REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, November 27, 2007; 10:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Doug Grindall, Brian Youso, Dennis Hummitzsch, Terry Murray; Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2007/11-39 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/11-40 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve the minutes of the November 20, 2007 County Board meeting. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/11-41 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee approving the employment separation of LPN Heather Hell and further, to put a hold on authorization to fill this vacant position with time to be scheduled with the Health Director and the Board to review the County’s provision of LPN services for one home care case. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board was notified of the temporary hire of Marilee Simon for weekend and fill-in jail cook services due to the former temporary jail cook ending his employment.

2007/11-42 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $43,312.48, to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $23,084.32; 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 #994094 in the amount of $1,944.57. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/11-43 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck accepting the recommendation of the County Insurance Committee to renew the current County Group Health Insurance Plan for 2008 at the rates of $442 per month for single coverage and $1,181 per month for family coverage and as part of the same County Group Plan, offer a VEBA 80 Health Coverage Plan to group members (requires a minimum of 10 contracts to implement otherwise only the current plan will be implemented) at a rate of $492 per month for single coverage and $1,181 per month for family coverage with the employer’s cap for 2008 health coverage at $442 for single contracts and $1,078 for family contracts with the County Health Reserves paying the difference. Further, to renew the County’s Group Life Insurance Plan with MN Life for 2008 at a rate of $2.00 per month for $10,000 each of Life and AD&D Coverage for the employer paid package and the County Health Reserve paid package and to include a portability clause to allow continuation of life coverage upon employment separation at the choice and expense of the employee. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer and Sheriff discussed with the Board options for the County in bringing CN Railroad officials to the table to resolve the ongoing problem of trains blocking the Van Lynn Road for long periods of time. Commissioner Adee stated that the road is being blocked for periods of one half hour to forty-five minutes and at any time of day so the public using the road has no advanced notice and no other route to take. In review with the former County Attorney, Minnesota Law allows trains to block roads for ten minute periods and he would like to see a citation issued to the Company for violation of State law. He went on to say that the service road put in by the railroad can be used for emergency vehicles but it can not be used by the general public when they need to get somewhere on time. Further, it was stated that response time in emergencies will take much longer if having to use the railroad service road as they have to access the road by the City of Ranier and than travel south. Commissioner Pavleck was told that in one particular circumstance, the train was blocking the road in Ericsburg and people where putting their kids through the stalled train to get them to the school bus. The Sheriff did not feel a citation was the best option but suggested that data is collected on the number of instances where the blockage did or had the potential to create unsafe conditions for the public and provide information to the County Attorney and request he first write a letter to the company and follow up with a complaint should they fail to respond. The Highway Engineer verified that his repeated calls and emails to officials to set up a meeting with local representatives resulted in no response from the Company and though the priority concern is public safety, there is still the pending issue of locating a track crossing for snowmobiles.

2007/11-44 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck requesting that the Sheriff and Highway Engineer gather data and present it to the County Attorney asking that a letter be written on behalf of Koochiching County sending a strong message to CN Railroad Officials to meet with County officials to discuss and resolve the ongoing problem with trains blocking County roads for long periods of time thereby creating unsafe conditions for the public. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/11-45 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs to approve a grant agreement between Koochiching County and the MN Department of Public Safety – Office of Justice Program in the amount of $1,500 to allow the Sheriff to purchase a defibrillator with no county match requirement and with the grant provided on a reimbursable basis, and further that the Board Chairman is authorized to execute such grant agreements and amendments as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of Koochiching County. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the November 14, 2007 timber auction - sold 22,159 cords for a total auction sale value of $564,133 and that the sale included 3,202 cords from 8 forfeited sales that were reoffered.

000 The Land Commissioner requested direction for demolition of two tax forfeited structures in the City of International Falls due to the expense exceeding what is budgeted in 2007 for demolition of tax forfeited structures. The priority is the removal of the structure next to Ballan Furniture on 3rd Avenue as it is unsafe and the roof will not sustain a heavy snow load. This structure shares a common wall with Ballan’s warehouse so cost would be incurred in cutting the wall and roof patching. If the City of International Falls participates as part of their blight program, cost for the County is $6,000 to $8,000 in cutting and patching. If the County does the demolition, the cost will be more. The second structure is the old theater building on main street which also shares a common wall with the adjacent building and should be taken down now if the City cooperates and can work it into the demolition schedule. Demolition costs for this structure are pending as this is a much larger project. The Land Commissioner stated that renovation of the Big Falls Forestry Building will not occur as planned for 2007 which will allow some funding for one of the projects. Either way, these structures need to come down and will impact either the 2007 and/or 2008 Department Budgets.

2007/11-46 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Land Commissioner to expend up to $10,000 in the 2007 Land and Forestry Budget to move forward in demolishing the tax forfeited structure adjacent to the Ballan Furniture warehouse on 608 3rd Avenue in International Falls and to come back to the Board if further authorization is needed to complete the project. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/11-47 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee acknowledging receipt of the minutes from the Professional Advisory Committee meeting of November 19, 2007. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board acknowledged receipt of the Health Director’s Report and Third Quarter Department Financial/Statistical Report and due to the Director’s absence, deferred the agenda items on Dialysis and the Community Health Assessment Plan to the next meeting. The Board Chair informed the Board that a meeting has been scheduled of community representatives to start looking at the feasibility of bringing dialysis services to the County.

000 The Board was informed of the hire of Tracy Podpeskar as a Child Support Enforcement Aide effective November 16, 2007 and Tracy Ruelle as a Social Worker effective November 19, 2007.

2007/11-48 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve an Addendum to the AEOA Home Delivered Meals Contract for October 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007 and to renew the AEOA Home Delivered Meals Contract as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/11-49 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to renew the AEOA Congregate Meals Contract as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2007/11-50 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Briggs accepting the following service agreement recommendations of the Community Service Director and upon the County Attorney’s approval: renewal of the Raynita Houglum Custody Studies Contract, renewal of the Sharon Frank Rule 25 Assessments Contract, renewal of the Range Mental Health Contract, renewal of the Consumer Directions Fiscal Support Entity Contract, renewal of the First Call for Help Contract, approval of an Addendum to the REM SLS Contract, approval of an Addendum to ODC DT&H Contract, and approval of the Blue Heron Contract. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director reviewed an Out of Home Placement Financial Report from 2001 through 2006 comparing the expenditures of each of the various children placement programs from year to year along with outside revenue sources and the final county dollar cost. Estimates for 2007 show total children out of home placement program costs at $1.1 million with 78% paid by county dollars.

2007/11-51 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck accepting the following Foster Day Care and Day Care Licensing recommendations: relicensure for Ann Coulombe for one relative foster child and licensure for Angela Rae Dahle for child foster care for one relative child. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:08 p.m. No comment was presented

2007/11-52 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 12:10 a.m. Voting yes: Lepper, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Pavleck. Motion carried.