Koochiching County Board Minutes 6-20-06

Board Minutes

for

June 20, 2006

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, June 20, 2006; 10:00 a.m.

OTHERS ATTENDING: Rod Otterness, Bill Gray, Doug Grindall, John Mastin, Jaci Nagle, Richard Lehtinen, Terry Murray, Barb Caskey, Catherine Sampson, Bob Misner, Susan Congrave, John Stiglich, Phillip Carlson, Jack Walls; Reporters Amanda Ricker and Jerry Franzen

2006/06-30 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $41,894.11; to approve payment to Flaherty & Hood in the amount of $5,003.62 for May lobbying services with payment from the Legislative Budget; to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A. in the amount of $2,180.90 for May personnel legal services with payment from the Legal Budget. Payment detail on file in the Highway and Auditor/Treasurer Departments. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 In response to the Board’s proposal of June 6, 2006 for Rural Fire Protection Service, the International Falls City Administrator presented the City’s response in a form of a draft contract as their intent to comply with the County’s request for their part in providing services. The Rural Fire Association President stated that the Association has not met officially on the Board’s proposal as they were waiting to see how the City responded. The President stated the Association will hold a meeting on the matter this week and provide a response to the Board prior to the June 26 public hearing for the taxing district.

2006/06-32 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs that on June 29, 2006 at the County Courthouse in International Falls will be the opening of the County’s Centennial Celebration, requiring the attendance of the full County Board to assist in hosting the event for the public. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-33 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes from the June 13, 2006 special meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Briggs, representing the County Board on the Minnesota Rural Counties Caucus (MRCC) Board, asked its members to bring the MRCC’s position on the MN Vehicle Sales Tax Ballot Question for transportation funding to their respective County Board to find out where counties stand on this issue. MRCC supports the hard 60/40 allocation of the tax with 60% to highway funding and 40% to transit funding and where AMC supports 100% of the vehicle sales tax going to transportation funding, they have no position on a split between highway and transit allocations. MRCC is seeking from its member counties whether they support the current State Vehicle Sales Tax Ballot Question scheduled for the November Election and whether they have a position as to the allocation for transit and highway funding. The Highway Engineer, present for the discussion, stated that the Board previously passed a resolution in February with 100% of the MN Vehicle Sales Tax going to transportation funding with at least 40% to transit and not more than 60% for highways. The Highway Engineer stated that currently only 50% of the State Vehicle Sales Tax goes to transportation funding so the ballot question at the November Election will ask the voters if they support 100% of the tax going to transportation with at least 40% going to transit but no more than 60% going to highways. The Board agreed to place the matter on the June 27th agenda to allow them time to review information and provide the Board’s position for MRCC.

000 The Undersheriff presented a request to the Board to support new integrated jail management and law enforcement information systems for the County Law Enforcement Center through an agreement with St. Louis County, who through a separate agreement with Constellation Justice Systems to use their programs, will offer the systems to the Arrowhead Region counties through their server and network environment. It has been determined by the former Sheriff, Undersheriff, County Attorney and I.S. Manager that being a part of these integrated information systems will save money and provide a better law enforcement information data base for the County and the region as a whole. The jail management system has an annual cost to the County of $3,300 with the agreement effective January 1, 2007 and the law enforcement information system has a $400.00 fee per post licensed County deputy with the agreement effective January 1, 2007. Additionally, user fees may apply for International Falls post licensed deputies.

2006/06-34 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs that upon the recommendation of the Undersheriff, I.S. Manager and County Attorney, to enter into a St. Louis County Management Information Systems Subscriber Agreement to allow Koochiching County authorized personnel to access the DAMION-County Jail Management Information System with agreement reviewed by the County Attorney and I. S. Manager and to enter into a St. Louis County Nemesis Law Enforcement Subscriber Agreement to allow Koochiching County authorized personnel access to the DAMION SHIELD Law Enforcement Information System with the County’s cost for the systems paid by the Sheriff Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/06-35 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve preliminary Plat #0601, a nine-lot Whispering Pines Subdivision, located north of Highway 11 East near South Jackfish proposed by Boundary Waters Land and Timber LTD with two conditional requests attached by the County Board for the Planning Commission to further consider, that is hookup to the Jackfish sewer system and review of the utility layout in the plat. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that 4 consulting firms submitted proposals for working through the Planning Commission for a new County Zoning Ordinance with the highest cost at $45,000. The Director anticipates providing a recommendation to the Board at its June 27th meeting for a one year service agreement, tentatively beginning August 1, 2006. Funding for the service will need to be allocated in both the 2006 and 2007 County Budgets.

000 Representatives from the Department of Human Services, AMC, Health Systems and Consulting and MHP Health Plan met with the Board to present information on a proposal for regional county-based purchasing which is proposed to include Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Aitkin, Carlton and Pine Counties, organized through a joint powers organization to collectively become a health plan for providing health coverage to medical assistance clients. The objective and benefits for the counties is it will integrate case management, provide cost savings and better service clients. Currently the State is funding health plans directly and at times, the counties end up being a payer of last resort for some clients not covered in the existing health plan, with the counties receiving no funding. As a self insured health plan, the member counties can manage services and costs for the betterment of the clients and to cover all potential clients, eliminating the risk to counties to cover as a payer of last resort and that any savings are reinvested in the plan. The proposal is being introduced as a 3.5 phase process. Phase I is presenting the proposal to the counties and as it moves to the next phases, the counties will need to make decisions as to participation. It will take about 18 months once the program is started, to begin taking clients. A date of October 2006 is targeted to start Phase II which would be to hire the needed staff and organize the operation. The counties will always have the right to pull out as the contract for funding will be annually with the Department of Human Services (DHS). The term Sole Source was explained to the Board. Legislation in this matter intends to protect clients by ensuring they have choices in health plan providers but it has been determined due to size and location that some areas have only one provider choice (St. Louis County would not qualify as sole source). The start up cost and funding needed from the member counties is estimated at $2 million, with counties’ share based on number of clients. At this time Cook and Lake Counties are looking to support. Aitkin and St. Louis Counties are requesting more information. The question was asked by staff how dental care would be covered in this proposal. It was explained that because the health plan is self managed, it can be molded to provide services needed within available funding. The financial consultant stated that about 3,000 clients are needed to make this proposal work and that there is enough clientele with or without St. Louis County. The State is now paying $151,206,509 to health plans and $10,257,092 is the amount paid for Koochiching County clientele. As a health plan, the State will pay the organization a premium per client so the organization will get the funding up front and there will be protection built in to protect the members if contracts are not approved. There is also a financial commitment needed from the members and that is to provide cash flow to the organization until such time as it can build its own. A projection of $7.4 million would be needed and though a HMO would be required to come up with the actual cash under State guidelines, as a county organization the State would only require counties to commit their share through a note, dedicating an amount of their reserves, not actually turning over the cash. It was pointed out, however, that should the funding be needed, the counties are committed to providing it. Once the organization establishes its own cash flow and fund equity, the Joint Powers Board could decide to return to its members the start up funds provided. Presenters have been tracking the questions asked during the presentations and it is their intent to provide answers and provide to the counties in a written Q&A document. Board members and the Community Service and Health Directors agreed that movement in this direction will provide a better protection for clients and the county. More information will be forthcoming on this matter, including seeking a position from the County for moving forward.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:50 a.m. Jack Walls inquired as to the last date TVs and monitors could be brought to the transfer station. With no other comment the Board Chair closed public comment period.

2006/06-36 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.