REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 11, 2008; 10:20 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Ann Scholler, Jaci Nagle, Susan Congrave, Doug Grindall, Richard Lehtinen, Chris Holbeck, Eric Fallstrom, Dan McCarthy; Reporter Lisa Kaczke and Jerry Franzen

2008/03-15 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-16 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the March 4, 2008 regular meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-17 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee approving the employment separation of Veteran Service Officer Jerry Andre effective June 1, 2008 with the County Board’s acknowledgement and appreciation of his service to the veterans of Koochiching County. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $19,499.01 and authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s February vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-19 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the County Coordinator for the following Quarter 1, 2008 County Budget adjustments: increasing the Public Health Budget by $23,438 for the balance of unspent Family Planning Grant dollars for expenditure in 2008; increasing the Environmental Service Budget by $25,000, deferring 2007 dollars for payment of the consultant for work on the new Development Ordinance; increasing the County Building Budget by $51,500 for the Courthouse Historical Painting Project which was deferred from 2007; increase the Airport Budget by $8,000 for an airport security payment with an offsetting reduction in the County Budget Contingency. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve the following 2008 annual service charge for the Rural Fire Subordinate Service Taxing District at the same level as 2007 as recommended by the Rural Fire Protection Association: $70 for residential and commercial rates based on the following building valuation ranges: $5,000 up to $20,000 - $100; $20,000 up to $40,000 - $150; $40,000 up to $70,000 - $200; $70,000 up to $100,000 - $250; $100,000 up to $150,000 - $300; $150,000 up to $200,000 - $350;$200,000 up to $300,000 - $400; $300,000 up to $400,000 - $450; $400,000 up to $500,000 - $500; $500,000 up to $600,000 - $550; $600,000 or more - $600. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-21 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the Car Pool Committee for a separate and revised Car Pool Vehicle Usage Policy as presented. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-22 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs directing Administration to review the 1999 county-wide vehicle usage policy and provide a recommendation for an updated policy. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-23 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to accept the recommended draft Koochiching County Rural Addressing Ordinance as presented by the 911 Signage Committee and to present the draft ordinance to a public hearing. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to set a public hearing under M.S. 375.51 to receive public comment on the County’s intent to implement a Koochiching County Rural Addressing Ordinance with the hearing set for Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. in the County Courthouse boardroom. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-25 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to extend the 2007 physical and occupational therapy contract with Falls Memorial Hospital to accommodate County Home Care clients needing the service through 2008 as recommended by the Health Director and with no change in the contract from 2007. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-26 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for culverts and hired truck with a bid letting on April 14 and results to the County Board on April 15, 2008. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/03-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee hereby authorizing the Highway Engineer to submit the County State Aid Highway Designation for CSAH 155 between TH 332 and TH 11 to the Municipal Dispute Resolution Board:

WHEREAS, the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners authorized the County Engineer to apply for Federal High Priority Projects funds for construction of a connection road, herein referred to as CSAH 155, between TH 332 and TH 11 in 2002; and

WHEREAS, funding for this project was included in the last federal highway bill; and

WHEREAS, several public meetings were held by the County Board beginning in April, 2006 to receive input on this project and including the County Board’s support and appointment of County representation on a Burner Road Solution Task Force at the request of the City of International Falls; and

WHEREAS, the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners gave its approval for the CSAH 155 project in September, 2007; and

WHEREAS, the findings of the Burner Road Solution Task Force, provided in December, 2007, found that a majority saw the need to vacate the Burner Road for safety purposes as presented by Boise but there was no consensus with regards to a position on the County’s proposed CSAH 155 project; and

WHEREAS, following the Burner Road Solution Task Force report, a resolution from the City of International Falls was provided to the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners concluding their position that vacation of the Burner Road (within the City limits) is approved contingent upon the construction of a truck bypass from Highway 332 to Highway 11 abutting and serving the Foreign Trade Zone; and

WHEREAS, the Koochiching County Board held public comment sessions on January 29 and again on February 5, 2008 to review and discuss the pros and cons of the County’s CSAH 155 Project and the City’s position to route the road to the Foreign Trade Zone; and

WHEREAS, the Koochiching County Board on February 5, 2008 reaffirmed its September 2007 authorization for the Highway Engineer to proceed with his recommended CSAH 155 Project and
on February 19, 2008 designated this route as a County State Aid Highway;

WHEREAS, the proposed improvement is within the City of International Falls and therefore the County State Aid Highway designation must be approved by the City, and

WHEREAS, the City of International Falls took no action on the County’s request to support the County State Aid Highway designation at their March 3, 2008 council meeting; and

WHEREAS, the City of International Falls prefers that a road be constructed to the Foreign Trade Zone in lieu of the County’s proposed road; and

WHEREAS, the County needs to move forward with this project if this project is to have a construction letting date by October, 2009, the expiration date of the last federal highway bill.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the County of Koochiching requests that the Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation convene the Municipal Resolution Dispute Board to resolve the CSAH designation dispute for Koochiching County’s CSAH 155 Project. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director presented a proposal to the County Board for a Rainy Lake Water Quality Condition Assessment for an area from Tilson Creek to Sha Sha Point as a means to collect water quality data in the non-sewered areas of Rainy Lake. Voyageurs National Park, as explained by a representative of the Park, has an ongoing agreement with St. Cloud State University where each summer water testing is conducted and analyzed by University students and assisted by professors. Knowing the County was conducting a feasibility study on extension of sewer to this area, he suggested to the Environmental Service Director that maybe this service could be useful in collecting data to support the feasibility study and if so, the County could use the VNP partnership with the University to have the assessment done. The draft scope of work would include water quality analysis for impacts of fecal coliform, nitrates and phosphorus with a cost of $10,000. Board members were supportive of the study and requested the scope of work include some suggested island areas.

2008/03-28 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Environmental Service Director to enter into agreement with Voyageurs National Park and St. Cloud University for a Rainy Lake Water Quality Condition Assessment for an area from Tilson Creek to Sha Sha Point and to consider inclusion of suggested island areas with the assessment to collect water quality data in the non-sewered areas of Rainy Lake with a cost not to exceed $12,000 and further, authorizing the County Coordinator to submit a recommendation for funding the project. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director in conjunction with a representative from Benchmark Engineering, submitted the Wastewater Feasibility Study for the Tilson Creek to Sha Sha Point which researched and concluded feasible options for wastewater management in this area. The study concluded that extension of the municipal sewer was the most feasible option for wastewater management in this area at a cost estimate of $11 million. As the next step, it is recommended that the public be informed of the study and that the study is used with other supporting data, to find possible state and federal funding sources for determining a final cost to property owners and affordability of the project.

2008/03-29 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper accepting the Wastewater Feasibility Study for the Tilson Creek to Sha Sha Point area with the next step to begin public informational sessions to inform the public and those living in the area of the study and also, to begin seeking potential partnerships and funding sources for consideration of sewer in this planning area. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:00 p.m. Dan McCarthy addressed the Board with several items pertaining to agenda time, KEDA finances and the proposed water quality assessment plan. No other comment was presented.

2008/03-30 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 12:07 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.