REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, September 9, 2008; 10:45 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Jaci Nagle, Richard Lehtinen, Doug Grindall, Einar Sundin;
Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2008/09-01 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-02 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the August 26, 2008 County Board meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-03 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $78,316.61, and to approve payment of the monthly County Board expense claims in the amount of $10,446.97. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-04 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve a FY08 Homeland Security Grant Agreement with the State of Minnesota allocating funds to Koochiching County in the amount of $125,000.00 for radio equipment with the grant funding received on a reimbursement basis and further, to authorize the County Sheriff and Board Chair signatures to said Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-05 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve a FY09 County Veterans Service Officer Operational Improvement Grant Agreement with the State of Minnesota allocating funds to Koochiching County in the amount of $2,800.00 for computer equipment as recommended by the I.S. Manager and further, to authorize the County Veteran Service Officer’s signature to said Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-06 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper appointing the Payroll/Benefit Coordinator and the Recorder Clerk as designees for the two County Board members to serve on the 2008 Primary and General Elections Canvassing Board. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-07 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee approving the proposed 2009 County gross levy at $3,677,261 (3% increase over last year of $107,000). The 2009 proposed levy breakdown is as follows: General Revenue - $1,727,261; Community Service - $1,200,000; Public Health - $100,000; Highway - $500,000; Environmental Services - $150,000. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs Motion carried.

2008/09-08 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve the 2009 tax levies for the following approved subordinate service taxing districts and to pay the respective 2009 service contract amounts: Littlefork Ambulance Service levy of $46,000, Northome First Responders Service levy of $6,000, and Rainy River First Responders Service levy of $9,900 and further, to approve the 2009 tax levies for the following approved fire service taxing districts and to pay the respective 2009 service contract amounts: Fire District 1 (Northome) levy of $8,200, Fire District 2 (Littlefork) levy of $59,445, Fire District 2 (Loman) levy of $8,200, Fire District 3 (Birchdale) levy of $9,900, Fire District 4 (Williams) levy of $2,500, and Fire District 5 (Big Falls) levy of $20,120. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-09 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation to appoint Jeff Klow to the East Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District Board. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-10 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve application for an Underage Alcohol Drinking Prevention Grant in the amount of $1,800.00 to be used in collaboration with law enforcement and the schools for prevention of underage drinking as recommended by the Public Health Director and the Sheriff and further, authorizing the County Sheriff and Board Chair signatures to said Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-11 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs approve expenditure up to $12,200 for the purchase of an HP Design Jet plotter to be used by all county GIS users as recommended by the I.S. Manager and further, to authorize an internal I.S. Budget transfer of $3,700 from 01-060-064.6666 to 01-060-064.6665 to accommodate the payment . Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-12 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper supporting the Gapping of Three Urban Areas along Minnesota Scenic Byway Highway 11 at Birchdale, Loman and Pelland Junction:

WHEREAS, the State Highway 11 “Waters of the Dancing Sky” within Koochiching County is designated a State Scenic Byway, and;

WHEREAS, MN/DOT is required by federal law not to allow new off-premise advertising signs along Federal Aid Primary routes on designated scenic byways except where there are approved “gaps”; and

WHEREAS, Koochiching County receives benefits from tourism and is eligible for federal funding for projects along designated scenic byways;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD that Koochiching County supports the following signage “gaps” being added for the State Highway 11 “Waters of the Dancing Sky” as a Minnesota Scenic Byway within Koochiching County: 1) Birchdale, from County Road 4 to ¾ miles east; 2) Loman, from County Road 32 to 0.5 miles east; 3) Pelland Junction, from 1,000 feet west of Highway 71 to 2,000 feet east of Highway 71. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director reported on the Jackfish Bay Sewer Project stating that Wagner Construction performed work beyond the contract to include extra hook-ups and additional work at both Slurper’s Island and one of the grinder station sites. The amount requested by the contractor for the additional work was negotiated with the Jackfish Bay Sewer Committee and approved. Board members expressed their gratitude to the Jackfish Bay Sewer Committee for their efforts in the project.

2008/09-13 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the final Change Order #3 authorizing payment of $78,999.65 to Wagner Construction, Inc. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-14 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the employment separation of Engineer Technician Jeff Larson effective September 17, 2008. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/09-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs that until the Minnesota Transportation Commissioner’s decision is known, to authorize the Highway Engineer to continue utilization of legal representation from Ratwik, Roszak and Malony, P.A. as needed in representing the County’s interest in the TH 332 Project and until such time as MCIT would become involved again with any continued legal action by the City of International Falls in disputing the project. Further, to authorize payment of interim legal claims from the Highway Budget, anticipating project funding reimbursement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:50 a.m. No comment was presented.

2008/09-16 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 p.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.