Koochiching County Board Minutes

Board Minutes

for

March 10, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 10, 2009; 10:00 a.m.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Rob Ecklund, Donna Hoffer, Berry Sherwood, Dennis Hummitzsch, Pam Rooney, Richard Lehtinen, Doug Grindall, Aarden Barnes, Chris Mostad, Dave Serrano; Reporters Lisa Kaczke and Sheldon Slaubaugh

2009/03-14 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the minutes from the March 3, 2009 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-16 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the employment separation of LPN Traci Wilke effective March 9, 2009. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $37,034.21 and authorize the Board Chair’s signature to the Auditor’s February vendor payment listing verifying its review. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-18 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride ratifying the Board Chair’s authorization to have the County help sponsor the March 14, 2009 Town Hall Meeting in International Falls in which legislators will attend to discuss and hear concerns and ideas on the State Budget crisis with the County contributing to the meeting expense up to $100; further to approve attendance by Board members as a County Board activity. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 On behalf of the American United Steel Workers and several other International Unions, a resolution was presented to the County Board supporting the “Buy American” stipulation in the Federal Stimulus Plan. Adoption of the resolution by local units of government further strengthens support to get America working.

2009/03-19 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to adopt the following resolution to buy American and get America working:

WHEREAS, the economic downturn is having a critical impact on everyday Americans who are struggling to maintain or find jobs in an increasingly difficult environment; and

WHEREAS, those same Americans are the taxpayers that provide the revenue needed to operate essential government services; and

WHEREAS, Congress and President Obama are planning a taxpayer-sponsored economic recovery package that will provide billions of dollars to help economically devastated cities and states immediately provide jobs to millions of out-of-work Americans through considerable infrastructure rebuilding, green energy projects and other projects that will require manufactured components; and

WHEREAS, our taxpayer dollars should be spent to maximize the creation of American jobs and restoring the economic vitality of our communities; and

WHEREAS, any domestically produced products that are purchased with economic recovery plan monies will immediately help struggling American families and will help stabilize our greater economy, and

WHEREAS, any economic recovery plan spending should – to every extend possible – include a commitment from Koochiching County to buy materials, goods and services for projects from companies that are produced within the United States, thus employing the very workers that pay the taxes for the economic recovery plan spending in the first place.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Koochiching County Board will work to maximize the creation of American jobs and restoring economic growth and opportunity by spending economic recovery plan funds on products and services that both create jobs and help keep Americans employed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Koochiching County Board is committed to purchasing only products and services that are made or performed in the United States of America whenever and wherever possible with any economic recovery monies provided to Koochiching County by the American taxpayer. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-20 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride to approve payment of $959.60 from the Car Pool Account for Road Side Assistance with Paragon Motor Club as recommended by the Car Pool. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 A representative for the U.S. Census Bureau met with the Board to discuss local support to help promote local participation in the 2010 Census count, to begin April 1, 2010. The census, which is done every ten years, provides the population base for legislative redistricting and federal funding distribution. To help promote participation of the local population, the representative recommended forming a Recount Committee of county-wide representation to provide information to the census counters and to promote the importance of the census to the county and cities within and the need for the County population to participate in the count. In discussion, the representative stated that census questionnaires contain 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Questionnaires will be mailed but they can only be mailed to physical addresses. Therefore the number of individuals receiving mail through post offices will not get a survey mailed to them. This is one area where a Recount Committee can help guide counters for home visits and/or help find convenient sites and get the word out where census questionnaires can be picked up. The Board Chair stated that he and the Environmental Service Director will meet first to discuss the County Recount Committee and/or ways the County can assist in promoting participation in the census and contact the representative with a plan.

2009/03-21 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the Land Commissioner to accept the service agreement from Pro-West for preparation of a Management Plan for Koochiching County Administered Land to include working with an advisory committee to be determined by the County Board and with funding planned in the 2009 Land and Forestry Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-22 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a contract with Kvien Document Imaging for Phase III of the scanning document project at a cost of $24,500 as recommended by the County Recorder and with funding in the 2009 Recorder Project Budget. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-23 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the Final Plat of Eagle’s Nest on Black Bay as recommended by the Environmental Service Director and to authorize the required County officials’ signatures to said Final Plat. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-24 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for road striping as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

2009/03-25 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to call for annual bids for hired truck, nuisance beaver removal from County lands and roads, and for metal, plastic and concrete culverts as recommended by the Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment: Berry Sherwood, Intl Falls business owner, requested the Board to revote the Highway 332 Project and vote it down due to the route becoming a city by-pass and hurting business. In response to a Board member stating that there are many interests in this project, he stated that there is an understanding for Boise’s concern with the Burner Road but all the discussion of development to date has led those opposing the road to believe it will be a city business by-pass. Allen Kruse requested committee time with the County Board to present his road proposal as an alternate to the County’s Plan for Highway 332, which he presented already to the International Falls City Council. Chris Mostad, International Falls business owner, requested the Highway 332 Project be put back on the County Board agenda for reconsideration as this is a concern weighing heavily on business owners as becoming a by-pass to city businesses. Aarden Barnes stated that the snow being dumped next to first creek should be dumped away from the creek to allow the snow to filter due to potential pollutants. The Board Chair stated that this is the City’s site and to contact the City with this concern.

2009/03-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to adjourn at 11:25 a.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper. Motion carried.