SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, July 25, 2006; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Ann Scholler, Richard Lehtinen, J.J. Hasbargen, Jaci Nagle, John Mastin, Paul Nevanen, Doug Grindall, Susan Congrave, Della Warren, Phyllis Karsnia, Terry Murray, Dan McCarthy; Reporters Amanda Ricker and Jerry Franzen

2006/07-13 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-14 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to approve the minutes from the July 11, 2006 special meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-15 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper approving a 2006 through 2008 salary employee group settlement to include 3% pay increase for 2006, 2% for 2007 and 2% for 2008 and health benefit settlement to include as of January 1, 2006 the premium cap for paid family health insurance by the County at $891 per month (not to exceed), January 1, 2007 $980 per month (not to exceed) and January 1, 2008 $1,078 per month (not to exceed) with 100% of premium paid by the employer for single health coverage remaining and further, to continue support of Board Motion 0097/02-21 setting certain other benefits for this settlement period. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2006/07-16 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson approving a 0% percent increase for the Koochiching County Board’s salary and per diem rate for 2007 and approving the Per Diem/Expense Policy for 2007. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2006/07-17 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve for the elected County Sheriff, County Attorney, County Recorder and County Auditor/Treasurer positions for 2006 a 3% salary increase and health benefit to include as of January 1, 2006 the premium cap for paid family health insurance by the County at $891 per month (not to exceed) with 100% of premium paid for single health coverage remaining. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2006/07-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of Auditor claims in the amount of $27,062.05; to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $57,787.06; to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler in the amount of $13,183.52 for personnel legal services with payment from the Administration Legal Budget; to approve payment to Attorney Lyndon Larsen in the amount of $9,896.38 for legal services from May 17, 2006 to July 5, 2006 for the County Attorney’s Office; to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $11,954.89; to approve payment of the Community Service Department financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented and to approve the following burial case payments: #451337 in the amount of $3,032.50, case #215615 in the amount of $1,743.47 and #1336236 in the amount of $2,968.66. Payment detail on file in the respective Departments. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs; voting no: Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board acknowledged a letter of resignation from Marilyn L. Johnson as the County’s representative on the Arrowhead Library System Board. The Board acknowledged her contribution on behalf of the County.

2006/07-19 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Coordinator to advertise the vacant county seat on the Arrowhead Library System Board to seek applicants interested in filling the seat as the County representative. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-20 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper approving a 2006 Supplemental Boat and Water Safety Grant Agreement with the State of Minnesota allocating funds to Koochiching County in the amount of $707 for equipment and supplies and further, authorizing the Board Chair, Sheriff and Coordinator’s signatures to said Agreement. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-21 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the 2006 Natural Resources Block Grant Agreement with the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources in the amount of $55,822 and further, authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to said Agreement as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-22 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck to close session at 10:20 a.m. to discuss Bartheld vs. Koochiching County litigation with the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried. (Attending the closed session: the full County Board, County Attorney, Environmental Service Director and County Coordinator.)

2006/07-23 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to open session at 11:03 a.m. and deferring the matter of the Bartheld vs. Koochiching County court decision to the County Board’s August 8, 2006 meeting for consideration. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-24 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson authorizing expenditure up to $15,200 from the E911 Account to complete the upgrade of the CML RescueSTAR and Sentinel systems required to fully utilize cellular phone call location as recommended by the Undersheriff and I.S. Manager. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-25 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper adopting the following resolution for modification of the JOBZ Boundary:

WHEREAS Koochiching County is participating in the JOBZ program administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and

WHEREAS the Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) has requested Koochiching County to modify the boundaries of its current JOBZ acreage (approximately 18 acres) to accommodate an existing business expansion (Northland Distributing), and

WHEREAS such modification will provide certain incentives under the JOBZ program for this business, which qualifies for these benefits, and

WHEREAS among those incentives is a reduction in property taxes for the JOBZ eligible business, and

WHEREAS in order to request a JOBZ boundary modification for the above cited business from the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the KEDA must receive a resolution of support from Koochiching County.

BE IT NOW RESOLVED that Koochiching County does endorse the JOBZ Boundary Modification (parcel #93-02-00160) for purposes of economic development and employment. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-26 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to certify the final contract value for SAP 36-617-05 (CSAH 17) in the amount of $1,173,051.71 for Rajala Construction Company, Inc. as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Health Director reminded the Board of the September 14 Essential Personnel Medication Distribution Functional Exercise as part of the Department’s Emergency Preparedness Plan. The Family Collaborative Coordinator updated the Board on the services and finances of the Family Collaborative and how health and human service funding cuts and changes have impacted their funding sources. The Coordinator referenced a current proposal at the federal level to cut school transportation aid for special education. The Health Director informed the Board that locally there has been more discussion about smoke free grounds.

2006/07-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to send a letter to the County’s federal legislative representatives requesting their support to maintain the school transportation aid for special education as currently proposed to be cut with the Family Collaborative Coordinator to draft the letter for Board Chair’s signature. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve a one year service agreement with Della Warren as the Koochiching Family Collaborative Coordinator on behalf of the Joint Powers Board and as recommended by the Health Director and as approved by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-29 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to renew the service agreement with River Oaks Care Agency for home care waivered services as recommended by the Health Director and as approved by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-30 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to renew a service agreement with Northern Itasca Healthcare for home care waivered services as recommended by the Health Director and as approved by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Koochiching County representatives on the Tri County Community Health Services Board informed the County Board that the Tri County Board is considering a change from the current Director’s service contract to a consulting contract at the request of the current Director at reduced hours. That recently the Tri County Board was informed of an incurred long-term debt for the payment of life time medical benefits to the Director, and that County representatives feel the Tri County Board should look at alternatives that are in the best interest of the organization, not the Director. The County representatives requested a letter from the County Board to the Tri County Board to support their position.

2006/07-31 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck to have the Health Director draft a letter to be sent to the Tri County Health Board from the County Board supporting the position of its County representatives for director service for the organization. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was informed that Debra Larson was hired to fill the vacant part time Maternal Child Health Nurse position with a starting date of July 17, 2006.

000 The Community Service Director informed the Board that St. Louis County did support participation in County Based Purchasing but their position is that all member counties pay an equal share of the start up cost for Phase IIA as this cost is irrespective of the number of clients served (proposal splits cost based on the number of clients of each member). The equal cost share proposed by St. Louis County would be $14,500 each. Phase IIA would have members contract with ARDC who would utilize the funding to hire an interim position to develop the County Based Purchasing organization. The Director stated that at this time not all positions of the member counties are known to determine if there is uniform agreement on how the upfront cost should be shared. Board members agreed the County’s participation is needed to better serve clients and provide cost savings for the County and would agree to move forward with their support as long as a maximum upfront cost is set for the County.

2006/07-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs adopting the following resolution granting Koochiching County’s authorization to proceed with continued development of County Based Purchasing Capacity in Northeastern Minnesota:

WHEREAS, the regional Human Services Directors and elected officials (including those from the following counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Lake, Koochiching and St. Louis) have participated in a feasibility analysis for developing county based purchasing (CBP) in the Arrowhead Region. (CBP refers to a health plan operated by a county or group of counties. The CBP entity would purchase health care services for residents enrolled in Medical Assistance, General Assistance Medical Care and/or the Minnesota Care Program.); and

WHEREAS, based upon the continued interest expressed by all or some of those counties of the Arrowhead Region it would be desirable to proceed with Phase II-A of a multi-phased approach to hire an individual to serve in an interim position to develop a governance structure, complete federal and state waiver applications, the state application process, develop the provider network, and a managed care model of service by October 1, 2006; and

WHEREAS, the money needed from each participating county will be based on a minimum and maximum amount dependent on the number of counties proceeding forward with Phase II-A and the potential program enrollment (population) per respective county.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners does hereby authorize Koochiching County Community Services to engage the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission to contract for the above positions to complete the duties as outlined above and to provide financial support in the minimum amount of $5,220 or the maximum amount of $18,270. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson approving service agreements with Segar’s Foster Care, Mattison’s Foster Care, Olsen’s Foster Care and Boyle’s Foster Care as required by the State due to the State funds received by these providers for certain foster care services with the contracts approved by the County Attorney and recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-34 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to renew the service agreement with Rainy River Waivered Services for guardianship and conservatorship services as recommended by the Community Service Director and as approved by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/07-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson accepting the Family Day Care Licensing recommendation for Stacey Graves and Cheryl Graves for family day care for ten children. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:05 p.m. Dan McCarthy addressed the Board with his concern on the expense of legal service contracted out of the County Attorney’s Office. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment period.

2006/07-36 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 12:07 p.m. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.