June 13, 2023

The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at the Angle Outpost Resort, Angle Inlet, MN. 

Call To Order

Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to order at 10:22 a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners:Cody Hasbargen, Joe Grund and Ed Arnesen. Also present was County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson. Absent was: Commissioners Jon Waibel and Buck Nordlof.

Approval of Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: EDA Update, Hagen Property Discussion, Permission to Purchase Survey Equipment.

Bid Opening-Oil Furnace

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to accept the bid from Ed Searl in the amount of $2900.00 for the used oil furnace. 

PUBLIC HEARING- RECONVENE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, second by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting and re-open the public hearing for the Board of Equalization at the Northwest Angle with the following members present: Commissioners: Ed Arnesen, Cody Hasbargen, Joe Grund, County Auditor Treasurer Lorene Hanson, and County Assessor Alisa Jacobsen. Absent were Commissioners Jon Waibel and Buck Nordlof.

Appeals of Estimated Market Value

Chair Ed Arnesen read the rules of appeals that included: Only Estimated market values not tax amounts can be appealed at this time, appeals will be done one at a time, and no decision on an appeal will be done until all appeals are heard. He also explained that the valuation period the Assessor’s Office use is from sales during October 1, 2021 through September 20, 2022. County Assessor Alisa Jacobsen explained the Valuation process and state guidelines that affect those values. 

Property Owners and Motions

County Assessor Alisa Jacobsen informed the board of the valuation change requests and reviewed the properties in question, recent sales and values for the following property owners: Tammy Harris, Zeke Beckel, Dan Finnie, Talon Stammen, Jacob Mertens, Kyle Colbert, Betty Frohreich, Jim Frohreich, and Scott Pahlen.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to accept the Lake of the Woods County Assessor’s recommendations on the following properties and to adjust values per the attached recommendations from the County Assessor: Tammy Harris (P#62.50.00.100), Zeke Beckel (P#60.56.07.010), Dan Finnie (P#02.29.32.010), Talon Stammen (P#03.51.02.120), Jacob Mertens (P#06.02.42.010).

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to accept the Lake of the Woods County Assessor’s recommendations on the following properties and to leave the values as they are: Kyle Colbert property owner Swiftwater Township (P#43.05.32.000 & P#43.06.41.010).

Motion 

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to accept the Lake of the Woods County Assessor’s recommendations on the following properties and to leave the values as they are: Betty Frohreich property owner Wheeler Township(P#19.32.11.010), Jim Frohreich property owner Wheeler Township (P#19.29.43.000).

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to accept the Lake of the Woods County Assessor’s recommendation on the following property:

Scott Pahlen- property owner Prosper Township  P#16.55.01.220 decrease in total value from 778,700 to 700,000 due to adjustment in building value from 578,700 to 500,000.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to close the public hearing for Board of Equalization and open the regular meeting.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Commissioner Ed Arnesen gave an update on various topics he has been actively working on with the lobbyist that included: NWA Relief, Williams School Building, PILT, and Lodging Tax. Commissioner Arnesen informed the board and public that the legislation for the Northwest Angle, Lodging Tax, and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) had passed. Chair Ed Arnesen introduced Senator Steve Green and Representative Matt Grossell. Senator Green and Representative Grossell discussed the following legislative topics in more detail: Inflation, FMLA, NWA Relief, Williams School, Law Enforcement, and Public Safety. Commissioner Ed Arnesen introduced Deputy Sheriff Ben Duick. Deputy Sheriff Ben Duick discussed Safeboats and how they would be a benefit for Lake of the Woods County. 

ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA COUNTIES (AMC)

Member Engagement Coordinator Ryan Erdmann, MACSSA Director Matt Freeman, and LPHA Director Kari Oldfield-Tabbert from AMC thanked the board for inviting them to the Northwest Angle and gave an update on some of the actions they have taken to assist Minnesota counties that included: Tax Forfeited Properties, PILT, Corrections/Probations, Public Safety, and Wetlands.

PUBLIC WORKS

County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave an update on various projects.

Purchase of Survey Equipment

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of survey equipment in the amount of $28,754.91, $20,000 will be paid by SWCD leaving $8,754.91 to be paid for from Highway funds.

Approval of JD-28 Quote

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the quote from Denton Earthworks in the amount of $126,668.93 for JD-28 maintenance/repair to be paid for out of FEMA funds.

Part-Time Hire of Bob Peterson for Spraying

County Engineer Anthony Pirkl asked the board to consider hiring former employee Bob Peterson on a part-time/temporary basis to assist Curt Ferrier with spraying.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the part-time hire of Bob Peterson at $35.00 per hour effective next full pay period.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Economic Development Specialists Lucas Wakefield and McKayla Carter gave an update on various projects they are working on in the county that included: Project Repair Public Accesses, Broadband, Digital Connectivity, Land Grant for Community Building, Farmers Markets, AG Processing and Food Supply.

Northerly Park Update-Joe Laurin

Joe Laurin gave an update on the progress of Northerly Park and various projects that included: Park Arch, Old Mine Cart, LOTW Commercial Fishing Boat for display, and a resort event happening on September 2^nd. 

HAGEN PROPERTY DISCUSSION

The board discussed the property owned by Carl Hagen on Magnuson Island.

RECESS

With no further business before the Board Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to recess at 12:32 pm. to be followed by the Road Tour.

Attest: June 27, 2023

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chair Ed Arnesen