SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, November 22, 2005; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Ann Scholler, Doug Grindall, Jaci Nagle, Dennis Hummitzsch, Gary Rasmussen, Richard Lehtinen, Shawn Mason, Rod Otterness, Terry Murray, Mark Trompeter, Lee Grim, Dan McCarthy; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Mike Freeman

2005/11-27 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-28 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the November 15, 2005 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-29 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs that due to timelines necessary to implement the 2006 County Group Health Plan, to authorize the County Personnel Committee to accept the recommendation of the Insurance Committee for the 2006 Group Health Plan with the County Board to ratify the recommendation at it’s next meeting of December 13, 2005. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board reviewed a tentative meeting schedule for December. Due to the Annual AMC Conference the December 6 meeting is cancelled. The Board will meet on December 13 and 20 with no meeting planned for December 27 unless called by the Board Chair.

2005/11-30 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $62,236.37, to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. in the amount of $195.00 for personnel legal services, to approve payment to Attorney Lyndon Larsen in the amount of $7,454.10 under contracted services with the County Attorney for child support, guardian ad litem and commitment services, to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $20,397.46, to approve payment of Community Service Department’s financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented and to approve payment of burial case #1036676 in the amount of $1,128.21. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer, Health and Community Service Departments. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to sponsor the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club in the MN Trails Assistance Grant-In-Aid Program for their project proposal of grooming trails on Rainy Lake specific to areas from Camp Idlewood to VNP boundary and across Black Bay to VNP boundary under a 2005 legislative provision and further, authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Grant-In-Aid project proposal. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the County License Committee for the County Board to hold a public informational meeting on January 17, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. in the Courthouse Third Floor Courtroom to seek public opinion on the matter of allowing liquor licensed establishments to serve alcoholic beverages until 2:00 a.m. as allowed under MN Law but subject to approval of a revised County Liquor Ordinance and that notice of said meeting will be sent to cities and liquor licensed establishments within the County. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer requested additional road projects be added for review by the public at the planned January, 2006 public meeting to be held by the County Board. The Highway Engineer requested that CSAH 92 from TH 11, CSAH 21 from TH 11 and the south portion of CSAH 18 (gravel portion) be added.

2005/11-33 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to add the following three road projects to the CSAH Road Project Plan for review at a public meeting to be scheduled in January 2006 for public comment: CSAH 92 from TH 11, CSAH 21 from TH 11 and the south portion of CSAH 18 (gravel portion). Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-34 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper authorizing the I.S. Manager to replace a failed tape drive with expenditure not to exceed $3,200 from the 2005 I.S. Emergency Capital Outlay Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-35 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the purchase of up to $5,700 for equipment and furniture for the added appraiser position in the Assessor’s Office as presented by the I.S. Manager and Assessor and further, to reallocate $5,700 of the 2005 Assessor Personnel Budget (savings due to vacant staff positions) placing $2,720 in the 2005 Assessor Capital Outlay Budget and $2,980 in the 2005 I.S. Capital Outlay Budget to cover the purchase. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-36 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a timber permit extension on Permit K3176 for Gary Rasmussen with payment of the extension fee as set in Policy and with the permit to be cut this winter as recommended by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-37 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Environmental Service Director to seek quotes from available contractors for grinding yard waste at the Solid Waste Complex (possible shortage of contractors as tied up with hurricane clean up). Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-38 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Environmental Service Department to purchase a new aluminum recycling trailer at a cost not to exceed $19,000 with payment from the 2005 Environmental Service Budget and with the Department to seek other potential bidders, including the State bid list. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee supporting 2002/11-37 authorizing the Environmental Service Department to pay canister site attendant contractors a signing sum of money to be deducted from their total contract amount as determined by the Environmental Service Director for up front costs. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-40 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper authorizing special assessment abatement for the Jackfish Sewer System as recommended by the Environmental Service Director for Parcel #15-53-00150, Patrick Lucek, changing the assessment from a dwelling unit to a vacant deferred as property was purchased to extend his current yard and former house was torn down with no intent to rebuild. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board of a sewer system line route change in the Morrison Point area that would now run along UT 273 due to the use of directional drilling. The route change was designed by the Project Engineer and will lessen impact to properties.

000 City of International Falls Mayor presented the Board a resolution from the City requesting the County take necessary action to direct state officials and other public officials to protect the rights of Minnesota residents to navigate and recreate on state owned waters, including waters in and around Voyageurs National Park. Commissioner Lepper suggested that before the Board considers the request, which includes taking legal action if necessary, he would like the Park Government Affairs Committee to review the matter and see if resolution can be brought at that level before the County Board considers any action. Commissioner Pavleck agreed as would allow review with St. Louis County representatives. It was than suggested that representatives from the MN DNR be invited to review the matter also. The Board agreed to have the Park Government Affairs Committee continue review of the matter and to recommend a direction to take to resolve the issues surrounding water related uses in Voyageurs National Park.

2005/11-41 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: Walter and Tara Mai for foster care for a specific child, Charlene Swanson for family day care for ten children; and Donald and Cheryl Wichner for foster care for a specific child. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/11-42 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a 2006-2007 Adult Mental Health Grant Application as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director updated the Board on fuel assistance services to date. Guidelines and forms were provided to the Board. To date the Department has received only 1 application but anticipate more now that the winter weather has begun. At this point the Director did not feel the $10,000 set aside by the County for 2005 to cover the County as payer of last resort will be utilized and by year end the Director will have a good idea of the need for the remaining 2005/2006 winter months. When asked, the Director stated that Kootasca does a very good job in letting the public know that a fuel assistance program exists and where to seek eligibility information. The Fuel assistance program is funded through allocation by the federal government to Kootasca. For those qualifying for the program, the County acts to guarantee the vendor payment but the fuel bill is paid by Kootasca. The County only acts as payer of last resort should Kootasca fall short in fuel assistance funding.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:30 a.m. Mark Trompeter provided the Board the results of his second sampling of water in the Jackfish Bay sewer area from a MPCA certified lab. Mr. Trompeter stated that in his opinion the directional drillers will be pulling out next week as they are having problems with the drilling and that the blasting for this project has caused problems with his well and he fears more property damage will be done. He also asked if roads will be repaired when the project is completed. Lee Grim informed the Board that he was in full support of the sewer project and is happy it is moving forward. He continues to hope that those having conflicts with the project will work toward resolution rather than slow the project down and add more cost. Dan McCarthy, regarding the Park matter raised earlier in the meeting, stated that the basic problem needs to be dealt with at the state and federal level, not working from the bottom up and that an umbrella needs to be established to work under. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment at 11:22 a.m.

2005/11-43 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 11:22 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.