REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, January 13, 2009; 10:30 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dr. Wayne Merrell, Doug Grindall, Allen Kruse, Della Warren and several County Drug Court Team Members, Representatives and Community Supporters; Reporter Lisa Kaczke

2009/01-11 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The RRCC Provost met with the Board to report on the College. This semester they have 221 full time students and believe the number will grow to 250 for the academic year. With the Governor’s unallotment in December 2008, RRCC was cut $64,000 which they believe adjustments can be made without interruption of services. They continue to focus on programs to support health care and industrial technology and will be enhancing the building and trade program with School District 361 with focus on green environment and sustainability, needing $40,000 in start up cost. They are also looking to start up a baseball team which would bring 20 students to the College and would need about $20,000 start up cost for this venture. When asked, the Provost stated the College was built for a capacity of 350 students, top enrollment was 520 and that the College Budget is $3.6 million. Their goal is to increase enrollment to 450 through more promotion and program development. The College is also encouraging on line classes, providing tuition revenue but reducing overhead cost for the college. Board members expressed their appreciation to the Provost for his commitment to the College and Community and acknowledged the value of the College to the County and the work done to diversify the curriculum to meet the needs of the area labor force. The Board members stated that KEDA and/or the Community Development Partnership may be able to assist the College in some of their start up funding needs and/or promotion efforts and encouraged the Provost to contact these economic development agencies.

2009/01-12 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes from the January 6, 2009 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice of the temporary hires in the Health Department as authorized by the County Board: LPN RaeAnn Taylor and Home Health Aide Idha Jaszcak.

2009/01-13 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to approve the 2008 County Pay Equity Report and authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to said Report for submission to the State as required under the Local Government Pay Equity Act. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried

2009/01-14 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $156,027.10 and to authorize the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s December Vendor Payment Listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried

000 The Board received the final draft of the 2009 County Committee Listing with the 2009 Board Chair appointments. It was noted that a Board Chair appointment was needed for an alternate on the NE MN Regional Radio Joint Powers Board. The Chair asked Board members to review their schedules for availability for this appointment.

2009/01-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to reappoint Bob Anderson to a two-year term of the Citizen-at- Large position on the International Falls/Koochiching County Airport Commission. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/01-16 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the Highway Engineer’s certification that the Annual Bridge Safety Inspection for the year 2008 has been completed as required by MN Statute 165.03, Subdivision 3 and Minnesota Rule 8810. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/01-17 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for annual fuel bids for bulk delivery and in and out county service stations with bid results presented at the February 10, 2009 County Board meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/01-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck that due to the Postal Service declining regular mail service to about 16 residents affected by the long detour route caused by the Lindford Bridge construction, directing the Highway Engineer to work with the Postal Service on mail delivery options to accommodate these residents for the remaining time that the detour is required for the bridge construction project. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/01-19 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to approve two County Veteran Service
Office Enhancement Grant Agreements with the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs in the
amount of $5,400 for equipment and $10,380 for outreach advertising with no local match and
authorizing the Board Chair’s signatures to said Grant Agreements; further to reallocate the use
of funds under the Veteran Service Operational Improvement State Grant approved under
2008/09-05 in the amount of $2,800 from computer purchase to other purchases as allowed
under the grant to support the Veteran Service Office operations. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride,
Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The County Drug Court Coordinator along with Drug Court Team members and
representatives met with the Board to provide testimony as to the value of this program to repeat
drug and/or alcohol offenders in the court system as an alternate to jail time and giving them
a second chance for a productive life as well as providing the county taxpayers savings in jail
costs and social service costs. Three individuals of who were drug court participants,
testified as to how the County Drug Court saved their lives from ongoing drug and alcohol abuse
and gave them a second chance in life. Representatives of the County Drug Court informed the
Board that state funding to support the County’s Drug Court will receive cuts. The coordination
and administration of the Drug Courts is viewed as a State Court Service, and though the state
was providing funding for the probationary function of the Drug Court, this function will fall
back on the County. The Representatives stated they are looking at other means to bring in
funding sources for the program as it is too valuable to lose and asked the Board to make this a
top priority. Board members did not disagree with the value of this program, but stated that the
County needs to know what they are facing with the $5.5 billion state deficit before they can
prioritize services. The Drug Court Coordinator reported that the $15,000 for the Family
Dependency Court would continue to be funded by the State and is working on an Otto
Bremer Grant for a full time social worker and testing equipment to support this court service.
There are three participants in the Family Dependency Court at this time. With regards to the
Drug Court, it has been in operation for 5 years with 60 participants in total, 29 graduated, 15
terminated for reoffending and 12 actively participating. The Board specially thanked the three
participants for coming in and providing their life story in support of the Drug Court.

2009/01-20 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee that due to questions on the Planning Commission’s intent and the unavailability of the E.S. Director to resolve the matter by the January 20, 2009 County Board meeting, to grant an extension under the County Subdivision Ordinance on the deadline for final approval of the Plat of Eagle’s Nest from January 20, 2009 to March 1, 2009 to allow the matter to be further reviewed by the E.S. Director and/or Planning Commission and Plat Surveyor to resolve matters for Final Plat approval. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:00 p.m. No comment was presented.

2009/01-21 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride to adjourn the meeting at 12:00 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.