REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010; 10:00 a.m.

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

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Brian Youso, Doug Grindall, Dennis Hummitzsch, Dale Olson, Mike Ward, Dan McCarthy, Arden Barnes; Reporter Laurel Beager

2010/04-12 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Hanson to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-13 Motion by McBride, seconded by Hanson to approve the minutes from the April 6, 2010 regular meeting. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-14 Motion by Hanson, seconded by McBride to defer a Community Service AFSCME Union Step 3 Grievance to the Personnel Committee for review and recommendation. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-15 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to approve payment of the Courthouse claims in the amount of $46,482.00. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-16 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve a Payroll and Benefit Administration Service Agreement with the Koochiching Housing and Redevelopment Authority as recommended by Administration. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-17 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck to set a hearing for Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. for the purposes of awarding damages for the Jacobson Cartway Petition as required under law. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-18 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper authorizing the purchase of a laptop and printer as planned in the 2010 Emergency Management Budget for emergency management services as recommended by the Sheriff and Information Systems Manger. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-19 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to accept the recommendation of the Highway Engineer to award low bid for culverts to Contech Construction Products, Johnston Fargo, Cretex Construction Products and Hancock Construction Products as presented and filed in the Highway Department. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-20 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride to accept the recommendation of the Highway Engineer to award low bid for hired truck first to James Kennedy for Tandem Axle Dump Truck and Tractor and Trailer Combination for all zones and Tim Miovac second for Tractor and Trailer Combination in Zone 4 and 7 as presented and filed in the Highway Department. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-21 Motion by McBride, seconded by Hanson to accept the recommendation of the Highway Engineer to award low bid for gravel crushing for the Highway and Land and Forestry Departments to Roberts Sand and Gravel at $2.63 yard. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-22 Motion by McBride, seconded by Hanson to accept the recommendation of the Highway Engineer to award low bid to Bowman Asphalt Product for paving of the Frontier Landing (SAP 36-600-13) at $102,475 and the Vidas Landing (SAP 36-600-14) at $95,970 with award contingent on funding sources planned for the projects being sufficient to cover the bid cost. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-23 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Lepper to approve the annual publication of the General Notice to Control or Eradicate Noxious Weeds as recommended by the Land Commissioner. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2010/04-24 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper adopting the following resolution accepting the City of Littlefork’s request to turn over to Koochiching County the responsibility for the administration of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) in their City:

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 (WCA) requires local governmental units (LGUs) to implement this law by adopting the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) pertaining to wetland draining, filling, excavation; and

WHEREAS, the BWSR is requesting notification of the LGU’s decision adopting or accepting administrative responsibility for another LGU in accordance with Minn. Rules part 8420.0200, item A; which requires each local government unit of the State to acknowledge in writing to the Board that it is assuming its responsibilities under the Wetland Conservation Act; and

WHEREAS, the LGU is responsible for following the WCA rules as stated in 8420.0200, determining Local Government Unit duties.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Koochiching County accepts the administrative responsibility as the LGU for the WCA within the City limits of Littlefork within the guidelines as set forth by the WCA rules. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Environmental Service Director requested direction from the Board on how they want to proceed with BWSR’s appeal of the County Board decision for the Hasbargen Haven Wetland Bank Application. The Director and Board agreed that the County would need to present not only the facts of the case but a strong legal argument on BWSR’s cropping criteria for determining wetland bank acres. It was agreed to contact MCIT for resources and suggestions.

000 The VNP Superintendent presented to the Board the decisions being considered for use charges in the Park for the tour boats and campsites as allowed under the Federal Lands Recreation ACT (FLREA). For 2010, they are looking to change the current fees for two group campsites on Kabetogama Lake and for the Otter and Borealis tour boats. They will also consider establishing a user fee for the new Voyageurs Tour Boat and a reservation fee for the Interior Lake campsites, in addition to connecting the reservation of the interior lake boats to the interior campsites. For 2011, the Park will consider charging a reservation fee for all campsites for overnight stays and talk about a Park entry fee via vehicle sticker which has been suggested by the public. Board members expressed concern with a Park entry fee based on the legislative intent in forming the park and international waters. The Board members stating that charging of user fees to cover capital and replacement cost of certain services is justifiable but charging the public to enter and use the park and its waters is not warranted. In response to a question, the Superintendent stated that the decision to place Port of International Falls on the new tour boat was made by a committee of local and non local representatives but Port of Ranier was also considered as well as a combination of the two. Dan McCarthy stated that a system to accurately reflect visitor counts in the Park is needed to identify local residences from tourists to establish a measurement of tourism for the County. The Superintendent stated that campsite reservations or collecting data from the houseboat and resort businesses can provide specifics on local and non-local visits in the Park but there is no system in place to segregate local and non-local visitors in the daily count. The Board thanked the Superintendent for the information and opportunity to provide input. The Superintendent stated that meetings are scheduled to present the information to the public for their input and comment.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:55 a.m. Dan McCarthy addressed the Board with several issues.

2010/04-25 Motion by McBride, seconded by Lepper to adjourn the meeting at 12:05 p.m. Voting yes: Adee, McBride, Hanson, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.