Koochiching County Board Minutes

Board Minutes

for

October 27, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, October 27, 2009; 9:30 a.m.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Einar Sundin, Terry Murray, Terry Glowack, Ed Oerichbauer, Susan Congrave, Dennis Hummitzsch, Aarden Barnes, Doug Grindall, Justin Berg, Skip Shamp; Reporter Laurel Beager

2009/10-45 Motion by McBride, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-46 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve the minutes from the October 20, 2009 Regular County Board meeting. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-47 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve payment of the Courthouse claims in the amount of $81,584.22; to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $29,025.89; to approve payment of the Community Service Department financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented; to approve the following Burial Case payments: #490404 in the amount of $1,117.50, #226184 in the amount of $2,467.50, #198232 in the amount of $2,117.50, #76561 in the amount of $1,567.50. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-48 Motion Pavleck, seconded by Lepper adopting the following resolution in support of the 2009 Grant Application for the Northome Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club’s Bridge Replacement Trail Capital Improvement Project as recommended by the Auditor-Treasurer:

WHEREAS, Koochiching County supports the 2009 grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Federal Recreational Trail Grant to replace an existing temporary Trail Bridge over Plum Creek for safety purposes;

WHEREAS, Koochiching County recognizes the fifty (50) percent match requirement for the Federal Recreational Grant of $17,348, which is secured from the State Trail Grant in Aid Program in the amount of $20,000;

WHEREAS, said Bridge Project Application has been reviewed for the County by County land, engineering and legal staff with recommendation to proceed;

WHEREAS, an executed Club/County Trail Agreement with Northome Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club is on file with the County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Koochiching County agrees to accept the grant award and may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above reference Trail Bridge Project and that Koochiching County will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners names the fiscal agent for Koochiching County for the project as Robert F. Peterson, Koochiching County Auditor-Treasurer, 715 Fourth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Koochiching County hereby assures said Trail Bridge over Plum Creek will be maintained for a period of no less than 20 years. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-49 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to approve a Garage Storage Lease Agreement with the City of International Falls for the period of November 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 for storage of the City’s Emergency Mobile Command Center at the County Armory Facility at a monthly rental rate of $350.00 as recommended by the Sheriff and reviewed by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-50 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck adopting the following resolution in support of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission’s Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization:

Whereas, ARDC submitted an Economic Adjustment Grant Application to the Federal Economic Development Administration requesting a $3 million grant to support the business recovery financing needs of the region’s businesses;

Whereas, this competitive grant is tied to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is based on regional economic distress evident by the major layoffs and closures experienced in the past 12 months in the Arrowhead Region;

Whereas, the difficult financial times in Northeast Minnesota is most evident and an opportunity exists to capitalize the region’s business financing loan program to meet extraordinary and immediate business recovery needs as well as sustain and revolve regional business for years to come.

Whereas, a $600,000 local match is required for the grant and ARDC with its member counties, will support the match requirement.

Now therefore be it resolved, that Koochiching County represented by the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission hereby supports the $3 million Federal Economic Adjustment Grant to capitalize ARDC Business Financing Loan Program for the regions’ business economic recovery and sustainability and provides a $2,000 contribution towards the local match.
Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-51 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper that the Koochiching County Board ordains the Koochiching County Ordinance for the management of All Terrain Vehicles in the public right of way on roads within the County’s jurisdiction under Minnesota Statutes 84.928, subd. 6 (c) (2) which authorizes counties to enact an ordinance providing for the operation of All Terrain Vehicles on the extreme right hand side of a road right of way at a speed not greater than 20 milers per hour and shall not operate all terrain vehicles or other motorized vehicle on the bike trail between International Falls and Ranier or any other trail where motorized vehicles are prohibited. That County road under this Ordinance means all County State-Aid Highways, County Roads and Unorganized Township Roads outside of an incorporated municipality located in Koochiching County. Except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance, operation of All Terrain Vehicles shall be in compliance with Minnesota Statutes 84.92 – 84.928, as well as any other federal, state or local rule or regulation as it applies to sections in this Ordinance. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this ordinance, or who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. A complete copy of the Ordinance is available for inspection by any person during regular office hours at the Office of the County Auditor- Treasurer located in the Koochiching County Courthouse, 715 4th Street, International Falls, MN. This Ordinance is effective from November 1, 2009 through November 1, 2010 unless terminated by further resolution of the Koochiching County Board at an earlier date. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-52 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride that Koochiching County strongly supports Alternative #10 as the preferred location for the new Border Customs Port of Entry Facility and requests GSA to enter Koochiching County’s position in the Draft Environment Impact Study for the new Border Customs Port of Entry Facility. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-53 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation for the following Foster Care Licensure: approve Gladys Herrly for foster of three children; approve Jane Slatinski for foster care of two children; approve Ron and Carol Lahman for foster care of one child. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Complex Superintendent and Historical Society Director informed the Board that another $21,200 would be needed to restore the foundation of the historic 1904 Williams School upon determination of the contractor in starting work to lift the building. The Historical Society Director, realizing this project has gone from $30,000 to $50,000, stated that this is the only remaining school building of this kind in the County and he would like time to look at grants to come up with the additional funding.

2009/10-54 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to table further action on funding for the renovation of the 1904 Williams School Building to allow time for the Historical Society Director to secure funding over the $30,000 now set in the 2010 County Development Budget and further, to halt any further work on the building until such time as the County Board receives and approves a recommendation to restore the historic facility. Further, that the Complex Superintendent will close up the facility for public safety purposes in the interim. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Health Director provided an update on the HINI and Seasonal Flu with regards to number of cases and vaccine availability at the current time.

2009/10-55 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Health Department to purchase a Vaccine Refrigerator at an estimated cost of $3,800 from the Public Health Emergency Response Grant as recommended by the Health Director with the understanding all costs for purchase and installation to be funded by Grant dollars. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-56 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee to approve the Application for Repurchase of Forfeited Lands by Daniel Sigfrid for property describes as the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ less road in Section 7, Township 63, Range 25 per County Policy and as recommended by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 10:30 a.m. Aarden Barnes inquired on the Williams School Building restoration. With no other comment, the Board Chair recessed the meeting at 10:35 a.m. and reconvened at 11:45 a.m.

000 At the request of the property owners, the Board reviewed with the Highway Engineer Board Motion 2006/01-17 which authorized the property owners to open up a public road established under a July 14, 1906 Town Order which specifically described the portion of road to be opened. The Property owners informed the Board that due to wetlands, they secured an easement across private land and therefore are not looking to open one quarter of a mile of this Town Road which is the access point from CSAH 25. The property owners stated that they understand the road whether open or not is public as established in the Town Order. The question posed to the Board was whether the 2006 Board motion needed revision if the property owners do not intend to open the first ¼ mile as described in the motion. After review of the Board motion, the Board concurred that the motion as written sets the conditions for the property owner regardless if all or a portion of the road is opened and the Board Chair stated that the property owners may proceed to open only a portion of the road under the conditions set in Board Motion 2006/01-17.

2009/10-57 Motion by McBride, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 12:25 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.