REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, November 21, 2006; 10:45 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS ATTENDING: Doug Grindall, Paul Nevenan, John Howard, Steve Korstad, Dennis Hummitzsch; Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2006/11-23 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/11-24 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the November 14, 2006 special meeting. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/11-25 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $41,829.55, to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $152,421.39, to approve payment to Attorney Lyndon Larsen for contracted legal services for the County Attorney’s Office in the amount of $3,865.15 and to approve payment to Federal Advocates, Inc. in the amount of $1,000.00 for October lobbying services for the Highway 53 Long Range Improvement Task Force as fiscal agent. Payment detail on file in the Auditor/Treasurer Office. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was notified that Angela Tallon was hired as the Network/GIS Specialist with a starting date of December 4, 2006.

2006/11-26 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Coordinator to request bids for the County’s 2007 publications as required under MN Statute. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2006/11-27 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to approve the December County Board meeting schedule as presented. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck updated the Board on the outcome of the roundtable session conducted by BWSR last Tuesday regarding the proposed changes to WCA and addressed the various recommended changes that would impact a county like Koochiching, with a large majority of it’s lands being wetlands. Though many of the recommendations raise concern for Koochiching County, some of the suggested changes also made sense for efficiencies in administrating WCA. BSWR recognized some core changes are being recommended based on non-solid data so some changes may be postponed. However, it is clear that movement will continue forward for changes in WCA now that it has been brought to the table. Commissioner Pavleck reported on his attendance to the Security and Cooperation on the Canada-US Midwestern Border Summit, which was hosted by the Consulate General of Canada. The forum set the stage by stating that the U.S. and Canada are among the largest trading partners in the world, stressing the importance of having a well thought out border security plan. That Canada does not support the border passport identification initiative but feels the utilization of driver’s license is more effective and efficient. Currently Homeland Security is conducting a trial run on the utilization of driver’s licenses as identification for border crossing.

2006/11-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Highway Engineer awarding low bid to Dallco, Inc. in the amount of $969.598.70 for the CSAH 8 Bridge Replacement Project. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Representatives updated the Board on the progress being made on the gasification project (project now referred to as the RECAP Project). The feasibility study is the key component at this time which will touch on everything about the project to give the investors the information they need to make a decision and that the delay in getting the feasibility study done is securing all the funding to pay for the study. The gasification plant is gaining more interest nationally for means of waste management and renewal energy but the only existing plants are in Japan. The representatives provided information on the Japanese plants stating their success in waste management and at the same time providing renewal energy and are environmentally friendly. Though no plants exist in the U.S. currently, the torches in the gasification process are used for destruction of materials in the U.S. so some level of EPA standards and data exist on this type of processing. Board members expressed their thanks for their interest in developing the plant in Koochiching County.

2006/11-29 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson accepting the recommendation of the Survey Committee to set the contracted rates for 2007 at $44.55 for the Surveyor and $36.05 for the Technician as allowed under 2004/09-15. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:17 a.m. No comment was presented.

2006/11-30 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to adjourn the meeting at 11:17 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, Hanson, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.