Koochiching County Board Minutes

Board Minutes

for

April 24, 2012

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, April 24, 2012; 10:20 a.m.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Bob Peterson, Terry Murray, Susan Congrave, Jim Weikum, John Dalton, Diane Adams, Chrystal Clance, Mark Seegert, Dale Olson, Terry Shoquist

2012/04-35 Motion by Adee, seconded by Ecklund to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2012/04-36 Motion by Ecklund, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes from the April 17, 2012 regular meeting. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board received notice on the hire of Heather Nevalainen as part time Correctional Officer effective April 6, 2012.

2012/04-37 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Hanson to approve the temporary hire of Daryl Waller for transport service in the Sheriff’s Department under the Temporary Hire Policy and as recommended by the County Sheriff. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2012/04-38 Motion by Adee, seconded by Ecklund to approve payment of the Courthouse claims in the amount of $41,549.14, to approve payment of the Health claims in the amount of $12,797.58 and to approve payment of the Community Service Department financial and social service program claims and administrative claims as presented. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2012/04-39 Motion by Adee, seconded by Pavleck to approve payment of the 2012 NE Regional Radio Board membership dues for $295.00 (increase from approved amount in Board Motion 2012/01-05). Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2012/04-40 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Ecklund adopting the following resolution for establishing the Koochiching County Commissioner Districts Boundaries and Terms of Office:

WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 375 establishes the procedure and requires a process for redistricting County Commissioner districts based on population figures from the Federal Census; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute section 204B.135, sudb. 2 requires that County Commissioner Districts be redistricted within 80 days of when the legislature has been redistricted or at least 15 weeks before the state primary election, whichever comes first; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to these statutes the 2010 Federal Census population figures shall be used to redistrict the Koochiching County Commissioner Districts by May 1, 2012, and that Commissioner Districts shall be bounded by town, municipal, ward, city district or precinct lines; and

WHEREAS, the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners has considered the possibility or potential for maximizing minority representation on the Board of Commissioners; and

WHEREAS, Koochiching County has published a three week notice in the official newspaper for a County Commissioner District Plan public hearing and held such public hearing on April 17, 2012.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT REOLSVED that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners hereby redistricts the County of Koochiching Commissioner Districts following town, municipal, ward, city district or precinct lines and reestablishes the length of the District terms as follows:

Commissioner District 1: (4-year term, 2014 election) All of those portions of Township 71 North, Range 23 West, Koochiching County, MN which lies easterly of the east boundary of the City of Ranier, as located in 2012 and northerly of State Trunk Highway No. 11 as located in 2012 and All that part of the City of Ranier lying northerly and easterly of the following described line: Beginning at the intersection of the centerline of State Trunk Highway 11 as located in 2012 and the east line of the west half of Section 30, Township 71 North, Range 23 West, Koochiching County, MN; thence westerly along said Centerline of State Trunk Highway 11 to the intersection with the County State Aid Highway 20; thence northerly along said County State Aid Highway 20 to the intersection with River Street; thence westerly along said River Street and westerly along the westerly prolongation of River Street to the intersection with the Rainy River and said line there terminating; and all of those portions of Township 71 North, Range 22 West, Koochiching County, MN, which lies northerly of State Trunk Highway No. 11 as located in 2012 and all of those portions of said Township 71 North, Range 22 West that lies easterly of the easterly end of said State Trunk Highway No. 11 as located in 2012; and all of Township 70 North, Range 22 West, Koochiching County, MN, except Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9; and the Southeast Koochiching County Precinct described as follows:

Southeast Koochiching County Precinct
All of the following Townships in Koochiching County
Township 63 North, Range 22 West
Township 63 North, Range 23 West
Township 63 North, Range 24 West
Township 64 North, Range 22 West
Township 64 North, Range 23 West
Township 64 North, Range 24 West
That portion of Township 65 North, Range 22 West which lies within the boundaries of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation as located in 2012
That portion of Township 65 North, Range 23 West which lies within the boundaries of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation as located in 2012
That portion of Township 66 North, Range 22 West which lies within the boundaries of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation as located in 2012
That portion of Township 66 North, Range 23 West which lies within the boundaries of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation as located in 2012

Central Koochiching County Precinct
All of the following descriptions in Koochiching County
Township 65 North, Range 23 West except that portion that lies within the boundaries of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation as located in 2012
Township 65 North, Range 24 West
Township 65 North, Range 25 West
Township 66 North, Range 22 West except that portion which lies within the boundaries of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation as located in 2012
Township 66 North, Range 23 West except that portion which lies within the boundaries of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation as located in 2012
Township 66 North, Range 24 West
Township 66 North, Range 25 West
Township 67 North, Range 22 West
Township 67 North, Range 23 West
Township 67 North, Range 24 West
Township 67 North, Range 25 West
Township 68 North, Range 22 West
Township 68 North, Range 23 West
Township 68 North, Range 24 West
Township 69 North, Range 22 West
Township 69 North, Range 23 West
Township 69 North, Range 24 West, except that portion lying westerly of the Burlington Northern Railroad Company’s (formerly Northern Pacific Railway Company) Bemidji to Grand Falls, Minnesota Branch Line right of way, now discontinued and now owned by the State of Minnesota, as located in 2012.
Township 69 North, Range 25 West except that portion lying westerly of the Burlington Northern Railroad Company’s (formerly Northern Pacific Railway Company) Bemidji to Grand Falls, Minnesota Branch Line right of way, now discontinued and now owned by the State of Minnesota, as located in 2012.

and Township 68 North, Ranges 25 and 26 West, Koochiching County, MN, except that portion lying westerly of the Burlington Northern Railroad Company’s (formerly Northern Pacific Railway Company) Bemidji to Grand Falls, Minnesota Branch Line right of way, now discontinued and now owned by the State of Minnesota, as located in 2012.

Commissioner District 2: (4-year term, 2014 election). The Center Ward of International Falls as reestablished in 2012; and Kooch Poll 2 which is described as follows: All of those portions of Township 71 North, Range 22 West and Township 71 North, Range 23 West, Koochiching County, MN, which lies southerly of State Trunk Highway No. 11 as located in 2012 and westerly of the of the easterly end of said State Trunk Highway No. 11 and easterly of the east boundary of the City of Ranier as located in 2012; and all of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, Township 70 North, Range 22 West, Koochiching County, MN; and all of Township 70 North, Range 23 west, Koochiching County, MN; and all of those portions of Township 70 North, Range 24 West, Koochiching County, MN, which lies easterly and northerly of the following described line: Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway No. 53 as located in 2012 and the south line of said Township 70 North, Range 23 west; thence northerly along said State Trunk Highway No. 53 to the intersection with County State Aid Highway 332; thence Westerly along said County State Aid Highway 332 to the intersection with County State Aid Highway 2; thence northerly along said County State Aid Highway 2 to the intersection with the Southerly boundary of the City of Int’l Falls, MN, as located in 2012; excepting all those portions which lies within the City of Int’l Falls, MN; and Township 71 North, Range 24 West, Koochiching County, MN except all of those portions which lies within the City’s of International Falls and Ranier as located in 2012.

Commissioner District 3: (4-year term, 2012 election). The East Ward of International Falls as reestablished in 2012; and the west Ranier precinct as established in 2012 which is described as follows: All that part of the City of Ranier lying southerly and westerly of the following described line: Beginning at the intersection of the centerline of State Trunk Highway 11 as located in 2012 and the east line of the west half of Section 30, Township 71 North, Range 23 West, Koochiching County, MN; thence westerly along said Centerline of State Trunk Highway 11 to the intersection with the County State Aid Highway 20; thence northerly along said County State Aid Highway 20 to the intersection with River Street; thence westerly along said River Street and westerly along the westerly prolongation of River Street to the intersection with the Rainy River and said line there terminating.

Commissioner District 4: (4-year term, 2014 election). The West Ward of International Falls as reestablished in 2012; and Kooch Poll 4 which is described as follows: All of those portions of Township 70 North, Range 24 West, Koochiching County, MN, which lies northerly and westerly of the following described line: Beginning at the intersection of County State Aid Highway 2 as located in 2012 and the north line of said Township 70 North, Range 24 West; thence south along said County State Aid Highway 2 to the intersection with the east Quarter Corner of Section 16, said Township 70 North, Range 24 West; thence south along the east line of said Section 16 to the southeast corner of said Section 16; thence westerly along the south boundary of said Section 16 and the south boundary of Section 17 said Township 70 North, Range 24 West to the intersection with State Trunk Highway No. 11-71 as located in 2012; thence southwesterly and westerly along said State Trunk Highway No. 11-71 to the intersection with the west line of said Township 70 North, Range 24 West and said line there terminating. Except those portions of said Township 70 North, Range 24 West which lies within the boundaries of the City of International Falls as located in 2012.

Commissioner District 5: (4-year term, 2012 election). Beginning at the northwest corner of Koochiching County, MN on the Rainy River; thence south along the west boundary of said Koochiching County to the Southwest corner of said Koochiching County; thence easterly, northerly and easterly along the southerly boundary of said Koochiching County to the southeast corner of Section 36, Township 63 North, Range 25 West; thence north along the east boundaries of Townships 63 North and 64 North, Range 25 West to the northeast corner of Section 1, said Township 64 North, Range 25 West; thence west along the north line of said Township 64 North, Range 25 West and the south line of Township 65 North, Range 25 West to the southwest corner of Section 31, said Township 65 North, Range 25 West; thence north along the east lines of Township 65 North, Range 26 West, Township 66 North, Range 26 West and Township 67 North, Range 26 West to the northeast corner of Section 1, said Township 67 North, Range 26 West; thence west along the north line of said Township 67 North, Range 26 West to the intersection with the Burlington Northern Railroad Company’s (formerly Northern Pacific Railway Company) Bemidji to Grand Falls, Minnesota Branch Line right of way, now discontinued and now owned by the State of Minnesota, as located in 2012; thence northeasterly along said right of way to the intersection with the south line of Township 70 North, Range 24 West; thence east along said south line of Township 70 North, Range 24 West to the southeast corner of Section 35, said Township 70 North, Range 24 West; thence north along the east lines of Sections 35, 26, 23 and 14 to the intersection with County State Aid Highway 332 as located in 2012; thence west along said County State Aid Highway 332 to the east line of Section 16, said Township 70 North, Range 24 West; thence south along the east line of said Section 16 to the southeast corner of said Section 16; thence westerly along the south boundary of said Section 16 and the south boundary of Section 17 said Township 70 North, Range 24 West to the intersection with State Trunk Highway No. 11-71 as located in 2012; thence southwesterly and westerly along said State Trunk Highway No. 11-71 to the intersection with the west line of said Township 70 North, Range 24 West; thence north along said west line of said Township 70 north, Range 24 West to the intersection with International Boundary Line on the Rainy River; thence westerly along said International Boundary Line on the Rainy River to the point of Beginning.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Koochiching County Commissioner Districts Plan is filed with the County Auditor by May 8, 2012, to be effective for the 2012 county commissioner elections.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the districts are, for illustrative purposes, identified in a map of the County on file and referenced as Exhibit A. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2012/04-41 Motion by Ecklund, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation to relicense Stephanie Dremmel for group family day care for fourteen children. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2012/04-42 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Adee to acknowledge receipt of the minutes from the Professional Health Advisory Committee meeting of February 29, 2012 as recommended by the Health Director. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Health Director provided a draft County Hazard, Vulnerability Risk Assessment as required under the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant. The assessment was done with other local emergency response representatives. The three highest rated risks are chemical spills, pandemic flu, and tornado/straight line winds. The next step in the process is emergency preparedness planning for these events. Board members suggested contacting Boise and CN Railroad as part of the planning review for the chemical spills. The Health Director informed the Board that in a recent Medicare survey, it was pointed out that due to the lack of Medicare cases the Department no longer meets the requirements for Medicare Certification. Though revenue is lost, there is an offsetting savings in staff time in case, report and claim preparation for Medicare reimbursement. The Health Director reviewed the County’s health ranking from 2010 to 2012, in which the County’s ranking improved from 2010 to 2012. The researchers conducting the state-wide health assessment ranked communities on specific health factors such as health behaviors, clinical care, physical environment and social and economic factors.

2012/04-43 Motion by Hanson, seconded by Pavleck accepting the recommendation of the Health Director to withdraw the County Public Health Department from the Medicare Certification Program effective July 1, 2012 for cost reimbursement of eligible case services. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Arrowhead Library Systems (ALS) Executive Director met with the Board to request Koochiching County’s support to merge the ALS with the North Country Library Cooperative (NCLC) for a better delivery of library services. The Commissioner of the MN Department of Education holds the authority to approve this merger of systems and the request has been submitted. However, the two bodies have also agreed to begin the process of merging the two different boards for efficiencies as of July 1, 2012. In response to the inquiry, the Director stated that LOW, Cook, Carlton and Lake Counties have all passed resolutions in support of the merger. Itasca County is voting on the merger today and he is waiting to get on the St. Louis County Board agenda to request their support. The merger has been positively received in preliminary review with ALS counties. Commissioner Ecklund stated that he has reviewed the issue with the local library representatives as well and they felt it would be a positive move. The Falls Public Library Director stated that they are serviced by both ALS and NCLC so streamlining the two into one just makes sense for service efficiencies. In response to the inquiry, the Director stated that the users of the library system will see no change in service with the merger. The Director stated that to support the merger, they are looking to make the board members terms begin on January 1 but retain the three year term. For Koochiching County, a resolution would be needed to appoint its ALS Board member to a six month term beginning July 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012 so that a new three year term can begin on January 1, 2013. In response to the inquiry, the new combined board will be called the Arrowhead Library System Board and Koochiching County will retain its one member on the Board. The Director provided a handout on a study done on Minnesota Public Libraries for a return on the investment and that he would schedule another appointment with the County Board to review the findings of the study and results for the ALS.

2012/04-44 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Ecklund adopting the following resolution to support the merger of the Arrowhead Library System and the North Country Library Cooperative:

WHEREAS, the counties of Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, and St. Louis are members of the Arrowhead Library System, a regional public library system organized under Minnesota Statutes, Section 134.20 (“ALS”); and

WHEREAS, the board of ALS and the board of the North Country Library Cooperative (NCLC) have approved resolutions for the merger of the two entities, subject to the Minnesota Commissioner of Education’s approval of the dissolution of the North Country Library Cooperative and approval of the inclusion of the North Country Library Cooperative’s duties and responsibilities under Minnesota Statutes, Section 134.351 into ALS’s current duties and responsibilities as a regional public library system, under Minnesota Statutes, Section 134.20; and

WHEREAS, funds received from member counties will continue to be used exclusively for ALS’s duties and responsibilities as a regional public library system, under Minnesota Statutes 134.20; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Koochiching County has received the form of the Arrowhead Library System Contract Agreement (the “Contract Agreement”);

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners that the Contract Agreement is approved in substantially the form presented at this meeting, with such changes and completions thereto and deletions there from as shall be necessary or desirable and approved by the County Attorney. The Board Chair and the Auditor-Treasurer are authorized and directed to execute the Contract Agreement. The Contract Agreement shall take effect at the earliest time provided by law. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2012/04-45 Motion by Ecklund, seconded by Pavleck that under the restructuring of the ALS Board to 13 members with the NCLC merger, to fill a six month term for the Koochiching County member from July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 and thereafter the Koochiching County member’s term will be three years with a beginning date of January 1, 2013. Voting yes: McBride, Adee, Hanson, Ecklund, Pavleck. Motion carried. (The Board Chair appointed Commissioner Ecklund as the County’s ALS Board member to serve the 2012 six month term.)

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:28 a.m. Mark Seegert inquired on whether the property deeded to Camp Kooch from the State in the land exchange went through the County’s Zoning Ordinance for development as the parking lot and boat docking system is negatively affecting his property. The reflection and lights from the parking lot are shining in his house and the docking system is blocking his view of the lake and at times, the use of his dock. The Camp Kooch docks park two large barges and boats are coming in and out of this narrow channel constantly. In addition, the docking system was constructed in a sensitive waterfowl and fishery water area. A Board member stated that the County can’t speak to the issues of the land exchange or the impact to the water as that is with the State but that zoning is a County issue for review. The Environmental Service Director stated that he would need to do some checking as to what occurred with this land exchange and whether there was a local zoning review done. The Director will review and report back to the Board. The County Board wished Assistant Custodian Terry Shoquist the very best in his retirement and thanked him for his years of dedicated service.