REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Held on Tuesday, October 20, 2009; 10:30 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Terry Glowack, Terry Murray, Dale Olson, Doug Grindall, Rod Otterness, Tim McBride, Einar Sundin, Aarden Barnes, Rosy Klementsen, Carol Mortenson, Betsy Jensen, Chuck Coombe, Mike Musich, Darren Kittleson; Reporters Laurel Beager and Sheldon Slaubaugh

2009/10-31 Motion by McBride, seconded by Adee to approve the agenda with additions and deletions. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-32 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Pavleck to approve the minutes from the October 13, 2009 Regular County Board meeting with correction. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-33 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride accepting the recommendation of the County Assessor to grant abatement to David and Jessica Herges for Parcel #92-003-00195 for valuation reduction due to a building value error. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-34 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper accepting the recommendation of the Administrative Assistant to establish a threshold of $1,000 to maintain and track the County’s Asset Inventory effective immediately and to establish the County’s Chart of Account’s Capital Outlay Categories as: Office Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment; Equipment; Computer Equipment; Computer Software; Vehicles Purchased; Vehicles Leased; Site Ground Acquisition; Site Ground Improvements. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-35 Motion by Lepper, seconded by McBride accepting the Complex Superintendent’s annual County Building Inspection Report noting building conditions are satisfactory with exception of the old Mizpah Highway Garage. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-36 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride accepting the recommendation of the Community Service Director to amend the LSS SLS Contract for the required State rate reduction. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-37 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the Community Service Director to approve a contract with United Behavioral Health, Inc. for mental health services upon the County Attorney’s approval. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-38 Motion by Adee, seconded by McBride to approve the FY 2010/2011 Adult Mental Health Grant Application as recommended by the Community Service Director. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-39 Motion by Lepper, seconded by Adee accepting the recommendation of the Environmental Service Director to adopt a County Subdivision Policy for the purpose of establishing a multi-county department review of subdivision applications to ensure that the property division meets the County’s taxation, addressing, access and zoning conditions with the policy to sunset in one year to allow a review of the policy as it relates to any revision of the County Zoning Ordinance or other implications that may arise as a result of the policy. Further, that said Policy is reviewed by the County Attorney. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-40 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by McBride accepting the recommendation of the Environmental Service Director for the final Jackfish Bay Construction Closure Plan to close out the construction portion of the project with expenses covered by the Project funding. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-41 Motion by McBride, seconded by Pavleck that in review of the County’s options for response to the Remand Order by BWSR for the Hasbargen’s Haven Wetland Bank Application and Determination, to delay a decision of the County Board until the November 24th County Board meeting to allow the applicant time to present facts to support an appeal for a higher percentage of wetland credits. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

000 The Board reviewed a request by the Gateway Project Committee’s consultant to approve a pre-application to the NE MN Area Transportation Partnership for $500,000 of federal funding for the International Falls Area Gateway Corridor Improvement Project requiring a local match and local cost for preliminary engineering. The request includes a needed response from the City and County as to what of the two options provided is preferred for meeting the local match. The first option is a cash match and the second option is to package the Gateway Project with the City of International Falls’s Voyageur Heritage Center leveraging the bonding dollars for the Gateway’s local match. Board members stated that Highway Enhancement Projects including the County’s application for repair of the bike trail from International Falls and Ranier will be hard to support due to having to find county dollars for the local match. However, the approval of the $3.5 million Hwy 332 Turnback proposal would allow the county to provide the matches for these enhancement projects. The Highway Engineer stated that he is named as the project manager in the pre-application which he felt should be a City official for this application. A City representative stated that the City is supportive of the named project manager but would want City approval of the plans. When asked, the City representative stated the City approved the pre-application but the City did not specifically state the option for the local match.

2009/10-42 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Adee to approve the pre-application to the NE MN Area Transportation Partnership for $500,000 of federal funding for the International Falls Area Gateway Corridor Improvement Project with the local match for this application to be achieved by leveraging the state bonding for the City of International Falls’s Heritage Center Project due to the uncertainty at the County level to provide the funding for a cash match and further, to approve the Highway Engineer as Project Manager for pre-application purposes. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.

2009/10-43 Motion by Pavleck, seconded by Lepper authorizing the Highway Engineer to move forward on establishing an easement agreement with Boise in which their private road between TH 332 and TH 11 will be turned over to the County for a five year period to allow usage as a public road under the County’s authority to reduce the traffic on the Burner Road and with said easement to be approved by the County Attorney and brought back to the Board for final authorization. Voting yes: Hanson, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck; voting no: McBride. Motion carried.

000 The Board Chair called for public comment at 11:50 a.m. Einar Sundin inquired as to the County Board’s public comment policy. Aarden Barnes commented on the Ranier By-Pass and the City’s proposal for ALS Ambulance Service. Board recessed for lunch.

000 The Board Chair opened a public hearing at 1:35 p.m. to review the draft County Ordinance for management of All Terrain Vehicles on roads under the County’s jurisdiction and to receive public comment on the proposed ordinance. The Board Chair recognized the written comment received which was from the Cities of Northome, Big Falls and International Falls and from the Ridgerunners Snowmobile/ATV Club in support of the proposed ordinance. The Board Chair opened the hearing for public comment. Two business owners stated their strong support for the Ordinance as it will enhance business and it was stated that many other businesses are in support of the Ordinance but could not be present for the hearing. A property owner stated their support of the Ordinance as currently they have to trailer their ATVs for about one half mile to get to a trail. This will now allow them to leave on ATVs right from their house to access the trail. The Chamber Director stated strong support and appreciation from the business community to allow ATV travel to access businesses. The City of Intl Falls Police Chief stated the City is in support of the Ordinance and is working on their own plan to allow routes in the City limits. DNR Officer stated that he supports the intent of the Ordinance but is concerned about safety. He supports the clear direction in the Ordinance to include the recommended speed limit and where the ATV must travel on the road right of way. The Board Chair stated in response to the question, that the Ordinance opens all county and CSAH roads under the County’s jurisdiction and was decided after considerable discussion on the matter. However, the Ordinance is to sunset in one year to force a review for any reconsideration. Business owners stated that they would help get the information out to the ATV riders to make sure they know the laws. The Administration Director stated that State law governs all aspects of ATV/OHV and that the County Ordinance is limited to allowing travel on County roads and CSAH roads and setting the specific rules for this purpose only. The State DNR ATV/OHV Handbook along with a summary of the Koochiching County Ordinance as to where an ATV can travel on County and CSAH roads and at what speed should provide users the information they need to travel legally. With no other comment, the Board Chair stated that it is the intent of the County Board to act on the proposed County Ordinance for management of All Terrain Vehicles on roads under the County’s jurisdiction at the October 27th County Board meeting.

2009/10-44 Motion by McBride, seconded by Adee to adjourn the meeting at 1:50 p.m. Voting yes: Hanson, McBride, Adee, Lepper, Pavleck. Motion carried.
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Mike Hanson, Board Chair Teresa Jaksa, Administration Director

The Daily Journal
November 3, 2009