REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, April 15, 2008; 11:00 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper

MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Briggs (illness)

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Richard Lehtinen, Brian Youso, Doug Grindall; Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2008/04-24 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2008/04-25 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the April 8, 2008 regular meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2008/04-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $55,016.03 and to authorize the Board Chair's signature to the Auditor's March vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2008/04-27 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the County Assessor to abate property for Dean Blummer, Parcel # 92-120-03010, for taxes payable 2008 for relative homestead credit. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2008/04-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee approving a Safe and Sober Grant of $3,500.00 as recommended by the Sheriff for public awareness and enforcement of the seat belt law for a grant period of May 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008 and further, authorizing the required County Officials signatures to the Grant Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2008/04-29 Motion by Adee, seconded by Hanson providing the County's conceptual support for proposed infrastructure projects at the International Falls/Koochiching County Airport requiring up to $50,000 from the County as a local match (equal amount from the City of International Falls) to be provided in the form of a loan and/or grant dependent on the project and grant funding. Further, that the Airport Commission will finalize their projects, funding and local match need and present it to the County Board for a final determination. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 Board members reported on various issues from the AMC Legislative Conference. In summary, the legislature along with the Governor are at odds on many issues and though they continue to work on the state budget deficit for this session, the report for next year is the state budget shortfall will be more staggering and the impact will be felt by everyone. A report was provided on the Bovine virus being brought in to cattle herds by deer and the various environmental and natural resources bills, which are being watched very closely by northern counties.

000 The Environmental Service Director provided the Board the response from the Scenic Byways Commission to insert three signage gaps into the Highway 11 Scenic Byway as follows: 1) in Birchdale from County Road 4 to miles east; 2) in Pelland Junction, from 1,000 feet west of Highway 71 to 2,000 feet east of Highway 71; 3) in International Falls, from County Road 106 to Highway 53. Loman was not in the Commission's proposal, which was the area that brought the whole gap signage issue to the forefront and specifically requested by the County. Board members questioned why the Commission did not approve the County's request to include the Loman area. The Director could not answer the question but stated that as a part of the Commission's proposal, their next step would be to conduct an on site viewing of the gap areas which could accommodate a viewing of the Loman area at the Board's request to reconsider gap signage in this area. The Board concurred and requested the Director to follow up with the Commission to schedule the onsite viewing and to include the Loman area with the County's request to reconsider this area for gap signage.

2008/04-30 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the Sheriff's recommendation for low bid from Wherley Motors for a 2008 Ford F150 4x4 pickup with a trade in of the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab pickup for a final bid price of $20,267.95 and a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria with a trade in of a 2005 Chevrolet Impala and 2000 Ford Taurus LX for a final bid price of $18,691.95 with the bid prices including vehicle tax and fees. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2008/04-31 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson accepting the Highway Engineer's recommendation for low bid for riveted and spiral corrugated steel culverts and aluminum coated spiral culverts from Contech Construction Products (no bids received on the concrete culverts) and to award low bid for the hired tandem axle dump truck and tractor and trailer combination to James Kennedy for all zones with second award on the hired tractor and trailer combination for Zones 4 and 7 to Tim Miovac. Detailed bid information is on file in the Highway Department. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.
000 The Highway Engineer provided a report on the Municipal Dispute Resolution Board process and outcome with regards to the County's proposed CSAH 155 between TH 332 and TH 11 Road Project. In summary, the Board determined there was a dispute between the County and City of International Falls on the project, approved unanimously the County's route be designated as a CSAH without concurrence by the City and the County's project plan approval by the City be granted concurrently with the County State Aid Highway designation in order to avoid placing federal funds at risk with the understanding the County will work with the City, Mn/DOT, and Boise to develop an acceptable design that meets state aid and Mn/DOT standards and the needs of all parties. In addition, during preparation for the hearing and in review at the hearing, turn back of the Burner Road, formerly County Road 24, would go back to the County as the original road authority under Minnesota Statute absent a formal agreement with the City of International Falls, which the County has no record of. The next step in the project is to work on the federal environmental documents and soil borings for the project plan with September 2009 as the target date for a completed plan.
000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:05 p.m. No comment was presented.

000 The Board Chair adjourned the meeting at 12:05 p.m.