SPECIAL MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 12, 2006; 10:45 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Richard Lehtinen, Susan Congrave, Dan McCarthy

2006/09-12 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-13 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the September 5, 2006 regular meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-14 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $35,369.74 and to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $88,509.50. Payment detail on file in the respective departments. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-15 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to approve sponsorship of the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club and Ridgerunner Snowmobile Club in the MN Trails Assistant Grant-In-Aid Program Fiscal Year 2007 covering the Blue Ox, Caldwell Brook and Lunstrom Trails and Hagerman, Voyageurs West and Loman Trails, prospectively. Sponsorship by the County requires that a Club/County Agreement be in effect (Agreement on file in the Administration Office). As sponsor, the County is accountable to the State for expenditures charged to the State Grant-In-Aid program but sponsorship does not require financial support or liability for cost from the County. Further, the County Board hereby approves the Board Chair and County Auditor’s signatures to the MN Trail Assistance Program Traditional Grant agreement. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-16 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck appointing the Veteran Service Officer and Payroll/Benefit Coordinator as designees for the two County Board members to serve on the 2006 Primary and General Elections Canvassing Board. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-17 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson approving the proposed 2007 County gross levy at $3,466,273 (2% increase over last year of $67,966). The 2007 proposed levy breakdown is as follows: General Revenue - $1,516,273; Community Service - $1,200,000; Public Health - $100,000; Highway - $500,000; Environmental Services - $150,000. Further that the proposed 2007 County Levy qualifies for exemption from the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing requirement. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2006/09-18 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the 2007 tax levies for the following approved fire service taxing districts and to pay the respective 2007 service contract amounts: Fire District 1 (Northome) levy of $9,200, Fire District 2 (Littlefork) levy of $48,497, Fire District 2 (Loman) levy of $8,200, Fire District 3 (Birchdale) levy of $7,700, Fire District 4 (Williams) levy of $2,200, and Fire District 5 (Big Falls) levy of $16,100. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-19 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve the 2007 tax levies for the following approved subordinate taxing districts and to pay the respective 2007 service contract amounts: Littlefork Ambulance Service levy of $26,000, Northome First Responders Service levy of $6,048, and Rainy River First Responders Service levy of $8,000. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director provided the Board an overview of what steps need to be taken to allow a business sign along State Highway 11 Scenic Byway, specifically in the Loman area at the request of an area business owner. State Highway 11 is designated as the Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway and that at the time of this designation Koochiching County did not request gaps for allowing road side signs. The first step would be to obtain approval of gap signage areas along the scenic byway. The second step would be a rezoning change through the County’s Zoning Ordinance to allow a billboard sign for the Loman area business owner. The final step is amending Scenic Area Order No. 70462, which also limits signs in the highway right of way. The Director also informed the Board that the State does allow modest signs (directional signs) through an application process without having to go through these steps.

2006/09-20 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper directing the Environmental Service Director to contact the appropriate authority to find out the criteria needed for Koochiching County to designate gap areas for road side signs along the Highway 11 Scenic Byway and to bring back the information to the Board for further direction. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-21 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve an addendum to the Benchmark Engineering, Inc service contract for the Jackfish Sewer Project for the period of November 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007 with a cost not to exceed $202,900 with the addendum due to the one year extension granted the construction contractor to complete the sewer system as recommended by the Environmental Service Director and as funded by project dollars. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Board members informed the Environmental Service Director and Health Director of complaints received about a residence with an extreme number of dogs and asked that the matter be investigated through the Public Health Nuisance Committee and/or through zoning as a kennel business. The Health Director also received a complaint on this matter and the Directors agreed to review the matter and if it can’t be resolved as a health or zoning matter, they will inform the Board as to what would need to be in place to handle the matter.

000 The Board was informed that the Tri County Health Director submitted his resignation for retirement reasons and that the organization will be administrated temporarily by the three County Health Directors and the Assistant Director until a long term administration plan is determined.

000 The Health Director deferred review of the Quarter 2, 2006 Department’s financial and statistical report to a future meeting.

2006/09-22 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson acknowledging receipt of the Professional Advisory Committee minutes from their meeting of August 25, 2006. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/09-23 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to issue the following proclamation on the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy as requested by the Health Director:

Whereas healthy children are the most important resource in the great State of Minnesota
and the County of Koochiching; and

Whereas Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are the leading known, preventable birth
defect in Minnesota, the United States, and all of western civilization; and

Whereas as many as 1 in every 100 individuals in these United States may be adversely
affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol; and

Whereas Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are a root cause of numerous social disorders,
including learning disabilities, juvenile delinquency, school drop-outs, homelessness,
unemployment, mental illness, and crime; and

Whereas economists estimate that each individual with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (one of
the diagnoses under the FASD “umbrella”) will cost the Minnesota taxpayer 107. 4
million dollars annually; and

Whereas people around the world will be observing the 8th International FASD
Awareness Day on September 9, 2006, in order that on the ninth day of the ninth month
of the year, the world will remember that during nine months of pregnancy a woman
should abstain from alcohol. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck.
Motion carried.

2006/09-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to renew a service agreement with
Maggie McBride for the 2006-07 school year for ENABL grant activities contingent on
availability of grant funding, contingent on contract review by the County Attorney and
as recommended by the Health Director. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs,
Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:45 a.m. Dan McCarthy
referencing the County’s Survey Contract, again addressed the County Board on the need
to redirect resources back to remonumentation in the County and then addressed
time limits regarding agenda items. With no other comment the Board Chair closed
public comment period.

2006/09-25 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.