Koochiching County Board Minutes

Board Minutes

for

June 23, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, June 23, 2009; 9:30 a.m.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dennis Hummitzsch, Terry Murray, Ed Oerichbauer, Dan Klocek, Ed Woods, Lorraine Hedlund, Andy Hedlund, Marjorie Brenning, Wayne and Mary Ann Kasich, Jennifer Lahmayer, Edna Doris, Robert Plasky, Dan McCarthy, Tara Nelson, Aarden Barnes, Steve Blair, Bernie Woods, Bob Goede, Debra Sletten, Rod Otterness, Cindy Jaksa, Gail Rognerud, Doug Grindall, Dale Olson, Dave Trompeter; Reporters Laurel Beager and Sheldon Slaubaugh

2009/06-24 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/06-25 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes from the June 16, 2009 regular meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/06-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Courthouse claims in the amount of $12,881.55; to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $10,164.51; 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.

000 The Land Commissioner notified the Board of the hire of Nicholas Ronning as County Forester on June 29, 2009.

000 The Land Commissioner provided the Board the report from Professor Alan Ek pertaining to the potentials of the forestlands in Koochiching County, which was prepared at the request of the County Board for deciding whether to increase timber harvest in the County. The Land Commissioner stated that the review was in reference to fiber analysis, not harvest analysis but that both will be reviewed as part of the process for updating the County’s Tax Forfeited Land Management Plan. The Land Commissioner stated that the contractor hired to lead the committee through the process of updating the County Tax Forfeited Land Management Plan will be meeting with the County Board on July 14 as the first step in the planning process and at which time the report will be further reviewed with the Board.

2009/06-27 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to renew the following service contracts with no changes and funded by federal and state dollars as recommended by the Community Service Director and upon approval of the County Attorney: Mattison Foster Care, Rainy River Guardianship Waivered Services, Rainy River MR/RC Waivered Services, Rainy River Waivered Services. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/06-28 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride accepting the recommendation to close the home of Nicole Bergman for family day care at the provider’s request. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/06-29 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride authorizing County Board members attendance to the Stand Down on September 23, 2009 at the Bob Walls Union Hall starting at 8:00 a.m. at the request of the VFW. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/06-30 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck authorizing County Board members attendance to the public meeting hosted by the MN DNR on establishing a Forest Legacy Area in Koochiching County to be held on June 30, 2009 starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in International Falls. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board opened session to receive information on the request by the City of Ranier for the County to approve a Orderly Annexation Resolution to annex described properties in the unorganized area into the City of Ranier. The Mayor informed the Board that at the City’s meeting last night after two hours of public discussion, the City passed the resolution to annex on a 4 to 0 vote with one member absent. A question was raised by the County Board regarding No. 12 of the resolution regarding whether the Administrative Judge has any decision making in the process and the Mayor clarified that the language is directly from State Statute but that the process does require the Judge to conduct a public hearing and consider the annexation order based on certain criteria stated in statute (reference memo from Ranier’s Attorney). A Ranier resident requested the process be slowed down to give Ranier residents a chance to review information. A Ranier resident stated she attended all the meetings since it became known that the City was looking to annex properties but the information to date has not answered her questions. She presented a petition with 56 signatures from the Ranier residents asking that the process is halted until the facts are thoroughly researched and shared with the residents of Ranier. A Ranier resident stated that the people thought they would have a vote in the decision and though he is not dead set against it, he wants time to review the outcome for the City. A Ranier resident asked that the people of Ranier be able to vote the decision. A Ranier resident stated the process is flawed as it allows no say by the people and the residents of Ranier don’t understand the impact to them. A Ranier resident stated the City is fiscally responsible and annexation could negatively impact the City financially. She asked the County Board to represent them as County citizens and give them more time to review the impacts. A Ranier resident stated that she is not against annexation but doesn’t know enough about it to feel comfortable with it. She stated that people feel more and more that government is shutting them out and she would hope that people have more say at the local level. A Second Bridge resident stated that people have no voice in this process and should have. A Second Bridge resident spoke to the original petition from the Second Bridge area in support of annexation, which represents 200 some people. A member of the public shared the opinion of the public commenting that the people need information. A Ranier resident stated that annexation is a monumental life changing decision for Ranier and should not be pushed through without providing the people the facts. A Ranier resident stated that if there is a large sum of money available for the water lines because of annexation, go for it. However, no one can guarantee the money and feels Ranier is being set up for failure. A Ranier resident referencing the petition from the Ranier residents stated the petition should show that the Ranier residents are not ready for this and the check and balance is in the hands of the County Board. In response to a question, the Mayor stated that a funding application is in the hands of Rural Development for waterline replacement and hinges on Ranier annexing the properties they provide water service to. That the money is there but the amount is not known at this time. The County Board members were in agreement to hold one more informational session before voting on the resolution. That those elected to the City Council represent the people of Ranier and planning for the City. But for the unorganized area under consideration for annexation, the County Board as their Township Board needs to provide them a forum to voice their comments on the annexation proposal. It was agreed to hold an informational session as part of the regular meeting of July 14 to hear from the unorganized area proposed for annexation and vote on the Resolution for Orderly Annexation at the July 28 County Board meeting.

2009/06-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to schedule a public information session as part of the regular agenda for the July 14, 2009 County Board meeting and publish a public notice of the informational session to provide those property owners in the unorganized area proposed for annexation an opportunity to provide their comments to the County Board. And further that the County Board will act on the request by the City of Ranier to adopt a Resolution for Orderly Annexation at its July 28, 2009 meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The County’s MCIT Representative reviewed the annual Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust (MCIT) report which provides risk management and self insurance programs for Minnesota counties for general liability, property and casualty and workers compensation coverage. The report provided an overview of programs, finances and claim data overall and
specific to Koochiching County. The Board was also introduced to the MCIT Loss Control Consultant for our region.

000 Members of the International Falls City Council and their Administrator met with the County Board to explain the request and procedure for the County to abate their share of taxes on 7 parcels of land in the City’s Riverfront Development Area. That M.S. 469.1812 through 469.1815 provides for a flexible funding tool, mirroring a Tax Increment Financing tool, in which taxing authorities can abate some or all of their taxes for development purposes. That the City plans on establishing water and sewer in the area at a cost of $1.3 million and has already taken action to abate the city’s share of taxes on these parcels and that development is already planned for the area which is good news for the city and county’s economy. With regards to options for the County, the County can chose to abate a percent of the tax, a fixed dollar amount and/or limit to a certain number of years. School District 361 chose not to abate their share of taxes. After reviewing a spreadsheet from the City’s consultant showing a 20 year spread of taxes captured by the City and County, Board members discussed the impact to the County Budget tax revenue but wanting to support development in the City. In reviewing the amount of taxes abated from the County for ten years in the consultant’s worksheet, the Board members discussed a KDA grant in lieu of abating taxes.

2009/06-32 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to defer to the KDA Board a grant of $60,000 to the City of International Falls for their $1.3 million water and sewer infrastructure establishment for their Riverfront Development and to deny the City’s request for the County to abate their share of taxes on the seven development parcels under M.S. 469.1813. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:20 P.M. Aarden Barnes again inquired on the purchase of property for the Ranier By-Pass Project. The Highway Engineer responded that purchasing the property, the local match for federal funding and engineering cost is over $100,000 in county funds which is not in the 2009 Department Budget and would require pulling the money from planned bituminous overlay projects. Highway Engineer agreed to meet with the property owner to discuss the matter.

2009/06-33 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve a service contract with Aero-Metric, Inc. for up to $4,500 to conduct aerial photographs and provide a contour map for the demolition landfill to assist with the requirement of having to submit a topographical survey of the demolition site to the MPCA with funding in the 2009 Environmental Service Budget and upon approval of the contract by the County Attorney as recommended by the Environmental Service Technician. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Technician updated the Board on the flight service and the engineering work done to date to produce the facility plan for the Island View Sewer Extension Project under approved service contracts. He recommended that to wrap up the Jackfish Sewer Project, that the department provide notice to property owners that if they still have landscaping work to be done as a result of the sewer installation, to contact the department and than allow him to work with the contractor to finish up the project work including landscaping as part of the service agreement. The Board agreed. He also updated the Board on the department budget.

000 A representative of the City Beach Committee provided the Board an update on the progress and activities of the City Beach. Great improvements have been made to the beach, including the establishment of a care taker. Bus transportation is also being provided and public usage is up. On behalf of the committee, he thanked the Board for their support for improving the beach and making it a better place for the public. He stated that the Committee is looking to purchase a piece of playground equipment popular at beaches at a price of $1,500 and currently they have a $700 donation. He stated that if there was any contribution the County could provide towards this purchase, it would be greatly appreciated.

2009/06-34 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to donate $700 to the City Beach Committee for the purchase of a piece of playground equipment with payment from the 2009 Budget Contingency. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/06-35 Motion by McBride, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 2:20 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.