REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, February 12, 2008; 10:25 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Ed Oerichbauer, Bob Peterson, Richard Lehtinen, Tony Jaksa, Dan McCarthy, Eric Norstad; Reporters Lisa Kaczke and Jerry Franzen

2008/02-18 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/02-19 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the minutes from the February 5, 2008 regular meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/02-20 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s January vendor payment listing verifying its review and approving payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $24,155.97. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/02-21 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to approve payment from the City of International Falls’ Sunset Cove Waterline Account as follows: to the City of International Falls in the amount of $1,835.15, to the City of Ranier in the amount of $12,153.28 (to include the County’s portion as the waterline has been turned over to the City of Ranier). Motion further approves payment of the 2008 NCLUCB dues in the amount of $5,000 and authorizing the Coordinator to make the necessary budget adjustment to accommodate the full payment of dues in 2008. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Briggs, Lepper. Motion carried.

2008/02-22 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the Project Architect and Courthouse Historical Committee to reject the only bid for the painting of the Courthouse historic corridors as not meeting bid specs and to accept the quote for $46,000 from Adam McIntyre for the painting work and further, to approve the 2008 Project Budget at $51,500 (rolled from the 2007 County Budget and partially funded by a $25,000 State Historical Society Grant) and to approve additional expenses within the budget for electrical and cabinetry to accommodate the historical painting plan. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/02-23 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to table action on the Car Pool vehicles bid until the Highway Engineer is available to review the bid results and sale of the replacement vehicles. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/02-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to send the County Board’s sincere appreciation to those who served on the Jackfish Sewer Committee for all their work and dedication in making the sewer project a reality and working through the difficult issues. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board of the upcoming plan for review of the draft County Development Ordinance which combines the Zoning, Rivers, Shoreland and Wetland Ordinances into one ordinance and adds a new septic system ordinance. The Consultant is scheduled to review the draft with the County Board at the February 26 committee session and thereafter, a number of public review meetings will occur to ensure adequate public notice and comment on the draft. Public hearings for adoption of the actual ordinance will be set at some later date. Board members stated that due to the complexity of this document, the planning process needs to reserve adequate time for the County Board’s review so the Board has a comfort level and understanding of what it will be putting under ordinance before it is presented to the public. The Environmental Service Director stated that a draft document will be provided the Board as soon as possible and that setting additional meeting time with the Board can be further discussed at the February 26 meeting.

A representative from the Boise/RRCC Partnership in development of the RRCC Industrial Trade Program, met with the Board to review the current program and the need for an internship component to provide actual hands on experience. The program consists of 45 semester credits for the diploma or 60 semester credits for the A.A.S. in Industrial Technology. There are currently 22 students enrolled with expectation of filling this number of slots annually. From Boise’s perspective, they are looking for skilled workers for millwright positions. With baby boomers reaching retirement age, Boise is anticipating a large turnover of millwrights (2/3rds of the force) by 2012 and there is a shortage of skilled workers in the market to replace these employees. In competing in the world market, companies have to do more with less and Boise has done this but in doing so, the employee training resources were lost. The RRCC Industrial Trade Program is a benefit for all employers looking for skilled labor and it provides a local training program to our young population to retain them in our local workforce. The Industrial Trade Program is in need of summer internship slots and the Partnership is looking to employers in the county to assist with this need. Board members expressed their support to look for internship slots in the County and their appreciation of the partnership in diversifying and providing a local program to benefit our local economy and workforce. The Board agreed to schedule a committee session with its department heads having work fitting the Industrial Trade Program to explore possible internship slots in the County.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment period at 11:40 a.m. Dan McCarthy again asked the Board members to use their microphones during the meetings and requested that the County Board meetings be taped as a matter of public record. Eric Norstad inquired as to the filling of the Assistant Engineer position as it relates to the County Hiring Policy and promotional opportunities for employees.

2008/02-25 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs.