REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, October 28, 2008; 10:25 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Jaci Nagle, Terry Murray, Vicki Sellner, John Engesser; Reporter
Lisa Kascke

2008/10-35 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-36 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes from the October 21, 2008 County Board meeting with revision. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-37 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to defer a Courthouse AFSCME Step 3 Grievance regarding documentation in a Personnel File to the Personnel Committee to review and recommend an employer’s position. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $62,577.12, to approve payment of the Public Health claims in the amount of $23,388.95, to approve payment of the Community Service Department financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented and to approve payment of Burial Case #272318 in the amount of $2,529.29. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve a one-day On Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor License for the Cingmars Farmers Club for the November 8, 2008 Annual Deer Hunters Dance as recommended by the County License Committee. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-40 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs to approve extension of the current CW Care Management Contract for information system services and support with no change as recommended by the I.S. Manager. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-41 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Community Service Director to renew the following service agreements with no rate change and with insurance limit changes as required by the County and contingent on the approval of the County Attorney. AEOA Congregate Meal Service Agreement, AEOA Home Delivered Meals Contract; AEOA SELF Service Agreement, AEOA MFIP Supported Work Grant Agreement, Blue Heron Counseling Service Agreement, Consumer Directions Service Agreement, First Call For Help Service Agreement, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Non-Financial Agreement, NEMOJT MFIP Supported Work Grant Agreement, Range Mental Health Service Agreement, Rational Alternatives Contract, School District 361 Non-Financial Agreement, School District 362 Service Agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-42 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Briggs to approve a service agreement with Someplace Safe Parenting Time Center as required under court order for parent visitation limited to $35 per hour at 6 hours a month (county dollars) contingent on the County Attorney’s approval and quarterly reports to the County Board on the status of this court ordered agreement. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-43 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew the Summit Fiscal Agency Service Agreement with no changes for case management for two waivered services clients as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-44 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Adee to approve a service participation agreement with UCare Minnesota Chemical Dependency Services for Rule 25 Assessment case management services as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/10-45 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson accepting the following Foster Care, Day Care and Adult Foster Care Licensing recommendations. Brian and Debbie Kittelson for child foster care of two children; Margaret Ellen Puckett for child foster care of one child; Michelle Koenig relicensing for group family day care for twelve children, Treana Schultz relicensing for group family day care for ten children; Carole Schulz relicensing for group family day care for fourteen children. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director updated the Board on the plan to utilize the $15,000 grant received for a Koochiching County Family Drug Treatment Court which is targeted to keep children with their parents by treating and monitoring the parents through the Court thereby eliminating placing the child out of the home. The grant requested to support the implementation of the court was $50,000 but only $15,000 was received. However, the Director felt this level of funding could cover the cost of extra hours of a social worker to support this court system. The Board also asked that the grant agreement allow for reimbursement of court appointed attorney cost associated with this court initiative, understanding that the successes of this court will eventually save county dollars in out of home placement costs. The Director stated that he would bring the grant agreement supporting this plan to the Board for their review and approval.

000 Representatives from the MN DNR Division of Lands and Minerals met with the Board to provide information on the State’s Mineral Lease Program and the January 2009 metallic minerals exploration and mining lease sale planned in Koochiching County. A total of 412 metallic mineral leases have been awarded in the county with nine of them active as of September 2008 and all being in the Consolidated Conservation Area. 15,000 acres (all in Township 158, Range 29) will be offered in the January 2009 metallic mineral lease sale with each lease having an annual rental of $1.50/acre per, escalating at year 3, 6, and 11 and the royalty rate determined by the sale with a minimum bid set at 3.95%. Metallic mineral lease revenue to Koochiching County consists of 50% from leases within the Consolidated Conservation Land area, 80% from leases on Tax Forfeited Lands and 40% from leases on Volstad Lands. To qualify for the lease, the bidder must be financially and technically capable of mining but there is no requirement as to when they must start mining.
The normal process of mineral exploration is a test of the overburden and if the conditions would merit mineral deposits, drilling would be done to further determine mineral deposit. If deposits are found, companies perform a feasibility study to determine whether to mine the area and if determined feasible, would need to go through the EIS/EAW process. In response to the question, a person determines if they own the mineral rights on their property by looking at their title. If the title is silent and there is not a severed mineral right filed in the Auditor’s Office where mineral rights were severed from the property and retained by another person and absent any other documentation to the contrary, it is assumed the property owner has the mineral rights. However, a property owner would want to have a professional title search done to verify mineral rights. In the case of tax forfeited severed mineral rights, the rights go to the State not the property. The Board thanked the representatives for the information and stated they would like information on the lease holders to contact them to discuss ways the county may assist them as this is potential natural resource development for the county.

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

2008/10-46 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.