REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, May 6, 2008; 10:00 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Ann Scholler, Jaci Nagle, Terry Glowack, Keith Knaeble, Della Warren, Terry Murray, Shawn Mason, Robert Goede, Raoul Lufbery, Dan McCarthy; Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2008/05-01 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes from the April 22, 2008 regular meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice of the temporary hire of Anita Gray in the Community Service Department and the hire notice of Assistant Engineer Michael Malachi on April 23, 2008.

2008/05-03 Motion by Adee, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of the monthly County Board expense claims in the amount of $4,078.43 and to approve payment to Flaherty & Hood in the amount of $1,429.42 as the final payment under the 2008 Lobbying Service Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-04 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs adopting the following resolution to approve Federal and State Grants for Improvement Projects at the International Falls/Koochiching County Airport:

To accept 2008 Federal Grant , reference # AIP 3-27-0043-20-08, and State Grants, reference # 3601-86 and #3601-87, when generated by the respective agencies for Airport Improvement Projects specific to the parking lot, hangar area development, equipment purchases and rehabilitating office space in the terminal building; and

That upon approval, to authorize the County Board Chair or the County Board Chair and County Attorney to execute the above grant documents on behalf of Koochiching County as specified by the issuing agency; and

That upon approval, to authorize the Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation to act as liaison for Koochiching County in administering the grants; and

That this resolution shall not apply to any grant agreement that does not include funding arrangements for the said stated projects. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-05 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to set a public hearing on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. for the purpose of receiving public comment for issuance of a off-sale liquor license to the Y-Knot Quick Stop as required by the State. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-06 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to cancel the May 13, 2008 scheduled County Board meeting and to designate the Assistant Auditor to approve the May 13 Auditor claims payout with claims to come before the County Board on May 20th for review and ratification. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-07 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to add to the agenda a report from Commissioner Pavleck on the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) Rule Making Process. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck, represented on the BWSR Advisory Committee for the WCA rule making process, informed the Board that proposals are on the table to create wetland buffer zones of 50 feet in rural areas and 25 feet in municipalities and that BSWR wants all projects reported even if the project area is exempt under WCA. Though not in the form of a proposal, discussion was held on eliminating any exceptions and applying the same replacement ratio in all situations. If these proposals are passed, it negates the flexibility granted to Koochiching County in the State's approval of Koochiching County's Wetland Flexibility Plan.

2008/05-08 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs accepting the recommendation of the I.S. Manager to approve a 12 month training and service agreement with Rowekamp Associates, Inc. in the amount of $2,000 for GIS professional consulting and training services to provide training and support to the County's GIS/Network Specialist with review of the agreement by the County Attorney and further, to authorize an internal I.S. Budget transfer of $2,000 from 01-060-064.6665 to 01-060-064.6276 to accommodate the payment. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-09 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve payment up to $1,700 to upgrade the Arc Editor License for the Arc Info System to increase the County GIS System capabilities and further, that to cover the maintenance cost for the upgrade, to approve an internal I.S. Budget transfer of $1,500 from 01-060-064.6665 to 01-060-064.6305 as recommended by the I.S. Manager. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-10 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a service agreement with CW Technology at a cost of $4,600 to provide high level expertise in planned work for server configuration set-up, network re-configuration and security device improvements as recommended by the I.S. Manager with review of the agreement by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/05-11 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to accept the recommendation of the Complex Superintendent to purchase a 2007 48" Zero Turn Mower at a cost of $4,180.13 to replace the 1996 Yardman Mower rather than seek quotes for a mower replacement to take advantage of the close out sale of 2007 models which supply is limited. Further, to authorize an internal Complex Budget adjustment moving $600 from 01-110-200.6660 and $600 from 01-113.6660 to 01-110.6660 to cover the purchase price. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs; voting no: Pavleck. Motion carried.

2008/05-12 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to donate the 1996 Yardman Mower to Sentence to Serve, which provides mowing for some of the County's facilities and parks. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Koochiching County Drug Court Coordinator presented a request for the County's support of a $50,000 Implementation Grant to support the Koochiching County Family Dependency Treatment Court, which as explained at the meeting, would cover the cost of a part time County social worker to do case management for the Family Dependency Treatment Court. In response to questions, it was stated that the grant application deadline is May 15, 2008 and if approved, the grant period will be July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. The Community Service Director stated that per the grant terms, existing staff can not be used and that the grant will cover the position's cost plus the position itself will bring in more reimbursement revenue. The Director strongly supported the plan as the Family Court System is hoped to bring a solution to many of the County's child protection and out of home placement matters. Though Board members supported the efforts of the team to bring forth this needed Court system, the Board members were not aware that the request on the agenda to support the Court program meant hiring a county employee. The Board was willing to provide their support at this point for the grant application but could not act on the position request without a review and recommendation from the County's Personnel Committee.

2008/05-13 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee to support the Implementation Grant Application for a Koochiching County Family Dependency Treatment Court in the amount of $50,000 to obtain the services of a social worker to conduct case management for the court system and further, providing the Koochiching County Board's support for establishment of the Family Dependency Treatment Court as an alternative solution to protection and out of home placement for children of Koochiching County. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair deferred the proposal to hire a part time social worker to the Personnel Committee for review and recommendation to the County Board.

000 The Mayor of the City of International Falls provided the City's 2008-2009 Strategic Action Plan to the County Board and highlighted the plan's strategies.

000 The County's MCIT Representative reviewed the annual Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust (MCIT) report which provides risk management and self insurance programs for Minnesota counties for general liability, property and casualty and workers compensation coverage. The report provided an overview of programs, finances and claim data overall and specific to Koochiching County.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:50 a.m. Acting VNP Superintendent Raoul Lufbery informed the Board that VNP received a $1.4 million federal allotment to build a new 49 passenger tour boat for Rainy Lake. It will be a first class 50-foot handicapped accessible craft and the anticipated delivery date is June 2010, hopefully sooner. The Board was informed that 40% of the visitors to the Park come without a boat. Dan McCarthy provided comment opposing the City of International Falls request to have reserved time at County Board meetings and opposing continued County funding to the KEDA.

2008/05-14 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 12:00 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.