REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, March 16, 2010; 9:50 a.m.

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

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Barb Dory, Linda Chezick, Glen Wright, Holly Sparby, Arden Barnes, Roberta Larson, Brian Nelson, Dave Wright, Rosie Klementsen, Quay Whitbeck, Randy Pozniak, Scott Zahorik, Roger Jerome, Dennis Hummitzsch, Dale Olson, Doug Grindall; Reporter Katie Hall

2010/03-11 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-12 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes from the March 2, 2010 regular meeting. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-13 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson authorizing the Board Chair’s signature to the February Vendor Payment Listing verifying its review and to approve payment of the Highway claims in the amount of $81,986.70. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-14 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to sponsor the Ridgerunner Snowmobile Club in the FY 2010 MN Trail OHV Assistance Program covering the Blue Ox ATV Trail. Sponsorship by the County requires that a Club/County Agreement be in effect (Agreement on file in the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office) and as sponsor, the County is accountable to the State for expenditures charged to the program but does not require financial support or liability for cost from the County. Further, to approve the State Grant-in-Aid Agreement in the amount of $14,600 for the Blue Ox ATV Trail and authorizing the Board Chair and Auditor/Treasurer signatures to the Agreement. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve On Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Liquor Licenses and Tobacco License for the period of April 1, 2010 through October 31, 2010 to the International Falls Country Club as recommended by the County License Committee. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-16 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to approve a Payroll and Benefit Administration Service Agreement for KEDA as recommended by Administration. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 In review of the request by Community Action Agencies for counties to support a resolution requesting MCIT continue insurance coverage of these agencies, the Kootasca Director provided that there are 27 Community Action Agencies in the State with 22 receiving insurance coverage through MCIT. That MCIT is reviewing whether to continue coverage of these agencies due to a risk assessment. However, if these agencies have to seek insurance protection from outside the Trust, their cost will escalate and impact the public services provided. For Koochiching County, AEOA and Kootasca are the Community Action Agencies serving the public. MCIT is not making its decision until June and should the decision result in dropping coverage for these agencies, it will not go in to effect for two years. The Administration Director stated the MCIT Director is meeting with the County Board on April 20, 2010 to provide the annual MCIT Report at which time the Board could further review this matter.

2010/03-17 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to table action on the resolution request for MCIT to continue coverage of Community Action Agencies until the Board further reviews the matter with MCIT. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 A Census update was provided to the Board. The Census surveys are being distributed to the public and in most cases it is taking less than 5 minutes to complete it.

2010/03-18 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to recognize March 29th as Vietnam Veterans Day to pay tribute to Vietnam Veterans for their heroic accomplishments and thank them for their unselfish devotion to duty in serving their country. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-19 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck adopting the following resolution for acquiring the MnDot-owned Tourist Information Center at no fee title for public purposes:

WHEREAS, the County of Koochiching desires to acquire ownership from the State of Minnesota the Tourist Information Center Building, located at 200 Fourth Street in International Falls, Minnesota at no fee title for public purposes;

WHEREAS, the County of Koochiching desires to relocate the County Museum to said premises as a public purpose;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners authorizes County ownership of the Tourist Information Center Building and its real estate property at no fee for public purposes;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Koochiching County upon acquiring ownership of the Tourist Information Center Building and its real estate property, will deed the property to the Historical Society for the County Historical Museum. Further, that the Koochiching County Board Chair, and Administration Director are authorized to execute any and all documents with the State of Minnesota necessary to accomplish this property acquisition. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Pavleck; voting no: Lepper. Motion carried.

000 The Board reviewed their Management Committee’s report on the animal neglect complaint presented to the County Board at the March 2 meeting. The findings of the Management Committee were that though the removal of the animals from the property is the desired outcome for those concerned, the 2007 public complaint resulted in the property owner having to provide better care of the animals with law enforcement monitoring the animals’ condition and that based on the condition report of February 10, 2010 by a State Humane Agent and Veterinarian, there is no evidence of animal abuse at this time. Members of the public stated their concern that the animals are being mistreated and want something done. The Board Chair stated that a review will be done to determine if there is anything more that can be done by the County Board on this matter.
2010/03-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve a service contract with RFPA effective March 16, 2010 for fire protection services for the taxing district, subject to approval of the County Attorney. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 Kootasca representatives provided the Board a report on the Agency’s Energy Assistance, Crisis and Energy Related Repair Programs as well as their Home Weatherization, Housing, Infrastructure and Commercial Rehabilitation Projects.

2010/03-21 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper to revised Board Motion 2000/01-22 as recommended by the Land Commissioner and Environmental Service Director to approve the subtraction of .56 acres from the County Dunnick Wetland Mitigation Bank as replacement wetland for the Biomass Project’s wetland fill without requiring monetary reimbursement to Koochiching County. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-22 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to accept the recommendation of the Land Commissioner and Environmental Service Director to inform both BWSR and the Army Corp that the County will accept 12.8 acres of wetland credits for the Dunnick Lake Wetland Bank but that the County will reserve its options to seek additional credits with maintenance or vegetative plans; further that the Department Heads will bring back the final agreement for Board approval. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Lepper, Pavleck; voting no: Hanson. Motion carried.

000 The Land commissioner and Environmental Service Director updated the Board on the proposed County White Cedar Wetland Bank where two 80 acre parcels have been identified for the plan and that the Tax Forfeited Land Statute is being reviewed for selling of credits.

000 The Environmental Service Director informed the Board that BSWR has appealed the County Board’s decision on the Hasbargen Haven Wetland Bank Application to grant 80% wetland credits due to the lack of proof that the area has been farmed more than 14 of the past 20 years.

2010/03-23 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to appoint Tom Dougherty to the VNP Joint Powers Advisory Board with Jay Mitchell as his alternate effective January 1, 2010 as recommended by the Environmental Service Director. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-24 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to approve payment to MSA in the amount of $537.78 from the Environmental Trust Fund for expenses incurred on the Island View Sewer Project and as recommended by the Project Committee. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-25 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Board Chair to send a letter to the BSWR Regional Supervisor stating the County’s concerns with their Wetland Specialist assigned to the area and to copy the letter to the MN BWSR Director and Lake of the Woods and Beltrami County Board Chairs. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board took no action to allow credit from the County’s Dunnick Lake Wetland Bank for a private property application in mitigating an Army Corps Violation Order.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 12:15 p.m. and with no comment, recessed the meeting until 1:40 p.m.

2010/03-26 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck authorizing the Highway Engineer to call for bids for hired truck rental, culverts, gravel crushing and paving of the Frontier and Vidas accesses with bid results to the County Board on April 13, 2010. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Highway Engineer informed the Board that upon approval of the Highway 332 Turnback, he would be looking to keep 332 as the number for the County State Aid Highway designation to stay with the 911 addressing assigned to properties along this route. The Board concurred.

2010/03-27 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride accepting the low bid recommendation of the Highway Engineer for vehicle purchases: passenger vehicle for the Car Pool from Waschke Family GM Center at $17,230 after trade in; 2 full size 4x2 pickups for the Highway Department from Wherley Motors at $32,619.30; 1 full size extended cab 4x4 pickup for the Land and Forestry Department with Wherley Motors at $21,256.65 after trade in. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/03-28 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to adjourn the meeting at 1:55 p.m. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.