REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, November 25, 2008; 9:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Terry Glowack, Susan Congrave, Terry Murray, Doug Grindall,
Dennis Hummitzsch, Art Norton, Jennell Feller, LeAnn Meer, Einar Sundin, Arden Barnes;
Reporter Lisa Kascke

2008/11-22 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-23 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Hanson to approve the minutes from the November 18, 2008 County Board meeting. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $33,407.70, 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 #47038 in the amount of $802.72 and #236077 in the amount of $840.63. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-25 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of Administration Department to waive the 25 payroll deduction limit in the County Payroll Deduction Policy for the 10 applications received by employees for payroll deductions to the United Way. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the County’s License Committee granting the following 2009 Liquor Licenses to: Christiansen Store, 3.2% On/Off Sale Malt Liquor; Sandbeck, Bruce D. DBA Loon’s Nest, 3.2% Off Sale Malt Liquor; Blais, Diane DBA Korner Kwik Stop, 3.2% Off Sale Malt Liquor; T-Bird Lodge Inc DBA Thunderbird Lodge, On/Off/Sunday Intoxicating; Lindberg, Steven G. DBA Rainy Lake One Stop, 3.2% Off Sale Malt Liquor; Rainy Lake Spirits LLC, Off Sale Intoxicating License; Nelson, Ralph D. & Joy M. DBA Nelson’s Store, Off Sale Intoxicating License; McAuley, Malcolm & Becky DBA Woodland Inn, On/Off/Sunday Intoxicating Sales; Roadhouse Night Club Inc, On Sale/Sunday Intoxicating Sales; Milette Properties Inc DBA Sha Sha Resort, On/Off/Sunday Intoxicating Sales; Guderian, Daryl & Terri DBA Country Sampler & Saloon, On/Off/Sunday Intoxicating Sales; LBC Enterprises Inc DBA Lu’s, On/Off/Sunday Intoxicating Sales; 19th Hole Inc, On Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Sales. Further, accepting the recommendation of the County’s License Committee granting the following 2009 Tobacco Licenses to: Christiansen Store, Korner Kwik Stop, The Loon’s Nest, “Y” Knot Quick Stop, Woodland Inn, 65 Express, Nelson’s Store, Thunderbird Lodge, Rainy Lake One Stop, Lu’s, Road House Night Club. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Complex Superintendent provided the annual building inspection report stating that overall the buildings appearance, grounds, structure and interior are in good shape with exception of the old Mizpah garage. With the abandonment of polling places in some of the old township buildings in the county due to the facility not being handicapped accessible, the Board directed an inventory of these buildings for county ownership and a recommendation as to their disposal from county ownership. The Board also directed a plan to maintain the county property purchased to allow for the installation of the tank for the Jackfish Sewer Project until the house is sold. The Complex Superintendent recommended a telephone system alarm for the heating system, periodically checking the property and plowing the drive. Commissioner Pavleck at the advisement of legal council recommended the plan include $1,200 to correct the property line for resell and the Board agreed. The Complex Superintendent will submit a property maintenance budget to the Coordinator to finalize and submit for Board approval.

2008/11-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the annual building inspection report from the Complex Superintendent and directives to inventory old township buildings for county ownership and disposal and submitting a maintenance plan for the property purchased for the sewer project until sold. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Health Director provided the Department’s Quarter 3, 2008 Financial and Statistical Report and November Director’s report for review.

2008/11-28 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee acknowledging the November 20, 2008 minutes from the Professional Advisory Committee meeting as presented by the Health Director and to set up a meeting with the private home care service agencies to review information as reported in the Director’s report on home care service in the county. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-29 Motion by Briggs, seconded by Lepper to approve a Letter of Agreement with the Littlefork Medical Center for medical consultant services for the Public Health Department as recommended by the Health Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-30 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to renew service agreements for AEOA employment and training services and NEMOJT employment and training services with a decrease in rates as a result of decreased state funding as recommended by the KCCS Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-31 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew services agreements for AEOA volunteer drivers and with Sharon Frank for Rule 25 Assessments as recommended by the KCCS Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Board agreed to defer approval the Kootasca Senior Coordinator Service Agreement until the December 23 Board meeting to allow the Board to meet with the Senior Solutions Committee to review 2009 plans for the proposed non-profit Senior Solutions Agency.

2008/11-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve the Ita Bel Koo rate variance request as recommended by the KCCS Director. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the following Foster Care, Day Care and Adult Foster Care Licensing recommendations: licensing Patricia Beasley for special infant toddler day care for nine children; relicensing Tracy Gunnerson for group family day care for ten children; relicensing LuAnn McBride for group family day care for ten children. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-34 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper requesting Mn/DOT to place advance road numbering signs for every CSAH, County Road and paved Township Road after a section of roadway is reconstructed on TH 11 between the west County line and TH 71 at Pelland Junction as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the November 12th Timber Auction: 18,539 cords sold at a total auction value of $454,878 with all 20 tracts sold in the intermediate auction and 17 of 19 sold in the regular auction. The Land Commissioner reported that with the cold temperatures, timber permits are starting to open.

2008/11-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs approving the November 12th Timber Auction report as presented by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-36 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew a Joint Powers Agreement with the MnDNR for the purpose of including County Forest Development Projects on State contracts with no change in terms and as recommended by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

2008/11-37 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee accepting the Land Commissioner’s recommendation to approve repurchase of tax forfeited property described as Lots 7 and 8, Block 63 in the Plat of International Falls per County Policy. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner provided a handout on the formation of a new partnership to explore Ecosystem Service Markets for Northern Minnesota which will study the potential of carbon credits for managed forest lands.

000 A representative of the Nature Conservancy provided an update on the State Forest Legacy Program in which state conservation easements are being pursued with Forest Capital to guarantee public access for recreation and sustainable timber and forest management on their lands, (2.2 million acres of Boise timber land across the country was sold to Forest Capital Partner with 300,000 acres located in northern Minnesota). The Phase I state conservation easement with Forest Capital of 51,163 acres is completed with 80% of the acreage in Koochiching County. The Phase 2 and 3 Project is a federal and state easement with a portion of the project funded at this time. With regards to the Phase 2 and 3 Project, the representative stated that a hearing to activate the funding is being planned in 2009 and the County Board recommended the hearing be held in the spring. A Phase 4 Easement Project will consist of another 13,500 acres in Koochiching and Itasca Counties and is being presented today for support of the County Board.

2008/11-38 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Briggs authorizing the Board Chair to sign a letter from the Koochiching County Board supporting the plan for the State of Minnesota Forest Legacy Phase IV Conservation Easement with Forest Capital for a working forest easement of 13,500 acres located in southern Koochiching and northern Itasca counties. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.

000 The ODC Coordinator provided the Board with an update on the Occupational Development Center services and activities, stating there are 60 consumers in the program at this time and that they are working with the schools to assist students that may be eligible for the program. With regards to the production plant, the head office redirected plans from establishing a new facility to negotiating for an existing facility, which is occurring at this time. Though the wetland mitigation for the production plant site in the City’s Industrial Plant became a stumbling block for the original plan, it provided the opportunity for the company to step back and rethink the plan. The Coordinator stated that at this time, they will continue to rent the County facility until mid to late 2010. The Coordinator thanked the County for their continued support in contracting services with ODC and providing the needed jobs in the community. The Board returned the thanks for providing a needed service in the community.

000 Friends Against Abuse Director met with the Board to request assistance from the County to keep the program running. The Director stated that state funds supporting their program have been reduced but their cost continues to rise. There is no doubt that this service is needed in the County but resources are needed to keep it viable. 3.5 staff runs the program along with trained volunteers. There is not a funding crisis at the moment but eventually the lack of funding is going to catch up and impact the program. They are willing to look at any collaborative ideas to find a resolution to their funding problem. The Board agreed that the service is needed and assists the County in reducing out of home placement of children. The Board agreed to defer the $5,000 funding request to the 2009 Budget for consideration.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:40 a.m. In reference to the discussion of out of home placement of children, Einar Sundin commented that parents need to be accountable for their acts and the impact on their children and Arden Barnes stated that more needs to be invested in education and prevention of abusive relationships.

2008/11-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Voting yes: Pavleck, Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Briggs. Motion carried.