Commissioner Proceedings

December 30, 2015

The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, in the Commissioners’ Room at the Government Center.

Call to Order

Chairman Arnesen called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners Buck Nordlof, Tom Hanson, Patty Beckel and Ed Arnesen. Absent, Ken Moorman. Also present were:  County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson, Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Janet Rudd and Woody Fiala.

Approval of Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following additions:  Lost Warrant, Ditch 28 Invoice, Paul Bunyan Transit and Government Center North Lease.

APPROVAL of Consent Agenda

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the consent agenda as follows: Cooper Mickelson to Detroit Lakes for 2016 Bridge Safety Inspection on February 23, Whitnie Reasy to Plymouth for MN Assessment Laws and Procedures Class, January 25-29.

Approval of Minutes

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official and summarized minutes of December 15, 2015.

AUDITOR/TREASURER

Claims

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board requesting approval of claims.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the county as follows:

Revenue                      $  66,433.47

Road & Bridge           $  33,005.90

                                                Solid Waste                $    2,259.72

EDA                            $   4,735.07

                                     106,434.16

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 12/30/2015 For Payment 12/31/2015

Vendor Name                                                    Amount

Border Ridge Trucking Inc                                                       19,185.60

Compass Minerals America                                                        6,485.21

Koochiching Co Treasurer                                                        2,500.00

Lakewood Health Center                                                           35,000.00

Northwest Community Action, Inc                                              3,434.00

Pb Distributing Inc                                                                        2,242.45

Powerplan                                                                                    2,498.03

Rone Jr/Roderick W                                                                    2,179.27

University Of Mn                                                                          8,441.25

                                           73  Payments less than 2000  24,468.35

Final Total: 106,434.16

    Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants:

                                                December 17, 2015                $  30,911.85

                                                December 22, 2015                $  48,212.50

$ 79,124.35

2016 Mileage Rate

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to set the 2016 mileage rate at the IRS Standard Rate. (It was noted that the Internal Revenue Service issued a .54 cents per mile for business miles beginning January 1, 2016 for the standard rate.)

Hoffman, Philipp, & Knutson, PLLC

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board and presented the Engagement Letter from Hoffman, Philipp, & Knutson, PLLC for the 2015 Audit.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to authorize Chairman Arnesen and County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson to sign the 2015 Engagement Letter for Hoffman, Philipp & Knutson PLLC to audit Lake of the Woods County’s financial for 2015.

Board of Equalization Certificate

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board and informed the board that Commissioner Beckel and she are certified for the Board of Equalization, and that if anyone is interested they now have the on-line training that can be done prior to February 1, 2016 to be certified for the 2016. The county is required to have at least one County Board member to be certified.

Lost Warrant

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board requesting approval for a lost warrant.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to approve the application and affidavit of a lost warrant for Debra Foldoe in the amount of $104.90 without furnishing and indemnifying bond.

Ditch 28

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board and presented an invoice for payment for Ditch 28.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to authorize County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson to pay the Ditch 28 invoice in the amount of $11,389.11 from the Revenue account as a loan to Ditch 28 with interest in the amount of 6%.

Paul Bunyan Transit

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board and informed the board that Paul Bunyan Transit never signed the 2015 contract with Lake of the Woods and inquired about a 2016 contract. The consensus of the board was that Lake of the Woods County are just consumers and a contract is not needed.

Government Center North Contract- Sanford

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board to discuss the Government Center North Contract and informed them board that they added an amendment to the original agreement that the Lessee may assign or sublease the premises to its parent, subsidiary or corporate affiliate without the prior written consent of Lessor.  In addition, in the event Lessee merges or consolidates with its parent, subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or Lessee undergoes a corporate reorganization with its parent, subsidiary or corporate affiliate, Lessee may do so without the prior written consent of Lessor. Lorene informed the board that she is having County Attorney, James Austad review this new amendment.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to approve the Government Center North contract with Sanford contingent approval of County Attorney, James Austad.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Social Service Director, Amy Ballard met with the board requesting approval of claims.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to approve the following claims:

                                                            Commissioners’ Warrants $ 17,773.59

                                                            Commissioners’ Warrants $ 34,526.95

Contract

Social Service Director, Amy Ballard met with the board requesting approval for Social Services contracts.

Motions

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Lake of the Woods County Social Services contract with Rural Minnesota CEP for Diversionary Work Program and MFIP services for 2016-2017. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Lake of the Woods County Social Services contract with MIS for IT/Computer services for the Child Support, Social Services and Income Maintenance departments for the years 2016-17. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Hanson and carried unanimously to approve the Lake of the Woods County Social Services contract with Tri-Valley Opportunity Council for caring companion program services for the elderly and alternative care clients for the years 2016-17. 

WHEELERS POINT SEWER DISTRICT

 The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following resolution:

RESOLUTION FOR ELECTION OF WHEELERS POINT

SANITARY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS

RESOLUTION

15-12-03

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners adopted the creation of a sanitary district for Wheelers Point District on September 27, 2005;

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners is the central related governing body of the Wheelers Point Sanitary District;

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners has the authority to elect members to the Wheelers Point Sanitary District Board by resolution to fill expired terms;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners elects Marshal Monk to fill the term of office for the late Ron Strauss, which will expire the first business day of, 2018, and reappoint Mike Mayer for a three year term ending the first business day, 2019.

RECESS

The meeting was called to recess at 8:40 a.m. and reconvened at 8:45 a.m. as follows:

ASSESSOR

County Assessor, MaryJo Otten met with the board requesting a cell phone stipend.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Hanson and carried unanimously to approve a smart phone cell stipend for County Assessor, MaryJo Otten in the amount of $60.00 per month.

YEARS OF SERVICE

Chairman Arnesen congratulated Assistant Assessor, Dale Boretski on behalf of the County Board on his retirement.

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Arnesen and moved for adoption:

Recognition of years of service

Dale Boretski

Resolution 2015 – 12– 04

Whereas:  Dale Boretski  has served the residents of Lake of the Woods County since December 4, 2002 as  Lake of the Woods County Deputy Auditor; and then on December 15, 2008 as Assistant County Assessor;

Whereas:  Dale will retire from Lake of the Woods County service effective December 31, 2015 with thirteen years of service;

Now Therefore, Be it Resolved:  That Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners extends its deepest  appreciation to Dale for his dedicated service and  best wishes  on his retirement;

The resolution was seconded by Commissioner Beckel and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

SHERIFF

County Sheriff, Gary Fish and Human Resource Director, Karen Ose met with the board for clarification on “On Call Status Pay” for Deputy Sheriffs when they are on call. Karen explained that the board needs to decide if this falls under the Affordable Care Act that requires thirty (30) hours per week for full-time or under the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act, which compensation is forty (40) hours per week.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to amend the following motion dated May 13, 2014:

“Motion was made by Commissioner Arnesen to authorize payment of $20.00 per pay period for all full time Deputy Sheriff’s for on call time, effective May 25, 2014. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hanson and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.”

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve all Deputy Sheriffs for “On Call Status Pay” under the Affordable Care Act that work 30 hours per week or more will receive the on call status pay of $20.00 per pay period.

Human Resources

Human Resource Director, Karen Ose met with the board requesting approval for all County Job Descriptions. Commissioner Beckel informed the board that she reviewed the job descriptions.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Hanson and carried unanimously to approve all County Job Descriptions a presented.

Scott Kerns Letter

The board reviewed the Scott Kerns Letter and placed it on the January 12, 2016 meeting for more discussion.

Adjournment

Chairman Arnesen thanked the board for a progressive year and accomplishments that the board completed in 2015.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Hanson and carried unanimously to adjourn the 2015 County Board meeting at 9:30 a.m.

Attest:                                                                                                 Approved: January 12, 2016

__________________________________                                        ______________________________

Lorene Hanson, County Auditor/Treasurer                                        Edward Arnesen

                                                                                                        Chairman of the Board