REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, August 14, 2007; 10:00 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Pam Tomevi, Jim Eberspacher, Terry Murray, Dennis Hummitzsch, Doug Grindall, Richard Lehtinen, Dave Trompeter, Chris Holbeck, Aarden Barnes, Roger Perling, Dan McCarthy; Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2007/08-01 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes from the July 24, 2007 regular meeting with correction. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received hire notice in the Sheriff’s Department of part time Correctional Officer Wendy Matiski on July 30, 2007 and the temporary hire of Ronald Rogers, Lynn Rogers, Richard Johnson and Lori Lindberg for transports.

2007/08-03 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Sheriff to fill a part time Correctional Officer position left vacant due to a full time hire. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-04 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $78,894.36; to approve payment of the monthly County Board expense claims in the amount of $9,614.98; authorize the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s July vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-05 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck that under Board Motion 2007/06-32 and the County Citizen Committee Expense Policy in forming the NW Koochiching County Housing Initiative Committee, to appoint the following Committee members: Denton Hasbargen, David Imes, Kathy Ellsworth, Soren Olesen, Jake Jacobs and alternates Kit Hasbargen, Dale Erickson and Christine Hultman. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-06 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Board members’ attendance to the August 22, 2007 Board of Water and Soil Resources Tour of Koochiching and Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation Districts as a Board activity. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-07 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs providing the County’s support of the Koochiching County DUI/Substance Abuse Court and further, that the County of Koochiching certifies that the Koochiching County DWI Court, being located within our jurisdiction, has the Koochiching County Board’s approval to apply for and receive funding from the State Court Administrator’s Office, State of Minnesota. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-08 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck accepting the employment separation of Financial Worker Barb Nass effective September 7, 2007. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-09 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson authorizing the Community Service Director to fill a vacant Financial Worker position due to an employment separation. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-10 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to add a notice of employment separation and request to fill a vacancy to the agenda at the request of the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-11 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to accept the employment separation of Social Worker Lara Westberg effective September 11, 2007 (last day in office 8/30/07) and further, to authorize the Community Service Director to fill a vacant Social Worker position due to an employment separation. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reported the results of the August 1, 2007 timber auction held in Big Falls: a total of 19,861 cords were sold for a total auction sale value of $541,704 with all tracts sold (17 intermediate and 14 regular). The sale included 3,529 cords from 6 forfeited tracts that were reoffered.

2007/08-12 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the sale of county property to AEOA for construction and operation of a public bus service facility at the appraised price of $9,400, described as the south 10 feet of Lots 12 and 21 and all of Lots 13 to 20 and all that portion of the vacated alley lying south of the easterly and westerly prolongation of the north line of said south 10 feet of Lots 12 and 21, all within Block 1, Plat of South International Falls, subject to easements, restrictions and reservations of record. Further that the property sale will include a reverter clause in which the property would revert back to the County should the property no longer be utilized for public bus service and that AEOA pay the legal cost and property transaction costs related to executing the property sale and further, that the County withdraws its interest to add one stall to the facility for County storage but retains its interest to utilize the facility’s wash bay. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-13 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to set a public hearing to review the Highway Engineer’s recommended bridge replacement plan due to the potential of bridge replacement funding being passed in special session with the Highway Engineer and Coordinator to establish the date and time and with the hearing to be part of the normal County Board meeting time. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Engineer provided the Board a draft tourism survey recommended by the Burner Road/TH332 Task Force to collect information on bridge traffic to aide the Committee in further review of rerouting plans if the Burner Road is vacated to Boise. The survey will be handed out at the bridge on August 17 and August 31 by summer employees of the City and County. It is recommended that a consultant analyze and present the survey results, with an estimated cost of $2,000 (if the CSAH reroute plan goes through, this cost would be covered by CSAH dollars).

2007/08-14 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to cancel bills for authorized work in the Highway Department as recommended by the Highway Engineer: $984.38 for Courthouse snowplowing/maintenance; $669.00 for Northome Fairgrounds; $201.65 for Northome School culverts; $254.56 for AEOA; $1,195.00 for work on the Wisner Trail; $2,849.59 for miscellaneous unpaid accounts from 1983-1994 (snowplowing driveways) as recommended by the Auditors; $660.00 for Airport sweeping and grading. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-15 Motion by Briggs, seconded b Pavleck that under the Highway Union Collective Bargaining Agreement, to approve the Highway Engineer’s request to hire a Sr. Engineer Technician at 100% of the B25 pay rate in order to recruit qualified applicants. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director at the request of Commissioner Pavleck, provided information on an odor east of International Falls due to the number of public complaints on the strong stench. The Director contacted the MPCA Regional Office in Duluth, Air Quality Division, which were already aware of the odor due to complaints they received and provided a copy of an Order for Preventative Measures from the Ministry of the Environment Canada to the Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, on TRS reduction. Per the MPCA information, they are pretty certain that much of the strong odor noted on the U.S. side of the border this and last summer is coming from the Abitibi wastewater treatment system and to some degree, the mill itself. The Order is out for comment period with comment ending on August 26, 2007. Commissioner Pavleck stated that the odor has been longer than 2 years as he made previous inquiries with the MPCA more than two years ago. This is not only an odor problem, it is a health threat. Dave Trompeter, former Ranier Mayor, talked to the odor permeation in the City of Ranier and that it comes with a soft northwest wind and the smell is thick and sickening. Roger Perling, lake property owner east of Ranier, also spoke of the smell. Aarden Barnes stated that the smell comes in the night. Chris Holbeck, representing Voyageurs National Park, stated that the Order by the Ministry will require the mill’s compliance and they too are monitoring this matter for air quality in the Park. Commissioner Pavleck felt the people need to know what is taking place and when a resolution will be forthcoming and suggested that not only should the County Board submit comment in the Order, but also send a letter to the MPCA requesting on behalf of the public, the County be informed on a regular basis as to what is being done to correct the problem. It was suggested that the correspondence by the County be copied to the City of International Falls, City of Ranier and MPCA Commissioner Brad Moore.

2007/08-16 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair to submit written comment to the Ministry of the Environment under the Order for Preventative Measures for Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada on the number of public complaints received on the strong odor east of International Falls and the great concern with public health and air quality and further, to send a letter to the MPCA, monitoring this matter, to apprise the County Board on a regular basis as to the status of the compliance order and timeline for resolution due to health, air and water quality concerns for the public of Koochiching County. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/08-17 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of $2,500 for a Jackfish Sewer Easement (main line) for PID 15-62-00050, owned by Darlene and Laura Stoiber as recommended by Legal Counsel for the Sewer Project. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director advised the Board that after further discussion with MPCA representatives, it appears MPCA will approve the submitted draft Koochiching County Local Water Management Plan for one year, contingent on the county adopting the required ISTS Ordinance. In discussion, the Director informed representatives that the County intends to adopt the ISTS Ordinance, and is a written goal in the draft water plan. The Director is waiting for confirmation as to the MPCA’s position on the draft County Water Plan.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:40 a.m. Dan McCarthy inquired as to the responsible agency to be informing the public on air quality and stated that air quality is an economic development factor. He asked on the status of the draft County Zoning Ordinance and was advised as to the next committee meeting date. With no further comment, the Board Chair closed public comment period.

2007/08-18 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.