SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, June 13, 2006; 10:50 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Bob Peterson, Richard Lehtinen, Rod Otterness, Kay Arnold, Becky Aitken, Larry and Elaine Beach, Mark Trompeter; Reporters Laurel Beager

2006/06-21 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-22 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the June 6, 2006 regular meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-23 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $52,623.55; to authorize the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s May vendor payment listing verifying its review; to approve payment to Ramsey County in the amount of $1,200.00 for a medical examiner postmortem examination. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer Department. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson acknowledging receipt of the Professional Health Advisory Committee minutes from their meeting of May 23, 2006. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-25 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to authorize expenditure up to $610.00 from the Administration Publication Budget for a county service advertisement in the Daily Journal’s Centennial Edition which is celebrating the County’s 100th Anniversary with the Board Chair to review the final lay out as recommended by the Historical Society Director. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director provided an update on the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project. Construction and directional drilling is moving along at a fast pace. Portions of the main line are gravity flow and these lines have to be trenched by blasting or by large hammer but the rest of the lines will be directionally drilled. Houses are being hooked up to the system in small groups with four on line as of this status report. A public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn to provide information on the Sewer Project.

2006/06-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs that at the recommendation of the Auditor/Treasurer to amend the Koochiching County HAVA Election Plan for the purchase of ten optical scan machines to provide for machines that are compatible with the AutoMark handicap machines with expenditure from the federal HAVA grant funds appropriated for Koochiching County. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-27 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper that under the Koochiching County HAVA Election Plan, to designate the precincts of Williams, Manitou-Sault, Indus, Lindford, Cross River, Wildwood and Ray as mail ballot precincts for the 2006 election and all future elections thereof and further to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer per law, to set up said listed precincts for mail balloting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The City of International Falls Administrator submitted a request to the County Board for reapplication to the Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency for development of the Alexander Baker Building into affordable rental housing units. The request to the County is for the same commitment to the project as provided in last year’s application process. Though the application received a moderate ranking last year, it was learned that more information was needed on the project’s readiness which will be provided in this year’s application.

2006/06-28 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck to adopt the following resolution committing funds to the redevelopment of the Alexander Baker Building for affordable housing: BE IT RESOLVED that Koochiching County approves a loan to MDI Limited Partnership #109 for the development of 28 apartments in the former Alexander Baker Building with the following terms:
• $150,000 loan, at 1% interest with the payment of principal and interest deferred until a single payment due at maturity (30 years after closing)
• collateral shall be a mortgage on the real estate to be improved by the proceeds of the loan and the proceeds from other funds that are sufficient to complete the redevelopment project; said mortgage shall be subordinate to mortgages that secure funding from MHFA, GMHF, any private lender, or the City of International Falls through the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Koochiching County will waive demolition debris tipping fees up to a total of $500 per unit constructed ($14,000 total) for said Redevelopment Project. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck and motion passed contingent on review by the County Attorney and the resolution supplemented by a letter of support for the project as signed by the Board Chair.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:27 a.m. Larry Beach questioned why certain properties located in the Jackfish Sewer Projects that are 300 feet in distance from the main line are not being required to hook up to the sewer when other properties are being required to hook up. The Environmental Service Director explained that the establishment of the original sewer project design required all existing units to hook up to the sewer regardless of distance and that after it is constructed, the system and future units would be managed under East Koochiching Sanitary Commission’s rules where the 300 foot distance would come into play. Mark Trompeter asked for clarification on whether the County was applying for another $2 to $3 million to help fund the cost of the sewer project. It was clarified that the County has not applied for any additional grants as they are not aware of any potential resources to do so. Elaine Beach asked how the system is handling the houses hooked to the sewer when the system is not completed. The Environmental Service Director stated that a certain level of effluent is needed in the system before it is pumped and processed by the existing system and until such levels are reached, it remains in a holding tank. With no other comment the Board Chair closed public comment period.

2006/06-29 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.