REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 17, 2006; 10:15 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Bob Peterson, Ann Scholler, John Mastin, Dennis Hummitzsch, Dan McCarthy; Reporters Laurel Beager, Shawn Gilmore and Jerry Franzen

2006/01-24 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-25 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the January 3, 2006 regular meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson accepting the County employment separation of Chad Bishop, part time employee in the Highway Department, on December 23, 2005. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried

2006/01-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s December vendor payment listing verifying its review, ratifying payment of the Auditor claims on January 10, 2006 in the amount of 23,442.78, to approve payment to Iverson Reuvers, LLC in the amount of $1,065.00 and Attorney Lyndon Larsen in the amount of $6,719.16 for contracted legal services out of the County Attorney’s Office and to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler in the amount of $3,632.83 for personnel legal services with payment from the Legal and Administration Budgets. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer Department. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried

2006/01-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck adjusting the 2006 Community Service Budget for final totals based on the set County dollar amount for this budget:
Revenue Adjustment: Recoveries from $125,300 to $140,400 (+$15,100), Department Revenue from $140,801 to $99,230 (-$41,571), Federal dollars from $1,769,890 to $1,750,889 (-$19,001), State dollars from $801,823 to $810,507 (+$8,684); Expenditure Adjustment: $4,650,209 to $4,613,421 (-$36,788). Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-29 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Premises Permit Application for the VFW Post 3869 in Northome for gambling activities at the Country Sampler Restaurant & Saloon located at 10814 County Road 25, Mizpah, MN 56660 for the period of May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2008 as recommended by the Auditor/Treasurer. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-30 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair and Auditor’s signatures to an Amended MN Trail Assistance Program Grant Agreement (#A80773, A80782) for the purpose of facilitating a transfer of $93,984 for the existing Caldwell Brook, Blue Ox, Lunstrom and Hagerman Voyageur Snowmobile Trails from the State Grant In Aid Program to the respective snowmobile clubs. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-31 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to and submission of the County’s Pay Equity Implementation Report as required under Minnesota Statute. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received the adopted three-year proposal from the City of International Falls for provision of rural fire service and a request from the Rural Fire Association to provide a small amount of office space for their Treasurer to conduct the financial work for the Association. Commissioner Pavleck informed the Board that having the final proposal from the City of International Falls, the Rural Fire Association is looking at the other option of establishing a rural fire department in conjunction with other district rural fire departments. The Rural Fire Association feels that all options need to be researched for the public. More information will be provided the Board as it becomes available. The Coordinator explained that the request for office space came as an oral inquiry from a representative of the Rural Fire Association to her office and after reviewing space options with department heads, a small office space was found in the LEC which would accommodate the Association’s needs and the County’s building security concerns. The Coordinator did not inquire as to why the Association was looking for alternative office space but researched whether the request could be accommodated and brought it before the Board. The Board felt a formal request from the Rural Fire Association was needed so directed the Coordinator to contact the Association to submit a written request for the office space.

2006/01-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck accepting the recommendation of the Car Pool Committee, Highway Engineer and Land Commissioner as presented to seek bids for five county vehicles with 1 truck for the Highway Department, 1 truck for the Land and Forestry Department and 1 truck and 2 cars for the Car Pool fleet. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-33 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson upgrading Deputy Sergeant George Gray to a temporary position of Lieutenant at 100% of a C42 hourly rate effective January 17, 2006 as recommended by the Undersheriff to assist in command of the Sheriff Department under the interim management plan, returning to his original deputy sergeant position upon appointment of a Sheriff. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-34 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Undersheriff to hire two more part time deputies to assist with patrols under the interim Sheriff Department management plan. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 In review of dates, the Board selected Monday, February 6, 2006 as the date for the annual Land and Forestry field tour. The Land Commissioner will provide further tour information to the Board.

2006/01-35 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair and Land Commissioner’s signatures to a two-year License Agreement with the DNR to utilize their Heritage Database for forest management planning at no cost. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Briggs informed the Board of an opening on the State Tourism Council. Appointments to this council are done by the Governor and criteria for application are gender, location and meeting the criteria for the seat represented. A vacant seat exists due to the loss of the election of a former St. Louis County Commissioner who was female, living in Duluth and representing northern Minnesota on the Council. Commissioner Briggs felt she would meet the criteria for this vacant seat. The Mayor of International Falls also sits on the Council as a tourism representative so this could weigh in the consideration of Commissioner Brigg’s application. The Council meets four to five times a year in St. Paul and the Governor sits on the Committee.

2006/01-36 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper giving the full support of the Koochiching County Board to Commissioner Briggs to apply for membership on the MN Tourism Council and if so appointed, authorizing the activity as a County Board member. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-37 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for annual fuel bids for bulk delivery and service stations. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/01-38 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper adopting the following resolution in support of the Community Roadside Landscaping Project Grant Application to MnDot for a portion of roadside in the Gemmell area as supported by the Highway Engineer:

Be it resolved that Koochiching County act as the sponsoring unit for the Gemmell Community Ladies Aid for a project identified as the Community Roadside Landscaping Project for an area referred to as the junction of CSAH 25 and State Highway 71 in Gemmell to be conducted during the period of April through June 2006. Be it further resolved that Connie Nelson is the primary contract person for said project and that support of Koochiching County is contingent on no financial responsibility from the County and that no trees are planted within the road right-of-ways. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck in working with the Highway Engineer, reviewed a proposal with the County Board to allow temporary use of a portion of CSAH 20 as an alternative snowmobile route due to poor ice conditions and not being able to cross the CN tracks at the Highway 11 overpass due to construction. Meetings continue to find a permanent trail solution to and from Rainy Lake to the Cities of Ranier and International Falls. Board members expressed concern with liability for allowing snowmobiles on the county roads, understanding that a temporary resolution is needed.

2006/01-39 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs that under the direction of the Highway Engineer to allow a portion of CSAH 20 to be used as a temporary snowmobile route for the remainder of this winter season or until an alternative and/or permanent solution is found, whichever occurs first. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck; voting no: Adee. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:41 a.m. Dan McCarthy again addressed the contracted legal service cost through the County Attorney’s Office and asked the Board what their solution was to curtail this expense. The Board Chair stated that upon the County Attorney’s return, the Board will meet with her to discuss their concerns on this increasing cost. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment at 11:45 a.m.

2006/01-40 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.