REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, December 20, 2005; 10:00 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Marty Cody, Doug Grindall, Susan Congrave, Richard Lehtinen, Elaine Beach, Larry Beach, Dan McCarthy, Jack Walls; Reporters Laurel Beager, Roger Jerome and Shawn Gilmore

2005/12-21 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-22 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the minutes from the December 13, 2005 special meeting with correction. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-23 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to authorize the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s November vendor payment listing verifying its review, to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $38,721.54, to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $184,205.11, to approve payment to Flaherty and Hood in the amount of $84.07 with payment from the Legislative Budget, to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $17,167.00, to approve payment of the Community Service Department’s financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented and to approve payment of burial case #257303 in the amount of $2,307.25. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer, Highway, Health and Community Service Departments. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to table payment of claims totaling $6,255.87 for contracted legal counsel until a meeting is set up with the County Attorney, Community Service Director and the Board to discuss cost control measures for contracted legal service out of the County Attorney’s Office. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-25 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs that because the Koochiching County Board will not meet on December 27, 2005 to designate the Auditor and/or the Assistant Auditor to approve claims requiring County Board approval for processing year end payouts with all Board claims approved by the Auditor and/or Assistant Auditor to come before the County Board on January 3, 2006 for ratification. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the following year-end 2005 County Budget adjustments as recommended by the Coordinator to cover anticipated deficits: increase Court Legal Service Budget by $3,000; increase Telephone Other Service Budget by $9,400; increase Administration Legal Budget by $2,600; increase County Attorney Contracted Legal Service Budget by $12,500; increase Complex Budget by $9,900 for utility and other services; decrease the 2005 Budget Contingency in Projects by $16,000, in Legal by $11,000, in Personnel by $5,800; decrease the General Insurance Budget by $5,900; reduce Highway’s 2005 DNR In Lieu allocation from $90,897 to $70,897 and provide $20,000 of the 2005 DNR in Lieu allocation to the 2005 Community Service Budget to cover the shortage in legal services (no adjustment in actual budget figures as will be recognized in actual revenue versus actual expenditure at year end.) Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2005/12-27 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs approving the 2006 County levy at $3,398,307 (increase over last year of $99,000). The 2006 levy breakdown is as follows: General Revenue - $1,468,307; Community Service - $1,200,000; Public Health - $100,000; Highway - $500,000; Environmental Services - $130,000. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-28 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to adopt the 2006 Budget and Budget Plan in the amount of $27,954,976 plus the 2006 Fund 02 and 13 Supplement Budget in the amount of $1,882,761 for a grand total of $29,837,737. Motion further adopts the following directives until such time as amended or terminated by the Board: a. first half allocations to be paid to outside entities in January and second half allocations to be paid in June; b. the 2006 County Budget remains open and subject to adjustments. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-29 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the following County Fund designation for the 2006 County Budget: General Revenue Fund designate $4,600,000 for Cash Flow and $457,452 for the 2006 General Revenue Budget; Highway Fund designate $1,000,000 for Cash Flow and $337,635 for the 2006 Highway Budget; Community Service Fund designate $1,900,000 for Cash Flow and $114,000 for the 2006 KCCS Budget; Public Health Fund designate $350,000 for Cash Flow and $27,000 for the 2006 Health Budget; Environmental Service Fund designate $600,000 for Cash Flow and $74,000 for the 2006 E.S. Budget; County Development Fund designate $25,000 for Cash Flow and $21,000 for the 2006 County Development Budget; Land and Forestry Fund designate $200,000 for cash flow and $25,000 for the 2006 Land and Forestry Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-30 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to adopt the 2006-2008 Koochiching County Board’s Strategic Management Plan which identifies goals and their specific objectives for further study and consideration as a means to improve and make County Government more efficient for the public, and further, to support and advance economic development in Koochiching County. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-31 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair and Auditor’s signatures to a MN Trail Assistance Program Snowmobile FY 2006 Traditional Grant Agreement for the purpose of facilitating a transfer of $4,400.00 for the Rainy Lake Ice Trail from the State Grant in Aid Program to the respective snowmobile club. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-32 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck authorizing Board members’ attendance to a meeting scheduled for January 31, 2006 at the Holiday Inn hosted by MnDot to discuss the sale of the bridge between International Falls and Fort Frances. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee acknowledging the minutes from the December 14, 2005 Professional Advisory Committee meeting as presented by the Health Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Assessor informed the Board that John Polkinghorne was hired as a licensed County Appraiser at a pay rate of 80% of a B23 banding and with a starting date of December 27, 2005.

2005/12-34 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Highway Engineer for adjustment in the following rates for use of County Highway Equipment (includes operator unless otherwise noted): Tandem Axle Dump Truck $60.00, Motor Grader $80.00, Pickup/Car without operator $17.00, Loader/Backhoe $65.00, 450 Crawler Tractor $55.00, Poclain Backhoe $50.00, Front End Loader $80.00, Athea Sweeper $70.00, Cat D7 Crawler Tractor $100.00, Stacking Conveyor $55.00, Tractor with Lowboy Trailer $85.00, Case Backhoe $100.00, Angle Broom $40.00, Mower/Brush Cutter $75.00, Air Compressor $30.00, Sheepsfoot Packer per day $100.00, Welder without operator $15.00, Sander $50.00, Falls Screening Plant $75.00. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Health Director informed the Board that staff are very busy with home care services, taking in about 10 to 12 cases since November. Staff is stretched but the Department is holding out on making additional service plans until the County has a more defined outlook on home care providers in the County. The Director will continue to be in contact with Falls Good Samaritan for updates on their plan to provide home care services.

2005/12-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve a temporary plan to allow the County Health Department to continue home care service to provide choice to clients (due to closure of Interim Health Services in November 2005), and further, authorizing temporary hires for 2006 for up to 5 home health aides, 4 LPNs and 1 Public Health Nurse under the County’s Temporary Hire Policy and Procedures with the Health Director and Coordinator to determine rates of pay under the Temporary Hire Policy and further, that continuation of the temporary service plan into 2006 will need to come back to the Board for further review in conjunction with a meeting with providers to determine a long term plan for home care services in the County (meeting by mid-February). Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-36 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee to renew a contract with Della Warren for 2006 as the Koochiching Family Collaborative Coordinator as recommended by the Health Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2005/12-37 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to renew a contract with Kathy Elhard for 2006 as the Northome Resource Coordinator as recommended by the Health Director. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Director and Board reviewed the Health Department’s Quarter 3, 2005 financial and statistical report in addition to various health service programs.

2005/12-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the Environmental Service Director to amend the assessment list for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project changing parcel #15-49-01110 (Thomas and Nancy Haugland) from a vacant assessment to a dwelling unit assessment under the adopted guidelines for assessing sewer cost for new construction before December 31, 2005. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that by a letter from the Army Corp, the Department was notified that the 569 Grant Program is scheduled to receive $3,750,000 making it possible for the County to apply for $400,000 for the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project. The Sewer Project was originally awarded a grant of $1 million but due to cuts in the federal budget, only $600,000 of the funding was provided. To be eligible for the 569 Grant, an application will have to be made showing the specific portions of the project that the funding would be used. This is good news for the project budget. The Director will continue to update the Board on the status of this grant funding.

2005/12-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve CUP #0507 for Leonard Peterson to operate a commercial storage facility at 2260 Highway 11 East, parcel #07-31-00500, as recommended by the Planning Commission. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Planning Commission recommended preparation of a new or revised County Zoning Ordinance to include implementation of the 2001 Land Use Plan. To get started, the Commission would recommend seeking through request for proposals, a consultant with expertise in zoning ordinances. The Board supported the recommendation and requested the Environmental Service Director bring back a recommended action plan to include a draft RFP, more information on the objectives of the project, and project timelines.

000 The County Board acknowledged the services of Darwin Troy as canister site operator, and will submit written appreciation to Mr. Troy for his services.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:36 a.m. Elaine Beach stated that in talking with a representative of the East Koochiching Sanitary Sewer Commission, that a property not having a water system is not required to immediately hook up to their grinder station but would be required to hook up at some future time. Mrs. Beach stated that this information was inconsistent with what was stated before to property owners on the requirement to hookup to the sewer system. Larry Beach again referenced state law for negotiating with property owners for easements. He stated that those wanting more than a $1.00 for their easement are being treated differently and he feels they are being threatened. He does not feel the Board is representing those wanting more than a dollar for their easement. He asked the Board if they intend on following the law for acquiring easements. Dan McCarthy asked if the County contracts for surveying services and if the County has a remonumentation plan. The Board Chair stated that the County does contract for surveying services and that a remonumentation plan is part of the County’s survey work plan. Jack Walls asked if the taxpayers outside of the sewer project area will be paying for the sewer project or is the public misinformed. The Board stated that this is not correct information as the cost of the sewer system will be assessed to the properties being served.

2005/12-40 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 12:00 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.