Soil and Water Board informed the County Board that he was saddened to learn that he was removed from his duties and elected office by the Soil and Water Board. He wanted the County Board to know this as he was not told why this action was taken and he felt he was doing a good job for the District and his constituents. Elaine Beach reviewed a newspaper article in which Orr is putting in a sewer system and will be installing meters to charge on usage. She believed the Jackfish Sewer System should have meters and charge on usage. She asked if the person hired to assist property owners with the easements will be able to carry agreements made on the routes. The Board Chair stated it would be the County’s intention that the person work within the scope of the project and with the engineer and construction contractor on easement routes. Kate Miller, Acting Superintendent for Voyageurs National Park, introduced herself to the Board and informed them of the forum scheduled for tomorrow to hear a presentation on their plan to conduct a survey of area residents on the management of the Park. The Board Chair informed her two Board members were appointed to attend the session on behalf of the County. The Superintendent stated that while she holds the position, it is her intent to have two way conversations, listen and find ways to move forward for the future and is hoping tomorrow’s event is the first step. Commissioner Pavleck gave the Superintendent credit for taking this first important step in taking interest in the local residents and officials and he hopes too this is a positive direction. Later he would be asking the Board to authorize a letter to St. Louis County, City of International Falls and Voyageurs National Park to send representatives to a committee meeting to explore the feasibility of a government affairs committee to facilitate park matters that impact local government. He believes that this forum would go a long way in moving in a positive direction. Lee Grim informed the Board that he is in support of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, presentation next on the agenda. With no further comment, the Board Chair closed public comment at 12:08 p.m.

000 Representatives of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation provided the Board a presentation on the Foundation’s purpose, mission and goals. Due to concerns raised with water quality in and around the Lake of the Woods area, in both the U.S. and Canadian watersheds, and due to the lack of governments to step in, this foundation was formed as the first step to raise funds to research water quality in the Lake of the Woods watersheds for corrective action plans where needed. At this time they are looking for stakeholders to support this mission. They are seeking funding for a Water Sustainability Plan which will come from three years of research in the watersheds with an estimated cost of $500,000. With this plan in hand, they believe governments on both sides will take interest to improve any found water quality problems. The Foundation representatives hope that Koochiching County will support the project. The Board Chair stated that Koochiching County takes active roles in protecting and improving water quality, some of which directly impact the Lake of the Woods watershed. The Board is supportive of the initiative but would need more detail before considering action of support. The representatives stated that they were there today to present the initiative and to see what the County thought of it and would come back with more information as things develop. The Environmental Service Director would be the conduit for the Foundation and the Board.

2005/06-73 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair to send a letter to St. Louis County, City of International Falls and Voyageurs National Park requesting a meeting of their representatives to look at the feasibility of establishing a government affairs committee to facilitate Voyageurs National Park matters that impact local communities and government. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/06-74 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 12:40 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.