REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, April 28, 2009; 11:00 a.m.

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

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Terry Murray, Jaci Nagle, Terry Glowack, Doug Grindall, Dale Olson, Arden Barnes; Reporters Laurel Beager and Sheldon Slaubaugh

2009/04-43 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-44 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes from the April 21, 2009 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-45 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the letter of resignation and approving the employment separation of Veteran Service Officer Allen Kruse effective May 1, 2009. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-46 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve the interim hire of former VSO Jerry Andre to provide veteran services until the VSO position is filled as recommended by the County Coordinator and to schedule committee time at the May 5th County Board meeting to review the VSO position description and plan to fill the position. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-47 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to adopt the following resolution for the purpose of strengthening the internal audit controls of Koochiching County:

WHEREAS, the Minnesota State Auditor has increased internal auditing controls for local governmental units which require policy development and assignment of responsibility in job descriptions; and

WHEREAS, the County Board has determined a separation of accounting functions is necessary to ensure adequate internal accounting controls over the County’s financial transactions, and

WHEREAS, the County Board has determined that relocating the Information Systems Unit to the area where the County’s main information systems are located will strengthen security of information systems and records.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the County Board will separate the treasury responsibility and the financial responsibility by transferring all financial functions to the Administration Office absent the treasury duties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the current Assistant Auditor position becomes the Administrative Assistant position under the Administration Department, to strengthen the internal audit controls and financial oversight in the County through assignment of responsibility and policy development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to authorize the renovation of the Auditor Treasurer Office to allow for the relocation of the Information System Unit per the approved office space plan and within the funding as authorized in the 2009 budget; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the current Auditor Clerk position becomes a Financial Clerk position under the Administration Department taking existing financial duties and relocated in the Information Systems Office; and

FURTHER, that the County Coordinator and Auditor/Treasurer are authorized to revise job descriptions needed for this structural change through the County Comparable Worth Policy and Procedures. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-48 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Auditor claims in the amount of $33,458.37, to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $12,789.04, 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 #1365903 in the amount of $845.00. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-49 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to set the monthly per diem rate for the County’s Emergency Manager at $250 and the Assistant Emergency Manager at $200 funded by the Emergency Management Grant for meeting the FEMA requirements and management of the County’s Emergency Management Plan. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-50 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to approve the following Voyageur Rainy Lake Sewer Advisory Committee membership: Jay Mitchell, Rob Boyd, Kallie Briggs, Tom Dougherty, Raoul Lufbery, Dave Austin, Don Billig, Chopper McBride, John Bruggeman, Ted Brokaw, Commissioner Pavleck, Commissioner McBride, Highway Engineer, E.S. Director, Survey Technician, Zoning Technician, Solid Waste Technician. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Pavleck presented a resolution for County Board consideration to have Koochiching County join St. Louis County in a joint powers authority for the purpose of securing federal and state funding for sanitary sewer systems development adjacent to Voyageurs National Park in both Koochiching and St. Louis Counties. This joint effort would provide a united front for establishing the sewer systems for the protection of waters in and around a National Park but still allow each county to work individually on their own sewer system plan. The resolution would request the County Board’s support with a final agreement to be brought back to the Board for their approval.
2009/04-51 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to adopt the following resolution in support of a joint powers authority with St. Louis County for development of sanitary sewer systems adjacent to the National Park located in both counties:

Whereas, Koochiching County strongly believes it is in the public interest to protect the waters of the Voyageurs National Park; and

Whereas, Koochiching County is proceeding with a preliminary engineering report for sanitary sewer services to a major section of the development adjacent to the Park, including the Park Headquarters; and

Whereas, Koochiching County believes it is in the larger public interest to petition the Congress and State of Minnesota in partnership with a similar effort in St. Louis County.

Therefore, be it resolved, that Koochiching County hereby supports entering into a Joint Powers Authority with St. Louis County to seek federal, state, and other assistance to plan, develop, manage, and construct a comprehensive sanitary sewer system for the adjacent development to the Voyageurs National Park in Koochiching and St. Louis Counties; and

Be it Further Resolved, that this proposed Authority be composed of County Commissioners from both counties and work with and seek advice on planning, management, development, and construction of such systems with the public interests in Koochiching County and the Namakan Basin Joint Powers Board already set up in St. Louis County; and

Be it Further Resolved, that the County Attorney and the Environmental Services Office be empowered to develop, negotiate, and bring back for final approval a Joint Powers Authority proposal to the Board of Commissioners in a timely fashion. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-52 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve an addendum to the UCare Minnesota Contract for targeted case management services due to required state changes and to approve the accompanying HIPAA Business Agreement with UCare Minnesota as required under HIPAA Law as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-53 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve a service agreement with Friends Against Abuse for supervised visitations as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-54 Motion by Adee, seconded by Lepper to renew the Good Samaritan Waiver Contract for home care services as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-55 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride to renew the Koochiching County Public Health Waiver Contract for home care services as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/04-56 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck accepting the following Foster Care and Day Care Licensing Recommendations: relicense Lyn Bruce for family day care of six children; relicense Melissa Fuller for group family day care for twelve children; relicense Jeri Ann Graves for group family day care for twelve children; relicense Brian and Judy Keeney for 6 children for child foster care; non-renewal of the license of Shane and Paula Belding for adult foster care at the provider’s request. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Community Service Director informed the Board that the Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner declined the request to come to Koochiching County to meet with the County Board to discuss the Governor’s proposal for regionalizing human services but stated he could accommodate a meeting in St. Paul or through interactive TV. The Director also reported that through the Arrowhead Health Alliance their Agency will be receiving grant funding for $150,000 under a three year Universal Home Visiting Grant Agreement, however, the Director will need to come back to the Board when he has more details about the grant.

000 The Information Systems Manager provided an update on MN Counties Information Systems (MCIS) activities as the County’s member on the Board of Directors. The report included notice of the Executive Director’s retirement in June and that the previous direction to build a new MCIS facility has changed and is being further considered in light of the economic times and member counties financial situation.

2009/04-57 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to approve purchase of a 60 inch Hustler professional lawn mower at a cost of $6,112.00 for lawn mowing at the Armory Building, Transfer Station and Highway garages as recommended by the Highway Engineer and Complex Superintendent and Solid Waste Technician with the cost to be funded from the 2009 Highway and Environmental Service Budgets. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:00 p.m. Arden Barnes mentioned the book reading event planned for the 47th Koochiching Museum Annual meeting and dinner on April 30, 2009.