DECEMBER 30, 2021

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

CALL TO ORDER

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

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: Williams School Building; and Permission to Hire Assessment Technician I. 

Williams School Building

The board discussed possible funding or grants for the removal of the old Williams school building. Public Works Director Anthony Pirkl informed the board that there are options for certain grants but a formal plan needs to be in place. No action was taken at this time. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official and summarized minutes of December 14, 2021.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $12,584.87; Commissioners Warrants $3,673.21; Commissioners Warrants $17,211.96.

Auditor/Treasurer

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $51,922.79; Road & Bridge 7,720.35; County Development $3,782.50;Solid Waste $15,338.32; EDA $882.58.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 12/30/2021 For Payment 12/30/2021

Vendor Name Amount

American Solutions For Business 2,653.56

Counties Providing Technology 3,860.00

Lakewood Health Center 11,386.00

North East Technical Service,Inc 8,401.84

Pirk’s Carpet 14,530.00

Swanston Equipment Corp 5,962.20

WIDSETH 6,082.50

49 Payments less than 2000 26,770.44

Final Total: 79,646.54

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: November 24,2021 for $15,110.24; December 15,2021 for $26,725.50; December 21,2021 for $845,580.80; December 21,2021 for $(652.80); December 21,2021 for $(19,676.93); December 22, 2021 for $26,087.70; December 29,2021 for $96,028.08.

Motion to Pay Year End Bills

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the payment of year end bills on the Auditors list on December 30, 2021.

Salaries

2022 Elected Officials & Non-Elected Department Heads Salaries

Motion 

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen to adopt the following County Commissioners salaries schedule and County Board Chair salary schedule for the year 2022; and to adopt a committee meeting per diem of $125.00 for the year 2022.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

Elected Officials – Commissioners:

Commissioners                 $22,000.00                          

Board Chair                      $23,000.00          

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof to adopt a Technology Fee of $50.00 per month for County Commissioners for the year 2022. (Technology fee reimbursement for county related phone, internet, computer and copy expenses.)  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and unanimously carried to approve the 2022 Salary Grade Table, with an increase of .75 cents and two additional steps to the table.

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and unanimously carried to adopt the following Elected Officials salary schedule for the year 2022.  

Elected Officials – Department Heads:

County Attorney                 $115,294.40

County Recorder                  $78,228.80

County Sheriff                      $94,078.40

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen to adopt the following Non-Elected Department Heads salary schedule for the year 2022.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.  

Non-Elected – Department Heads:

Assessor                              Mary Jo Otten            $89,065.60      

Aud/Treas                        Lorene Hanson       $92,393.60

Land/Water                         Josh Stromlund           $88,982.40

MIS Director                       Peder Hovland            $82,763.20

Public Works                      Anthony Pirkl                $105,123.20     

Social Service                     Amy Ballard              $88,961.60      

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof to adopt the following Non-Elected Department Heads salary schedule for the year 2022.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.  

Non-Elected – Department Heads:

Human Resources           Savanna Slick                  $32,583.20          

Veterans Service             Rick Rone                        $26,800.80

Salary Adjustment, as agreed upon per Union Contract

Motion- Highway Union

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen to adjust all full time Highway Union employees’ salary by a .75 cents per hour general adjustment and by 1 merit step, if applicable (not maxed), effective January 1, 2022.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

Salary Adjustment, as agreed upon per Union Contract

Motion- Solid Waste Union

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof to adjust all full time Solid Waste Union employees’ salary by a .75 cents per hour general adjustment and by 1 merit step, if applicable (not maxed), effective January 1, 2022.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

All County Employees (Full time/Permanent Part Time/Part Time/Seasonal Employees) Salary Adjustment (Excluding Elected and Non-Elected Department Heads) 

Motion- Non-Union

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel to adjust all non-union employees: full time, permanent part time, part time and seasonal (excluding elected and non-elected department heads) salaries by a .75 cents per hour general adjustment and by 1 merit step, if applicable (not maxed), effective January 1, 2022.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

Health Insurance/Health Care Savings Plan

Motion (motion made 10/26/2021)

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to set the 2022 county contribution for family health insurance up to $1,320 per month and single health insurance up to $970 per month.  The Public Employees Insurance Program “Advantage Plan” consists of “High”, “Value” and “HSA” plans.  For the HSA plans only, any excess county contribution will be deposited directly into the employee’s health savings account, up to the IRS caps.  

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to set the 2022 county contribution for family health insurance up to $1,325 per month for all Highway Union and Solid Waste Union employees.  The International Union of Operating Engineers Local No 49 AFL-CIO health insurance consists of family coverage only.

Motion 

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve that all PERA eligible Lake of the Woods County employees contribute one percent (1%) of their regular pay (no overtime) into their Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP); in addition, Lake of the Woods County, as employer, will contribute one percent (1%) of the employee’s regular pay (no overtime) to the same all PERA eligible Lake of the Woods County employees.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the renewal and amended Health Care Savings Plan as presented, effective January 1, 2022.

Add to Agenda

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to add the partnership with Koochiching County Jail to the agenda.

Koochiching County Jail

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve in the general consensus of joining with Koochiching County in the planning process of a new jail in Koochiching County.

Auditor/Treasurer

IRS Mileage Rate

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the 2022 Standard IRS Mileage rate for business miles at 58.5 cents per mile.

Resolution

Motion 

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

YEAR END COMMITMENT OF FUNDS

RESOLUTION NO. 21-12-04

WHEREAS, per Lake of the Woods County Fund Balance Policy, the County Board will annually or as deemed necessary commit specific revenue sources for specified purposed by resolution;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Lake of the Woods County hereby commits the following reserves with the amounts to be determined at a later date: Building; Community Health; Elections; Health/Medical; Housing Rehabilitation; Land & Building Acquisitions; Sheriff’s Posse; Sheriff’s Vending Commission; Technology; Transit; Drainage Maintenance; Economic Development; Prepaid Fiber; SANE; Snowmobile Trails; Future Equipment, and Future Budget Expenditures. 

Transfer of Funds to Ditch Funds

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to authorize a temporary loan to Ditch Fund 26; to mitigate a temporary negative cash balance.

Motion to Increase Per Diems

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve county appointed committee from $75.00 per day per diems to $100.00 per day effective January 1, 2022.

Human Resources

Permission to Hire

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to hire Ryan Zemek for the position of EDA Director at Grade 13, Step 1, 24.07 per hour, Points 305, effective 1/03/ 2022.

Set Work Session

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to set a work session with Ryan Zemek for the EDA Director January 4 , 2021.

Permission to Hire

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to hire Emily Brandt for the position of Assessment Technician I at Grade 11, Step 1, 21.68 per hour, Points 262, effective 1/10/ 2022

Wheelers Sanitation

Wheelers Point Sewer Board Members and Terms

Alan Thompson       Three Year Term     21 Thru 01/02/2024

Marshall Monk        Three Year Term     21 Thru 01/02/2024

Brian Ney                Three Year Term     20 Thru 01/02/2023

Paul Johnson           Three Year Term     20 Thru 01/02/2023

Justin Ferguson       Three Year Term     19 Thru 01/02/2022

Motion

Motion was made by Buck Nordlof, seconded by Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to appoint Justin Ferguson to the Wheeler’s Point Sanitary District Board for a three year term beginning January 2, 2022 thru January 2, 2025. 

Public Works

Public Works Director Anthony Pirkl gave an update on various projects. He informed the board that the containers for recycled fish guts have arrived and they have been collected and sent their first batch. He also presented the following motion for approval of final payment:

Motion 

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the final payment of SAP 039-608-024 for Gladen Construction, Inc. of Laporte, MN in the total amount of $590,779.21 and hereby authorize final payment of $29,538.96.

Land & Water

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the adoption of the Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan for the years 2021-2025.

Recess

The meeting recessed at 10:02 a.m. and reconvened as follows:

Set Work Session

Motion 

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to set a work session for the Auditor/Treasurer on January 4,2022.

Adjourn

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 11:45a.m. 

Attest: January 4, 2022

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chairman