REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 27, 2007; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: J.J. Hasbargen, Brian Youso, Doug Grindall, Terry Murray, Tammy Jo Crawford-Braaten, Richard Lehtinen, Nolan Baratono, Dave Reimer, Dan McCarthy, Kate Miller, Jack Walls; Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2007/03-38 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-39 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to approve the minutes from the March 20, 2007 regular meeting with a change to the time for the meeting in Birchdale. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment from the City’s Sunset Cove Waterline Account as follows: to the City of International Falls in the amount of $1,589.73, to the City of Ranier in the amount of $9,674.23 and additional payment to the City of International Falls in the amount of $9.52 from the County Sunset Cove Waterline Account to cover the shortage of funds from what was collected to what was due in payments. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-41 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the Assessor to grant abatement to Michael Thomopoulos, Parcel # 22-54-05100, for homestead credit. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-42 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve payment to Attorney Lyndon Larsen for contracted legal services for the County Attorney in the amount of $5,099.81, to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $16,037.01, to approve payment of the Community Service Department financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented and to approve payment of burial case #1357636 in the amount of $2,112.62 and case #896145 in the amount of $2,455.87. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-43 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee to accept the employment separation of County Attorney Secretary Mary Nelson with a separation date of April 16, 2007 and further, authorizing the County Attorney to fill the vacancy. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-44 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee supporting the appointment of Commissioner Pavleck to the Northspan Board as recommended by the ARDC Board. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-45 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs appointing Commissioner Pavleck to serve on the NACO Environment, Energy and Land Use Steering Committee as recommended by AMC, acknowledging the need for two trips to Washington D.C. in 2007. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-46 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve a revised MCIT Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Participation Agreement due to a change in the minimum random pool testing rate for transit drivers under the Federal Department of Transportation and further, authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the amended agreement. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-47 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs authorizing Commissioner Hanson’s attendance to the Blandin Leadership Conference on April 23 through April 27, 2007 as an approved County Board activity. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-48 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee approving the quote from Fred’s Marine Center for a 2006 175HP Suzuki outboard motor for the Sheriff’s Boat at the quoted price of $9,825.00 with trade in and plus sales tax as recommended by the Sheriff and further, accepting the recommendation of the Coordinator to authorize a 2007 County Budget adjustment to reallocate $10,000 from the Personnel Budget Contingency to transfer to the 2007 Boat and Water Budget as planned to cover the motor purchase and with any additional cost to be paid by the Boat and Water Grant dollars. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Board members discussed legislative issues to address at the AMC Legislative Conference which they will attend this week in St. Paul. Commissioner Pavleck expressed the need for the County to now support the other counties in proposed changes to the Wetland Conservation Act. Current proposal for change no longer impacts counties with 80% or more wetlands but now targets the other counties with less. It took the support of other counties with less than 80% wetlands to get the support Koochiching needed for its current status so we need to provide the support now to the other counties.

2007/03-49 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for annual bids for nuisance beaver removal, hired truck, and seasonal requirements for culverts and striping as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/03-50 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck accepting the following recommendations for Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing: to relicense the home of Judy Keeney for group family day care for fourteen children, to relicense the home of Judy and Brian Keeney for child foster care for six children, to relicense the home of Nolan and Jennifer Hargis for child foster care for two children, and to relicense the home of Shelly Bilben for child foster care for two children. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director provided the Board a draft Joint Powers Agreement for the County’s participation in County Based Purchasing to provide for medical services for County clients. At this time six counties, including Koochiching County, are looking at regionalizing a health plan in lieu of health plan management at the state level through large health management plans. The initiative is being pursued as a better service for clients, reinvestment in the community and savings to the County. The position of St. Louis County’s participation will be known this week, but as stated before the numbers would still support the venture with only the remaining 5 counties. However, the larger the risk pool, the better for everyone. The Director stated that the Joint Powers Agreement must be executed by month end by participating counties in order to start January 2009. Estimated cost for the County is $138,500 without St. Louis County (less cost but higher percent of cost) or $150,900 with St. Louis County (more cost but lower percent of cost). Board members felt another review was needed by the administrators but understood the need to meet the deadlines. The Director recommended signing the Joint Powers agreement as there is an out clause if the County needs to reconsider its position as more information comes to the Board on this matter.

2007/03-51 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve a Joint Powers Agreement for County Based Purchasing for a membership of counties to establish a regionalized health plan to provide services to clients contingent on the County Attorney’s approval of said Agreement. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Tammy Jo Crawford-Braaten, contracted to administrate the County Foster Care Recruitment and Training Program funded under grant dollars, provided a report after one year of operation. In summary, the program is doing very well with much accomplished but more to learn. She stated that because of their success, it is favorable that grant funding will be available for a third year. Mrs. Braaten commended Community Service and Law Enforcement staff for their support to her and the program’s success. The Board members expressed their appreciation for a great job and thanks to all that have participated.

000 MPCA Representative Nolan Baratono provided the Board information as to the finding of some of the waters in Lake of the Woods County as impaired waters through a Nutrient Impairment Assessment. MPCA is required under law to conduct impaired water assessments of all the surface waters in the State and are under pressure now to conduct these studies. They have been working on the Lake of the Woods assessment since 1999 and to date have gathered enough data that the surface waters assessed are at or about exceeding the standards of impaired waters. The next step for the MPCA is to put the assessment through the public process to declare the determined water areas as impaired. With regards to the upstream distributors such as Rainy River, the determination should not have much impact as the contributing amounts are small. However, the contributors causing the impaired waters will only be determined by conducting a load study which would need to include assistance from Canada since these are border waters. Board members asked what impact an impaired water designation will have on development, noting that the Littlefork River has already been designated as impaired waters. The MPCA representative stated that the affect may come in meeting requirements in any required state permits should the development be determined to affect the impaired water area but would not prohibit development. A Board member asked about the algae blooms found in Rainy Lake and inquired if testing had been done. The MPCA representative stated that some test data is available through study but no formal assessment was done to date. However, based on the data they have, they know it won’t exceed the impaired waters limit. Dave Reimer from Boise, asked when the load study would be completed. The MPCA representative stated that the waters would go on the list of impaired waters in 2008 and the load study under law would be required within 15 years and the actual time of the study will be determined by when funding is available to conduct it. Dan McCarthy inquired as to the process to be used in informing the public, stating that newspaper and radio should be used. The Board thanked the representative for the report.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 10:55 a.m. Dan McCarthy inquired as to the county funds provided the Historical Society. VNP Superintendent Kate Miller informed the Board that in working with the DNR, it was determined that the spiny water flea has infested the lakes in the Park requiring both agencies to kick in regulations to counter act the infestation. The flea is sizable and though it has some transparency, it can be seen. The concern with the flea is the harm to the fisheries since it eats the feed for the fish but nothing eats it. It is hypothesized that the salt water species came from the ocean ships through the canal to the great lakes. It is intended to put in short term regulations and continue the study of the species to determine the plan for control and/or eradication and that the Park and DNR will be putting out press releases shortly. At this time they are looking to prohibit float planes, including the park planes, require artificial bait and use of only park supplied boats for the interior lakes of the park. Board members shared concern with the infestation and thanked the DNR and Park for including themselves in the usage restrictions as good public policy. Board members asked if Canadian officials will be involved in the study and control plan since these are border waters and this was confirmed by the Superintendent. Jack Walls asked about the health to humans eating the fish and stated that if the infestation is going to harm the fisheries, the public should support the plan to eradicate them but the plan must include educating the public. However, he stated concern with the impact this may have on businesses. Per the Superintendent the flea has no human health affect but takes out the food chain found for fisheries. The Board thanked the Superintendent for the public notice. The Board Chair closed public comment at 11:16 a.m.

2007/03-52 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 11:16 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.