SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, May 9, 2006; 10:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Susan Congrave, Doug Grindall, Jack Walls; Reporters Laurel Beager and Jerry Franzen

2006/05-12 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-13 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes of the May 2, 2006 regular meeting with correction. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was informed that Sharon Obermaier was hired full time to the Public Health Nurse Position for Home Care Services, currently holding the position on a part time basis.

2006/05-14 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck to approve a revised Temporary Hire Policy as recommended by the Personnel Committee adjusting rates (last adjustment was in 2000) and updating and/or revising language for administration purposes. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $60.391.20; authorizing County Board Chair’s signature to the April vendor payment listing verifying its review; that as fiscal agent, to approve payment of $1,000 to Federal Advocates, Inc. from the 2006 Highway 53 Long Range Improvement Task Force Budget understanding that not all members of the original Highway 53 Task Force have committed continued funding for lobbyist services. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-16 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson approving the following 2006 County Budget adjustment to cover cost incurred with the Waltz Trial in the County Attorney and Sheriff Budgets: $35,000 to be taken from the 2006 Budget Contingency and reallocated to 01-090-290-0173.6260 in the amount of $6,788; 01-090.6276 in the amount of $12,662; 01-090.6339 in the amount of $1,321; 01-090.6331 in the amount of $1,268; 01-200.6264 in the amount of $4,513; 01-200.6276 in the amount of $8,448. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck approving the 2006 Boat and Water Safety Agreement with the State of Minnesota allocating funds to Koochiching County in the amount of $6,925 on a reimbursement basis and further authorizing the Board Chair, Sheriff and Coordinator’s signatures to said Agreement. Motion further accepts the recommendation of the Assessor granting abatement to Norma Sullivan, parcel #93-01-00260, for homestead credit. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-18 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to sponsor the Ridgerunner Snowmobile Club in the MN Trail Assistance Program Off Highway Vehicles Grant-In-Aid Program covering the Blue Ox ATV Trail. Sponsorship by the County requires that a Club/County Agreement be in effect (on file in the Administration Office). As sponsor, the County is accountable to the State for expenditures charged to the program; sponsorship does not require financial support or liability for cost from the County. Motion further authorizes the Board Chair and Auditor’s signature to the MN Trail Assistance Program OHV FY 2006 Traditional Grant Agreement as recommended by the Auditor. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-19 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper committing $2,500 from the 2006 Budget Contingency for the County’s share of a local match of $5,000 (City of International Falls to commit the other half) for application of a $20,000 grant from ARDC for the Gateway Community Corridor Project. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs approving a Letter of Understanding between Koochiching County and AEOA that in partnering with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), Koochiching County by notice will provide the property necessary, under the terms of the Mn/DOT Office of Transit grant, for their garage and office space. In said notice, Koochiching County understands that all property purchased by AEOA for the facility, would revert back to the County under a “right of first refusal”, to be recorded in the Deed transferring the property to AEOA should the property no longer be used by AEOA for a bus garage. This facility will be constructed on current County property adjacent to a County Highway Garage. With this understanding, the County is in agreement to provide AEOA the property necessary for this facility.
Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-21 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to fill the vacant part time labor position. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/05-22 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to table the ARDC planning grant agenda item under Highway Business as a duplicated request. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer presented a recommendation to approve the TH 332 road project following the public meeting held on July 27, 2006 in which the project was presented to the public for comment. To proceed, the Engineer submitted a request to reallocate CSAH miles for the TH 332 road project, which is the next step needed in going forward with the project. The Engineer stated that work also needs to begin on an archeological study for the project. Board members were not comfortable with taking action on the project at this time, as they were not certain the public was aware that the Board would be taking action so soon after the public meeting. The Board agreed, however, to schedule action on the project at the May 23, 2006 County Board meeting but that prior to taking action, an open public comment period would be held for public comment specific to this road project.

2006/05-23 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to table action on the request by the Highway Engineer to approve the TH 332 Road Project until the May 23, 2006 County Board meeting at which time a public comment period will be scheduled to receive public comment specific to this project prior to the Board taking action on the Engineer’s recommendation to approve the project (said action to table does not prohibit the Engineer in proceeding with the archeological study for the TH 332 Road Project). Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:37 a.m. Jack Walls again asked the County to look into the legitimacy of the Life Screening service that came to town last week and whether there is a process in place to conduct a background check on transient services and to inform the public. The Board agreed they would ask the County Health Director to review the matter and provide information to the Board. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment period.

2006/05-24 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.