March 28, 2023

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 28, 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: 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 Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: Legislative update

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of March 14, 2023.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $18,195.00; Commissioners Warrants $3,091.09; Commissioners Warrants $6,117.19.

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 $33,119.19; Road & Bridge $16,893.51; Solid Waste $9,020.83.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 3/28/2023 For Payment 3/31/2023

Vendor Name Amount

CentralSquare Technologies, LLC 2,340.00

Compass Minerals America 3,021.63

Lake of the Woods Electric LLC 2,703.76

Larkin Hoffman Attorneys 15,798.75

Northwest Community Action, Inc 5,000.00

Pemberton Law, P.L.L.P. 2,174.34

Stratton Equipment Sales & Service Ltd 9,078.83

U.S. Bank Equipment Finance 6,268.50

23 Payments less than 2000 12,647.72

Final Total: 59,033.53

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: March 14, 2023 for $16,474.14, March 22, 2023 $22,247.55.

Juneteenth

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve Juneteenth as a county holiday effective June 19, 2024. 

Post Prom Donation

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve a donation of $200.00 to the Post Prom Party. 

Law Enforcement Labor Services Contract

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the LELS Contract with the salary change effective the next full pay period. 

DNR

Scott Laudenslager gave an update on deer and bear habitats, habitat work, brush work, and controlled burns. 

Mr. Laudenslager also answered questions about grouse season.

Maintenance

Bloodborne Policy & Exposure Control Plan

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the updated Bloodborne Policy & Exposure Control Plan.

Public Works

Heavy Equipment Operator Grade Increase

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve an increase from Grade 11 to Grade 12 with the most equivalent step for Heavy Equipment Operator and Solid Waste Operators effective next full pay period. 

Deputy Accountant Grade Increase

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve an increase from Grade 10 to Grade 11 with the most equivalent step for Deputy Accountant Christi Pierce effective next full pay period. 

Federal Funding SP 039-598-071

Resolution

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously:

RESOLUTION

For Agreement to State Transportation Fund 

Local Bridge Replacement Program

Grant Terms and Conditions

SP 039-598-071

Resolution No – 23-03-02

March 28, 2023

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County has applied to the Commissioner of Transportation for a grant from the Minnesota State Transportation Fund for construction of Bridge No. 92633; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioner of Transportation has given notice that funding for this project is available; and

WHEREAS, the amount of the grant has been determined to be $_116,288.68_ by reason of the lowest responsible bid;

WHEREAS, NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that Lake of the Woods County does hereby agree to the terms and conditions of the grant consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, and will pay any additional amount by which the cost exceeds the estimate, and will return to the Minnesota State Transportation Fund any amount appropriated for the project but not required.  The proper county officers are authorized to execute a grant agreement and any amendments thereto with the Commissioner of Transportation concerning the above-referenced grant.

NWA Road ROW Brushing

County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave an update regarding the Northwest Angle road right-of-way brushing that will begin on April 10, 2023. Letters will be sent to adjacent property owners. 

PFAAS 3^rd Party Study Approval

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the use of a 3^rd party for PFAAS testing at the landfill with Bar Engineering in the amount of $4,000.

Land & Water

Purchase Approval-File Folders

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of 1,000 file folders in the amount of $956.82 from the Land & Water Budget.

Indus School 

Resolution

The following Resolution was offered by Commission Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the following:

A RESOLUTION OF THE LAKE OF THE WOODS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AFFIRMATION, COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT OF THE INDUS SCHOOL

Resolution No.  23-03-03

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods Board of County Commissioners is committed to making decisions that promote quality educational programs and services to school-age children of our community and surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Board of County Commissioners believes that a quality public education serves as an essential foundation to and has an integral impact on school-age children’s future and the counties economic well-being; and

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods Board of County Commissioners believes that education is an important asset in maximizing the opportunities of an individual and a community; and

WHEREAS, rural public schools have a positive impact on the lives of countless students and enhance county initiatives by providing employment opportunities for residents, retaining families within a community, and providing alternative educational opportunities for students that meet the need of the whole student; and

WHEREAS, school closures affect all aspects of our students’ lives, such as food and housing security, healthcare, safety, and educational technology; and

WHEREAS, school closures negatively impact a community and surrounding counties from a social, economic, and population standpoint; and

WHEREAS, our nation’s future well-being relies on providing our most vulnerable students access to high quality education and programs that meet their needs;

WHEREAS, quality public education for every child is integral to the viability and economic future of developing communities, by directly and indirectly contributing to the intellectual and physical development of all individuals regardless of circumstances; and

WHEREAS, the potential closure of a public schoolhouse serves to deepen the inequalities and diminish the opportunities for every child and diminishes our economic stability; and

 WHEREAS, the Indus school provides quality education that meets the needs for students that reside in both  Koochiching County and Lake of the Woods County.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the commitment to promote access to quality public education for students of all types is a cornerstone to Lake of the Woods Board of County Commissioners. As a County and neighboring school partnership, Lake of the Woods is committed to ensuring its residents have access to public education that meets their needs.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners does hereby affirm its support for the public education offered at Indus school and supports efforts to reconsider closure to allow for further discussion.

ADOPTED by the Lake of the Woods Board of County Commissioners (Ed Arnesen, Joe Grund, Cody Hasbargen, Buck Nordlof and Jon Waibel), State of Minnesota, at the regular open public meeting thereof, held this 28th day of March, 2023.

Sheriff

BCA Joint Powers Agreement

Resolution

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously: 

RESOLUTION NO. 23-03-04

RESOLUTION APPROVING STATE OF MINNESOTA JOINT POWERS AGREEMENTS WITH COUNTY OF LAKE OF THE WOODS ON BEHALF OF ITS COUNTY ATTORNEY AND SHERIFF

WHEREAS, The County of Lake of the Woods on behalf of its County Attorney and Sheriff desires to enter into Joint Powers Agreements with the State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to use systems and tools available over the State’s criminal justice data communications network for which the County is eligible. The Joint Powers Agreements further provide the county with the ability to add, modify and delete connectivity, systems and tools over the five year life of the agreement and obligates the County to pay the costs for the network connection.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lake of the Woods County Board, Minnesota s follows: 

1. That the State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreements by and between the State of Minnesota acting through its Department of Public Safety, Bureau of criminal Apprehension and the County of Lake of the Woods County on behalf of its County Attorney and Sheriff are herby approved.

2. That the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff, Gary Fish, or his successor, is designated the Authorized Representative for the Sheriff. The Authorized Representative is also authorized to sign any subsequent amendment or agreement that may be required by the State of Minnesota to maintain the County’s connection to the systems and tools offered by the State.

3. That the Lake of the Woods County Attorney, James Austad, or his successor, is designated the Authorized Representative for the County Attorney. The Authorized Representative is also authorized to sign any subsequent amendment or agreement that may be required by the State of Minnesota to maintain the County’s connection to the systems and tools offered by the State.

4. That Ed Arnesen, the Chair of Lake of the Woods County Board and Gary Fish, the County Sheriff, are authorized to sign the State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreements.

Recess

With no further business before the Board, Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to recess at 10:56 a.m.

Attest: April 11, 2023

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chairman Ed Arnesen