SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, August 22, 2006; 10:15 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Pavleck (On Other County Business)

OTHERS ATTENDING: Jaci Nagle, Doug Grindall, Terry Glowack, Dennis Hummitzsch, Terry Murray, Richard Lehtinen, Einar Sundin, Jack Walls; Reporter Laurel Beager

2006/08-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-18 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the August 8, 2006 special meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-19 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s July vendor payment listing verifying its review; to approve payment of Auditor claims in the amount of $30,348.65; to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $114,102.57; to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $$16,879.99; to approve payment to Johnson, Killen & Seiler in the amount of $2,883.71 for personnel legal service with payment from the Administration Budget; to approve payment to Attorney Lyndon Larsen in the amount of $3,448.24 for legal service with payment from the County Attorney Budget; to approve payment of the Community Service Department financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented. Payment detail on file in the respective departments. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the Management Committee to renew the Law Enforcement Center Lease Agreement between the County and the City of International Falls for the period of 2007 through 2011 with no change to the agreement except to increase the annual lease amount from $75,000, established in 1999, to $90,000 for the new five-year term as a cost of business adjustment and further, that the County Board will offer this proposal to the City of International Falls for their consideration. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-21 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs accepting the employment separation of Information Systems Technician Jim Boyd effective September 1, 2006. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-22 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Information Systems Manager and Coordinator to create an Information System Technician position with specialization in GIS and information system infrastructures and networks to be brought back to the Board for approval and authorization to fill. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-23 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper approving a modified MCIS Joint and Cooperative Agreement and By-Laws due to editorial type changes as recommended by the MCIS Board and the Information Systems Manager and subject to review by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer provided the Board information on state law prohibiting signs within road right-of-ways to initiate discussion due to the number of campaign signs being placed for the upcoming elections. The Board requested the Engineer contact other counties to see how they are handling placement of temporary signs in road right of ways.

2006/08-24 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to table the Engineer’s request to review policy for placement of objects, namely temporary signage, in road right of ways until more information is provided the Board to consider policy. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-25 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing payment from the Sinking Building Account in the amount of $3,880 for electrical work done in the Law Enforcement Center as a result of the LEC Communication Center Project as recommended by the Complex Superintendent (reference Board motion 2006/02-64). Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the August 2, 2006 timber auction – 13 of 14 tracts were sold with a total auction sale value of $747,873. The Land Commissioner informed the Board that the group involved in the joint Forest Certification process requested proposals from audit firms, receiving four proposals. The group will conduct the interviews and work on necessary agreements to be brought to each respective body in the near future for approval. After reviewing the audit proposals, it was clear that doing the forest certification initiative as a group, versus individually, is a cost savings. The Land Commissioner will provide the Board more information in the near future.

2006/08-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to renew service agreements with School Districts 362 and 363 for cost sharing services of a social worker as recommended by the Community Service Director and contingent on review of the agreements by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-27 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to renew two non-financial service agreements with School District 361 required for utilization of space and sharing of case information as recommended by the Community Service Director and contingent on review of the agreements by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-28 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve an addendum to the AEOA Service Agreement due to an increase in state funding as recommended by the Community Service Director and contingent on review of the agreement by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-29 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve a service agreement with Stelher Human Services for support services for social service work conducted in School District 361 as recommended by the Community Service Director and contingent on review of the agreement by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-30 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: Sheila and Dan Mortenson licensing home for emergency relative foster care for a specific child and Janet Leersen relicensing for group family day care for 14 children due to a change in premises. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-31 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper accepting the bid from Wilken’s Industries for a new MSW trailer in the amount of $53,499 less $3,000 trade in for the old trailer as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2006/08-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the Planning Commission for rezoning from R-2 to RR-1 and for a Conditional Use Permit for a boat repair, gift shop, storage and related marina-type sales for John D. and Vera Slatinski located at 3797 Highway 53, Ericsburg, and (PID 13-80-00070). Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director provided the Board a revised service contract from Benchmark Engineering for an additional $202,900 (not to exceed) for extended services for the Jackfish Sewer Project due to the one year extension for construction of the system. The agreement was reviewed by legal counsel for the sewer project. With the absence of Commissioner Pavleck, the Board deferred the matter to the next meeting.

2006/08-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to table action on the extended agreement with Benchmark Engineering for the Jackfish Sewer Project until the next meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 At the request of the County Board, the Environmental Service Director provided clarification on the definition of unit with respect to a B&B business under statewide and local shoreland management standards. The DNR verified that the owner’s living quarters of the B&B business is not included as a unit since it is not for sale or rent, therefore, a two unit B&B business would be the two rental units plus the owners’ living quarters. Based on this determination and direction of legal counsel, the Environmental Service Director recommends approval of the Conditional Use Permit for the Bartheld B&B business per the State Court of Appeals decision.

2006/08-34 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to issue CUP #0505 for a two-unit Bed and Breakfast Business for Dana and Jeff Bartheld located at 3069 Town Road 225 (PID 15-52-00051) as directive by the State Court of Appeals decision on Bartheld vs. Koochiching County. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:37 a.m. Einar Sundin spoke to a recent ambulance response situation in his area. Jack Walls questioned the increase in Benchmark’s service cost for the sewer cost. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment.

2006/08-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.