REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, February 16, 2010; 10:30 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck
MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Susan Congrave, Natalie Stone, Dennis Hummitzsch, Doug Grindall, Arden Barnes; Reporter Laurel Beager

2010/02-24 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/02-25 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes from the February 9, 2010 regular meeting. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/02-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve payment of the 2010 MRCC Dues in the amount of $2,100.00 with payment from the 2010 County Board Budget. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/02-27 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper accepting the Administration Director’s recommendation to authorize the publishing of County Board meeting minutes in summary form in the official newspaper as allowed under M.S. 375.12 and M.S. 331A.01 and authorize the publishing of the minute summaries, an insert of the first printing of the delinquent tax list and a summary of the county financial statement in the Northome newspaper due to this area being outside the distribution area of the awarded official newspaper for 2010. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Commissioner Hanson updated the Board on the promotion work that is being done for the 2010 Census in Koochiching County.

000 The Public Health Director and Health Educator informed the Board that a 2010 County Health Ranking Study will be released today which was conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and UOW Population Health Institute. Because the overall ranking given in the study put Koochiching County low at 63rd of 85 Minnesota counties studied, the Health Department wanted to tell the Board and public to assess the study based on county and regional factors and not the overall state comparison. The Health Department will provide a detail report for each category studied once they have had time to review the study.

2010/02-28 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to set aside $5.00 per capita from the 2009 Trust Fund income (approximately $70,800) for promotion as allowed under MN Statute with allocation as follows: allocate forty percent of the promotion funds to the cities within Koochiching County with allocation ratio to be the same as in previous year and with a letter to accompany the checks stating what the funds can be expended on and when they have to be expended and to allocate sixty percent of the promotions funds to the Koochiching Development Authority to be held and utilized for the promotion of tourism, agricultural and industrial development as defined in MN Statutes. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.
2010/02-29 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to adopt a resolution in support of bond dollars for local roads and bridges:
WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities and businesses rely on a safe, efficient and integrated transportation system to move people and goods; and WHEREAS, agricultural interests, manufacturers, trucking companies and other business need a network of local roads and bridges, connecting to the trunk highway system, that meet the definition of year-round, 10-ton roads; and WHEREAS, funding for roads and bridges is not adequate to meet the needs and many road and bridges projects are ready to go but need funding in order to be let for construction; and WHEREAS, investments in transportation infrastructure not only create immediate jobs in construction and engineering, but also stimulate overall economic activity and provide benefits to our businesses; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature has previously appropriated funds in the capital bonding bill for the Local Bridge Program and the Local Road Improvement Program – funds that have been used to make needed repairs to local roads and bridges while reducing the burden on local property taxes; and WHEREAS, our county has benefited from funding provided through these programs in the past;
WHEREAS, the Legislature is working to develop a new two-year capital investment bill during the 2010 Legislative Session; and WHEREAS, Minnesota’s transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs necessary to sustain population growth and promote economic development; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has requested $75 million in bond proceeds for the Local Bridge Program and local governments have identified over $50 million in projects for the Local Road Improvement Program; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners supports the Minnesota Legislature passage of a comprehensive capital bonding bill that includes $75 million for the Local Bridge Program and $50 million for the Local Road Improvement Program. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/02-30 Motion by Hanson, seconded by McBride accepting the Highway Engineer’s recommendation to certify the final contract value for Newman Sign Company for CP -2009-03 (Sign Face Replacement on CSAH Roads) in the amount of $74,046.20 (does not include the $13,139.80 3M Grant). Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried
2010/02-31 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for a Car Pool automobile, Forestry 4x4 pickup and 2 Highway pickups. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:15 a.m. Arden Barnes inquired on the RECAP Permitting process discussed earlier in the KDA meeting.

2010/02-32 Motion by Hanson, seconded by McBride to adjourn the meeting at 11:16 a.m. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper; absent for vote: Pavleck. Motion carried.