REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, October 2, 2007; 10:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Ann Scholler, Tom Iffert, Terry Murray, Richard Lehtinen, Doug Grindall, Einar Sundin: Reporters Lisa Kaczke and Mike Freeman

2007/10-01 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes from the September 25, 2007 regular meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-03 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson that in memory of Assistant Highway Engineer Marty Gordon to record in the history of Koochiching County the acknowledgement of his many years of dedication and service to the public of Koochiching County. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received information of the hire of part time E911/Correctional Officer Dawn Piekarski on August 15, 2007.

2007/10-04 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve the employment separation of part time E911/Correctional Officer Wendy Matiski on September 27, 2007 and part time E911/Correctional Officer Edward Rognerud on September 27, 2007 and further, authorizing the Sheriff to fill one vacant part time E911/Correctional Officer position. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-05 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the monthly County Board expense claims in the amount of $9,107.38. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-06 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to pay Court Reporter Thomas Iffert in the amount of $5,845.00 from the 2007 Court Budget for transcript service under a judicial order in reference to M.S. 611.21 and MN Rules of Criminal Procedure 11.08 (county’s responsibility for an indigent defendant) and which expense was passed on to the County from the State due to their budget shortfall in the State’s Public Defender’s Budget and further, authorizing the Board Chair to send a letter to the State Public Defender’s Office and copied to the necessary Heads of State and the Association of MN Counties opposing the State’s position that due to their lack of funding, state court financial responsibilities are passed on to the counties using loopholes in the law to justify this pass down of costs. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs; voting no: Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-07 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson approving the publication of the 2006 County Financial Statement Summary as presented by the Assistant Auditor and with the same format as in previous years. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-08 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve a rate variance (increase) for DOC’s Day Training and Habilitation service for MI clients which impacts the rate paid by the State for waivered services and the rate paid by the County for non-waivered clients (small impact to County dollars) as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-09 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve an addendum to the REM North Star SLS Contract for the required 2% state increase as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director reviewed the letter received from the Army Corps in response to the County Board’s request for a meeting to review the determination of Dunnick Lake as a Wetland Mitigation Bank. In short, though they recognized the lack of adequate participation and coordination by Corps staff delayed its approval status, they feel the accreditation proposal offered for this bank is appropriate considering the prevailing site conditions and current guidelines. The Highway Engineer spoke to the creation of Dunnick Lake in that it was done as a wetland mitigation bank for County road projects and that he and the former Highway Foreman were involved in the establishment of this project seeking direction from either BWSR or the Corps. They would not have established a wetland bank without the direction of these agencies, knowing they would have to approve it in order to use credits. He also thought a very small amount of credits from this bank were used for mitigation in a road project. Commissioner Pavleck stated that there was a large cost to the County and thus the taxpayers, to establish this bank and did not feel the taxpayers should take the loss because the Agency failed in its responsibility. He wants the full 19 acres credited and feels the County should legally challenge this position. Though Board members held the same position, they wanted first to have the face to face meeting with the Army Corps.

2007/10-10 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck acknowledging the written response from the Army Corps on their determination of wetland credits for the county-established Dunnick Lake wetland bank, and further, to again request the meeting with the Army Corps representatives to discuss the issue in person as the County Board continues to oppose the determination proposed by the Army Corps on the number of wetland credits for Dunnick Lake. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/10-11 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs that October 10, 2007, has been declared "Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day" for Koochiching County:

WHEREAS, traffic crashes cause more than 42,000 fatalities each year and are the leading cause of death for people ages 6 to 33;
WHEREAS, nearly 300 children under 5 years old who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 1999 were totally unrestrained;
WHEREAS, alcohol-related crashes account for 38 percent of all traffic fatalities;

WHEREAS, deaths and injuries on U.S. highways cost society over $150 billion annually;

WHEREAS, safer driving behaviors such as the use of seat belts, not drinking and driving
and obeying traffic laws would dramatically reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and
deaths;

WHEREAS, the use of cost-effective roadway safety improvements such as all-weather
signing and markings, traffic signals, skid resistant pavements and removal of roadside hazards
could also greatly reduce the number of traffic crashes;

WHEREAS, the continued development of safer vehicles and protective traffic safety
equipment such as helmets will enhance people’s ability to protect themselves and their families
from preventable and tragic permanent injuries and deaths;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Koochiching County Board does hereby proclaim October 10, 2007, as Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day and calls upon everyone to help save lives by spreading these important messages throughout our communities. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer informed the Board that only one bid was received for the road maintenance service for southwestern Koochiching County in addition to a proposal from the Union to provide the service. In reviewing costs and service, the Highway Engineer recommended award of the bid (based on history/average, of $155,331 annually).

2007/10-12 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee accepting the Highway Engineer’s recommendation to award the road maintenance service bid to Gerald Albrecht. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment period at 11:50 a.m. Einar Sundin reminded the Board to continue to pursue the county-wide 911 Signage Plan in the best interest of public safety. With no other comment, the Board Chair closed public comment period.

2007/10-13 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.