SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, October 11, 2005; 9:55 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Pavleck

OTHERS ATTENDING: Marty Gordon, Duane Nelson, John Mastin, Terry Murray, Jaci Nagle, Dennis Hummitzsch, Richard Lehtinen, Susan Congrave, Larry and Elaine Beach, Mark Trompeter, Kathleen Sather; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Mike Freeman

2005/10-12 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-13 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the October 4, 2005 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-14 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s September vendor payment list verifying its review. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-15 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper that as fiscal agent for the Highway 53 Task Force, to extend a service contract with E. Del Smith and Company, Inc. for lobbyist service on the Highway 53 Four-Lane Project from July 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005 at the same monthly rate and with payments under the service contract contingent on an agreement by all participating Task Force entities to cost share this expense. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-16 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to certify final value of work for CSAH 40 in Northome, SAP 36-640-03, with All Seasons Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $409,862.26 as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to enter into an agreement with the Federal government for a Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement valid through September 30, 2008 to allow the Sheriff Department to continue to receive federally forfeited money for local law enforcement purposes in accordance with the statute and guidelines that govern equitable sharing and further, authorizing the Board Chair and Sheriff to sign said Agreement on behalf of Koochiching County. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to enter into a lease agreement with Heartland Christian Broadcasters, Inc. for space on their tower in the Loman area granting permission to install, maintain and use law enforcement radio equipment at $100 per month through the end of calendar year 2005 and $1,000 annually for calendar years 2006 and 2007. (Funding to be found within the approved Sheriff Department Budgets for 2005 and 2006. The Sheriff noted that four telephone lines used for law enforcement communication will be discontinued with radio equipment on this tower and therefore will reduce telephone cost for the County.) Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-19 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve a MFIP/CCSA Biennial Service Plan for 2006 and 2007 as recommended by the Community Service Director which will be submitted to the State for eligibility of MFIP/CCSA funding. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the following service agreement addendums due to required rate changes set by the State and as recommended by the Community Service Director: Raynita Houglum SILS services, Ita Bel Koo DAC services, LSS SLS services, Northome SLS services, Rainy River Waivered services, Rainy River Waivered SLS services, REM SILS services, and REM SLS services. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-21 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the purchase of Shavlik software and support in the amount of $2,900 for management of PCs and file servers on the network from one central device as recommended by the I.S. Manager and to cover the purchase, approving the following 2005 I.S. Budget adjustment: transfer $2,300 from 01-060.6305 to 01-060.6660. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-22 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve the purchase of a file server and rack cabinet in the amount of $5,900 to replace two existing servers which have exceeded their life expectancies as recommended by the I.S. Manager. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-23 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee to set the following 2006 timber auction dates as recommended by the Land Commissioner: January 13, May 3, August 2 and November 15. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve a purchase of tax forfeited property by School District 361 described as the North 25 feet of the South half of vacated 20th Street southerly and abutting Block 2, and the North 25 feet of the South half of vacated 20th Street lying west of the center line of vacated First Avenue East, all in the Plat of Fairview Addition to Koochiching as recommended by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-25 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Auditor/Treasurer to place special assessments on commercial and exempt properties for their delinquent 2004 solid waste service fee plus a ten percent penalty for collection in 2006. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.
000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that the survey of Jackfish Bay sewer area property owners was conducted for the purpose of identifying households who are low income and therefore eligible for a State grant to pay for the portion of their sewer cost through special assessment of $8,286. To date around 146 surveys were returned with 33 appearing to qualify for grant funds. A few returned surveys did not provide the name and address which is required documentation to support the grant application for the number of identified eligible households. The Director requested authorization from the Board to apply for the State Assessment Abatement Grant based on identified eligible households submitted through the survey.

2005/10-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Environmental Service Director to apply to the State for an Assessment Abatement Grant for eligible low income households in the Jackfish Bay sewer area. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs adopting the following resolution amending Board Motion 2005/05-89 for the purpose of modifying and certifying the final assessment roll for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project to the County Auditor/Treasurer:

WHEREAS, pursuant to notice duly given as required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 116A.17, the Koochiching County Board has met, heard and passed upon all objections to the proposed assessment for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project on May 17, 2005 consisting of a sanitary sewer system to serve the following area: All that portion of Koochiching County lying North of State Highway 11 between Crystal Bay and Tilson Creek of Rainy Lake, and those parcels lying between State Highway 11 and Town Road 224, all other parcels adjacent to Town Road 224, and Lots 2 through 5, Auditor’s Plat No. 6;

WHEREAS, pursuant to notice duly given as required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 116A.17, the Koochiching County Board has met and heard all objections to the proposed modifications to the May 23, 2005 certified final assessment roll for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project with modifications involving additions and deletions due to error, adopted guest cabin policy, new construction guidelines and other determined property status change since passage of the assessment roll on May 17, 2005.

IT IS HEREBY FOUND AND DETERMINED by the Koochiching County Board, after review and consideration of all items related to the Improvement, that the amount of the special assessments confirmed in this modified final order of October 11, 2005 will be certified to the Auditor/Treasurer as the final assessment roll for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project and that other than the amendment to modify the assessment roll, all orders in adopted resolution 2005/05-89 will remain as stipulated. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:25 a.m. Larry Beach informed the Board that a representative from Benchmark Engineering attended their group meeting in Ranier and in responding to questions, he stated that sewer lines could be changed in their area and discussed different route options. He felt this alternate route information should be documented and mapped out for property owners. Mark Trompeter asked the Board if they have considered his request to have someone from the County bear witness to his second effort to test water in the Jackfish Bay sewer area. The Board Chair stated that the Board did not address this request. Mr. Trompeter took the Board’s non-response as a no to his request and then stated that in three weeks the court will rule in their favor and this project will be done. Kathleen Sather submitted a citizen petition to the Board opposing the expansion and construction of County Road 107 into a County State Aid Highway. The Board Chair will present the petition to the County Board at their October 18, 2005 meeting. Elaine Beach in referencing the routing information provided by the Benchmark representative at their meeting stated some routes could go on state and federal lands but that permits would be required to use these lands. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment at 11:30 a.m.

000 In response to receiving information that Interim HealthCare is ending its home care services in International Falls (ending client service after Thursday, November 10, 2005) the Board sought information from the Health Director on what has to be done to provide service to those losing home care. The Director stated that under Board motion the Public Health Department is to transition out of home care services taking no new clients but the transition plan does retain the Public Health Department as a safety net. With the sudden closure of Interim HealthCare, the Director felt the Health Department needs to step in as the safety net to provide additional home care service. With regards to future plans, there is information that Falls Good Samaritan is looking to provide home care services but she did not have specifics as to their plan or timeline. It was agreed that the Health Director would gather information and present it to the Board on long term options for home care services in the County and that a committee meeting would be set for the afternoon of October 25 in which the Health Director, River Oaks Health Care and Falls Good Samaritan representatives would be present to discuss home care service needs/plans for Koochiching County.

2005/10-28 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Health Director to begin action to organize the County Health Department as the County safety net for home care services to aide those clients left without service due to the sudden closure of Interim HealthCare. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2005/10-29 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 11:55 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.