SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 28, 2006; 9:30 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Hanson (On County Business)

OTHERS PRESENT: Ann Scholler, Bob Anderson, Terry Murray, Tammy Jo Crawford-Braaten, Richard Lehtinen, Elaine Beach; Reporter Laurel Beager

2006/03-46 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-47 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve the minutes of the March 21 regular meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-48 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $40,822.43, to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $15,370.15 and to approve payment of the Community Service Department’s financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-49 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve an adjustment in the 2006 Jackfish Sewer Project Revenue and Expenditure Budgets as presented and recommended by the Coordinator reflecting the Project Budget after 2005 expense and revenue activity and adding in the additional $400,000 Army Corp Grant. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Due to a lack of a quorum, the Board Chair cancelled the April 4, 2006 County Board meeting with the remaining County Board meetings of April 11, 18 and 25 to remain scheduled.

2006/03-50 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper approving a Medical Examiner Agreement with Duluth Clinic for the appointment of Dr. Dan Ramquist as Medical Examiner as recommended by the Assistant Auditor and with agreement approved by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-51 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck that as Fiscal Agent for the Highway 53 Task Force to approve an extension of a service agreement with Federal Advocates, Inc. for lobbying service for the proposed Highway 53 Four-Lane Project from April 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006 (end of federal legislative session) at a rate of $1,000.00 per month contingent on a cost-sharing agreement of participating members of the Highway 53 Task Force. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director informed the Board that Janet Bowman’s starting date as a County Social Worker is March 20, 2006.

2006/03-52 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to establish a B22 Accounting Technician II position for the Community Service Department (revised from a IS Specialist/Accounting Technician position) and authorizing the Community Service Director to fill said position. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-53 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper accepting the following recommendations for Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing: Cory Maish for family day care licensing for six children; Janet Leerssen relicensing for group family day care for fourteen children. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received a copy of a letter from the Attorney General’s Office commending the work of Child Support Officer Julie Silvers for an outstanding job in obtaining child support payments for a client as reported by a citizen to the Attorney General. The Board asked the Director to relay their appreciation and recognition to the employee for a job well done.

000 The Community Service Director informed the Board that the pending Civil Commitment on a Level 3 Sex Offender will add a large cost to their Department Budget, which was unplanned. First the evaluation process allows the individual a right to a second evaluation with the evaluation process costing as much as $10,000 if the individual chooses to have a second evaluation. Until the Court handles the commitment, the person will be placed on a hold in which the County will pay half the bill, estimated at $5,000 a month. If the Court commits the person, the County will pay 20% of the cost to place this person in a treatment center for as long as the person is committed. This is the first Level 3 Sex Offender situation faced by the County under the new law and will be very costly to the County. However, the new law provides a higher level of protection to the public from Level 3 Sex Offenders, reflecting the benefit far outweighing the cost.

000 Tammy Jo Crawford-Braaten introduced herself to the Board as the person contracted to improve/increase Foster Care service in the County. Ms. Braaten provided a written summary of the achievements made to date (hired in January) to improve this needed service, especially in light of the high cost to the County to send kids needing placement out of county. Great effort is being made to connect foster care parents to information and community service workers as well as making required training for foster parents convenient and without cost to the parents. Recognizing the importance of foster parents and giving them recognition for their community service will be on-going in the program. Efforts are also being made to recruit foster parents in the out-county where there is a need and a study is being done to create therapeutic foster homes to lessen the number of kids being placed out of county for lack of services in the County. Currently, if therapeutic homes were established in the County, an estimate of 10 kids could be moved back to the County. The Board thanked Ms. Braaten and all the staff involved at Community Services as well as others in the Community for their great work in ensuring foster care services are provided in the county.

2006/03-54 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Request for Release of Funds as part of the process for executing the Housing Grant for Abatement of the Jackfish Bay Sewer Assessment as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-55 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair to appoint a Board member to represent the County Board in the evaluation process being conducted on the effectiveness of the Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership, which will be conducted on May 8, 2006 by the University of Minnesota. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-56 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to add attendance to the annual Markit Landfill luncheon and meeting with Boise Officials on an update on the Falls Plant operation to the agenda. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/03-57 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing Board members’ attendance to the annual Markit Landfill Partnership luncheon on April 12, 2006 in Roseau and the meeting hosted by Boise on April 7, 2006 to update community leaders on Boise Cascade and the Falls Plant operation. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 10:45 a.m. Elaine Beach made comment that she believes moving slowly on condemnation for the sewer project easements is increasing the County’s legal cost and that the money would be better spent reaching settlement with the property owners not signing easements for a $1. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment.

2006/03-58 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.