Koochiching County Board Minutes

Board Minutes

for

March 24, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 24, 2009; 10:15 a.m.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dennis Hummitzsch, Don Fulton, Rob Boyd, Betsy Jensen, Jerry Snyker, Mike Rohm, Chris Mostad, Karen Hedtke, Al Crawford, Rob Trompeter, Roger Jerome, Walter Leu, Doug Grindall, Ed Oerichbauer, Arden Barnes, John Bruggeman, Jay Squire via telephone, Phil Miller; Reporters Lisa Kaczke and Sheldon Slaubaugh

2009/03-39 Motion by McBride, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/03-40 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to approve the minutes from the March 17, 2009 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/03-41 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride accepting the recommendation of the County Personnel Committee authorizing the Land Commissioner to fill a Forester position left vacant as a result of a retirement. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/03-42 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $37,098.80; to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $88,184.68; to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $11,704.82; to approve payment of the Community Service Department financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/03-43 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee authorizing attendance as a Board activity for Commissioner Adee to attend the Associated Contract Logger’s annual meeting on April 7, 2009. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/03-44 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride adopting the following resolution in support of KOOTASCA’s Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program:

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, State of Minnesota, has been authorized to undertake a program to provide Family Homeless Prevention assistance; and

WHEREAS, KOOTASCA, Inc. has developed an application as an Administering Entity for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program; and

WHEREAS, KOOTASCA, Inc. has demonstrated the ability to perform the required activities of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that KOOTASCA, Inc. is hereby authorized as an entity to be charged with the administration of funds made available through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program in the County of Koochiching. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Land Commissioner reviewed the results of the 2008 Timber and Land Sale Revenue Apportionment which resulted in net receipts being lower than the previous year but the apportionment amounts a little higher due to not allocating a portion of the revenues to the Land and Forestry Fund reserves for parks and forestry purposes.

000 Due to advertisement in the newspaper to attend the County Board meeting at 10:30 a.m. for comment on the Highway 332 Project, the County Board opened session for public comment on the Highway 332 Project. The Chair acknowledged written comment from a downtown business owner supporting the other businesses in opposing the Highway 332 Project. Several people representing International Falls downtown and Highway 53 businesses as well as the Chamber’s President provided comment to the County Board opposing the Highway 332 Project as being a by-pass to the City and businesses, which will have a negative impact on businesses needing tourism to survive and have a long term impact to the community, schools and county as a whole as businesses fold and jobs and population are lost. Some mentioned the by-pass that occurred by Brainerd and the negative impact that can clearly be seen in the downtown area. Others commented on the Burner Road and questioned the need to vacate the road for Boise purposes and others asked the County Board to have dialogue with the other involved parties and find another resolution. Commissioner Pavleck stated that this project came to the table with support of all the parties and the Chamber and during this process other routes were looked at. The County’s Project is the only route that was feasible in the sense it is the easiest route, the less expensive route, supported by MnDot and funded 100% by federal and state dollars. Can other routes be built such as the City’s FTZ proposal, yes but at the local taxpayer’s expense. So while the City and Chamber have changed positions on this route, to ask the County to look at different routes is asking the County to support a less feasible road option at the public’s expense. Lastly, that the County Board still has the interests of others supporting this route to consider. Commissioner McBride stated that he will listen to his constituents and will propose a resolution at the first meeting in April to end the County’s Highway 332 Project.

000 A MnDot Representative met with the Board to review the ATP process and reviewed the eight proposed projects for the Koochiching County area for 2010 to 2013 for an estimated total of $17 million. The Board also reviewed information from the MnDot District 2 Planning Engineer on the work plan for Trunk Highway 11 from Baudette to Pelland Junction. The MnDot representative stated that the gas tax increase helped provide funding to deal with the state’s road and bridge system but funding is still inadequate compared to the needs for improvements. In addition, the federal stimulus dollars going to road projects in rural areas in the State is less than 2%. The Board thanked the representatives for coming and providing information on road projects for the area.

2009/03-45 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride that in review of funding sources and service needs to authorize the Highway Engineer to fill the vacant Engineering Technician position. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The City of Ranier Mayor informed the Board that the CN trains come through the City about 30 times a day, with the number to increase. At times, these trains sit idle across the road for 20 minutes or longer, blocking the road and fumigating the air. Though there is another route to take if the train is blocking the road, the City would support a shorter route for response time in emergency situations. The Highway Engineer stated that he has been looking at the train concerns with Commissioner Pavleck and City representatives and for this particular issue, there is an opportunity to purchase right of way to accommodate this shorter route as requested by the City, however price of the land and price of the road project are the pending issues. The other option that was reviewed, is putting a sign on Highway 11 that would indicate a train is crossing in the City of Ranier to notify the driver to take the alternative route now in place if they need to. Commissioner Pavleck stated that in addition to this concern, CN still has not corrected the problem with the blockage that occurs on the Van Lynn Road or with the lift bridge in Ranier and they should be working with the local government on these issues. With regards to the Ranier road project, the group felt there was potential to secure federal funds for the project due to the issue involving the railroad.

2009/03-46 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to get an appraisal for the right of way property for the proposed alternate route for the City of Ranier, to contact MCIT to see if other counties have had similar concerns with railroad operations in their counties and what avenues counties can take to resolve matters and lastly, to notify CN to remind them of the pending concerns of Koochiching County that need resolution. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment: Aarden Barnes stated that similar problems with the railroad occurred in another state and due to public complaints the railroad is now making adjustments. And as a resident of Ranier, she is concerned with the fumes coming from the trains as they sit idling for minutes at a time. John Bruggeman stated that there is a public health concern with the trains fumes and noise in the City of Ranier. With no further comment, the Board Chair recessed the meeting at 12:10 p.m.

2009/03-47 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to close session at 1:35 p.m. for attorney-client privilege review of the County Highway 332 Project litigation with MCIT’s assigned legal counsel, County Attorney and Highway Engineer. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/03-48 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to open session at 2:15 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/03-49 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to adjourn at 2:15 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.