• The Koochiching County Board authorized the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust to assign attorney Paul Reuvers to represent the county on issues regarding Minnesota Highway 332.
The Falls City Council is seeking a Minnesota Court of Appeals review of decisions made by the Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner and MnDOT in connection with a plan by Koochiching County to relocate the northern entrance of Highway 332.
The case could take between 15 and 18 months in the Court of Appeals, and Reuvers is not going to let that happen, according to Koochiching County Highway Engineer Doug Grindall.
The city of International Falls has claimed that the lawsuit doesn’t involve the county. The county is involved, according to the county board, because the litigation stems from a county construction project.
The county board also agreed to inform the Association of Minnesota Counties of the dispute in a parallel move to the city of International Falls involving the League of Minnesota Cities.
The county board also was assured that Rep. Jim Oberstar, who secured the funding for the relocation project, is aware of that the “money he allocated is at stake,” Commissioner Kallie Briggs said.
“This has really gotten out of hand and gotten ridiculous,” Commissioner Chuck Lepper said.
• The board approved sending a letter expressing disappointment about the recent legislative session to the Association of Minnesota Counties following the legislative session. Commissioners also agreed to discuss their concerns with other counties to provide an united front against changes which they say hurt Minnesota counties.
A 3.9 percent levy limit was set for counties, but a provision allows counties to suspend maintenance of effort and matching fund requirements. That affects what a county would fund for items such as a regional library.
The Koochiching County Board recently received a letter explaining that in 2009, the suspension on funding would be removed and there would be no increase in general aid to the county, according to county Coordinator Teresa Jaksa.
Board Chairman Wade Pavleck pointed out that the actions required by the county to take by the state and federal governments are increasing with levy limits placed on the county. Cities, such as International Falls, receive large sums of money, but don’t have the mandates that the county does, he said.
A 3.9 percent levy limit, which would be $141,000 for Koochiching County, doesn’t cover the county’s increasing labor costs, Pavleck said, adding that it “puts us in a terrible position.”
“What choice do we have?” Pavleck asked. The county can either say no, or find the money, which would come from the taxpayers. With an economic climate that has residents unable to afford food and gas, Pavleck said increasing taxes would lay a heavy burden on residents.
Lepper said counties were on the table and not at the table during the last legislative session. He said he is disappointed that AMC dropped the ball.
Lepper said the county also needs to consider mandated services and decide which ones it can do. If the state won’t pay for the county to provide mandated services, the county won’t provide it, he said.
Commissioner Mike Hanson said he was disappointed because mandates are getting more burdensome and counties can’t discuss it with the state.
The 87 counties need to stick together, he said. Lepper echoed those thoughts, stating that he wants to urge AMC to form a coalition of the 87 counties against the state, or “we will do action without them.”
Hanson responded: “If it’s not 87, we’re going to lose.”