April 11, 2023

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to order at 9:00a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners: Buck Nordlof, Ed Arnesen and Joe Grund. Also present was Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson. Absent was: Commissioners: Cody Hasbargen, and Jon Waibel.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: Legislative update, Extension, and Highway Correspondence. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of March 28, 2023.

Bid Opening-Land Lease

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to reject the bid from Dan Crompton in the amount of $100.00 for total acreage as it did not meet the minimum bid required of $30.00 per acre.

Dan Crompton

Dan Crompton spoke with the board about his use of the land in regards to his bid and suggested that the board reconsider their options.

Add to Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to add Rebidding of Acres to the agenda.

Rebidding of Acres

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to advertise for bids for parcel #18.2342.000, approximately 13 acres of tillable land, at $30.00 per acre or best offer.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $13,071.45; Commissioners Warrants $3,476.85; Commissioners Warrants $9,804.29.

CSP Contract- Adult Mental Health 2023-24

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof to approve the CSP Contract between the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Division and Lake of the Woods County for Adult Mental Health 2023-24. 

Northerly Park Bid Request

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the request to prepare bid RFP for the Northwest Angle Northerly Park project.

New Signage for Jim’s Corner

Joe Laurin discussed the need for new signage at Jim’s Corner. It was the consensus of the board to add this to the American Rescue Plan funds work session discussion.

Snowmobile Trail Grant

Resolution

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and moved for adoption: 

MN Snowmobile Trail Assistance Program

Trail Improvement Grant

NWA Edgeriders

Resolution – 23-04-01

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County supports the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for a Trail Improvement Project on behalf of the Northwest Angle Edgeriders Snowmobile Club.  The trail system is located within Lake of the Woods County 

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County recognizes that the Northwest Angle Edgeriders Snowmobile Club will be contributing a twenty-five percent (25%) cash match to the project. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, if Lake of the Woods County is awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, the County agrees to accept the grant award, and may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project.  The County will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be in effect for a five-year period, good through April 2028, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant has read the Conflict of Interest Policy contained in the Trail Program Grant Manual and certifies it will report any actual, potential, perceived, or organizational conflicts of interest upon discovery to the state related to the application or grant award, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Board names the fiscal agent for Lake of the Woods County as: 

Lorene Hanson 

County Auditor-Treasurer

206 8th Ave SE, Suite 260, 

Baudette, MN 56623

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County hereby assures the trail improvements will be maintained for a period of no less than twenty (20) years as required by the Recreational Trail Grant Programs.

Miles Hogenson

Snowmobile Trails

Miles Hogenson gave a presentation on the current snowmobile trails maintenance and presented a map to display new potential ATV trails.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to support the possible new trail route from Baudette and Williams to the west to Beltrami and the new 62 mile proposal extending to the Pine Island State Forest. 

Public Hearing

Rainy Rapid River Watershed Plan

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting and open the Rainy Rapid River Watershed Plan Public Hearing with the following members present: Commissioners: Ed Arnesen, Buck Nordlof, and Joe Grund. Also present were: Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson, Land & Water Director Josh Stromlund, John Sonstegard, Monica Dohlmen, with  Mariya Rufer and Chad Severts by Zoom.

Rainy Rapid Watershed Committee

Rainy Rapid Watershed Committee meeting Chair John Sonstegard opened the public hearing.

Approval of Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Committee Member Monica Dohlmen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda without changes.

Approval of Minutes

Motion

Motion was made by Mariya Rufer, seconded by Chad Severts and carried unanimously to approve the minutes from February 23, 2023.

Rainy Rapid Watershed Plan Presentation

 Mike Hirst reviewed a power point presentation to discuss the Rainy Rapid Watershed Plan. 

Motion 

Motion was made by committee member Monica Dohlmen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to recommend approval of the watershed plan and submit to the BWSR.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Committee Member Monica Dohlmen and carried unanimously to close the Public Hearing.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to open the regular meeting.

Rainy Rapid River Watershed Plan 

Resolution

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPROVAL TO SUBMIT, ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE RAINY-RAPID COMPREHENSIVE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN

Resolution 23-04-02

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County is a member of the Rainy-Rapid One Watershed One Plan Policy Committee; and

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County has been an active participant in the development of the Rainy-Rapid Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (Plan); and

WHEREAS, the Rainy-Rapid One Watershed One Plan Policy Committee submitted the Plan on January 23, 2023 for a 60-day comment period; and 

WHEREAS, no major changes were requested by state agencies in the 60-day comment period; and

WHEREAS, the Plan will serve as a substitute for either the SWCD comprehensive plan or county local water management plan as per 103C or 103B respectively for the duration of the state approved Plan.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Lake of the Woods County will approve submission of the plan to the Board of Water and Soil Resources Board (BWSR). Contingent on recommendation of plan approval by the BWSR Northern Committee and subsequent BWSR approval, Lake of the Woods County hereby adopts and will begin implementation of the Plan for the area of the County identified within the Plan.

Memorandum of Agreement

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the MOA with SWCD to work together on the Rainy Rapid River Watershed Plan and for Chairman Ed Arnesen to sign the same.

Feedlot Presentation-Mike Hirst

Mike Hirst gave an update on the feedlots in Lake of the Woods County.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the feedlot annual report and for Chairman Ed Arnesen to sign the same.

Historical Society

Request for Funding for New Roof

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve $6,000.00 from the American Rescue Plan funds for roof repairs and to add the Historical Society to the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds list. 

Recess

A brief recess took place at 11:22 a.m. and reconvened at 11:25 a.m.

Auditor/Treasurer

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $39,257.04; Road & Bridge $126,302.64; County Development $515.00; Solid Waste $54,908.90.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 4/11/2023 For Payment 4/14/2023

Vendor Name Amount

American Solutions For Business 4,483.46

CARRIFF Engineered Fabrics Corporation 2,695.82

Cenex Co-Op Services, Inc. 21,456.34

Farmers Union Oil company 2,026.72

Guardian Fleet Safety 5,283.67

Howard’s Oil Company 8,295.41

LOW Highway Dept 5,831.25

Mar-Kit Landfill 12,420.25

Midsota Trailer Sales & Service 27,350.00

Performance Health Supply LLC 3,908.64

Plutko Plumbing & Heating 19,641.99

R & Q Trucking, Inc 6,110.00

Team Lab 70,812.50

University Of Mn 11,474.32

32 Payments less than 2000 19,193.21

Final Total: 220,983.58

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: April 5, 2023 for $67,829.28; April 7, 2023 for $451,366.00; April 7, 2023 for ($1,250.00).

Abatement

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to request an abatement from the Commissioner of Revenue for parcel #15.31.33.040 due to a clerical error.

Extension 

The board reviewed correspondence from Lisa Loegering requesting funding for a 4-H Summer assistant.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve up to $2000.00 for a 4-H Summer assistant.

Correspondence

The board reviewed correspondence from County Engineer Anthony Pirkl regarding FEMA progress.

Legislative Update

Commissioner Ed Arnesen gave a legislative update that included Tourism, Williams School, Lodging Tax, and the Northwest Angle. Commissioner Arnesen will be traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with lobbyist and requested a letter on behalf of the County regarding lobbying for a safe boat for public safety and to speak about tourism.

Recess

With no further business before the Board, Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to recess at 12:00 p.m.

Attest: April 25, 2023

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chairman Ed Arnesen