Commissioner Proceedings

March  9, 2021

The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 9, 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 9:00 a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners: Joe Grund, Jon Waibel, Buck Nordlof, Cody Hasbargen, and Ed Arnesen. Also, present: County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Commissioner Joe Grund took a moment to remind County Employees to buy local and keep receipts for items purchased for the County, however, Grund did not feel it was necessary to add this item to the agenda for further discussion.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following additions: Human Resources: Jail/TAC Admin Job Description; Jail/TAC Admin Advertise, Interview, Hire; Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Training; Permission to Hire for Highway Deputy Accountant and Attorney: Closed Session.

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 February 23, 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 Warrant’s $12,762.74; Commissioners Warrant’s $1,278.46; Commissioners Warrant’s $17,614.73.

AUDITOR/TREASURER

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $41,567.64; Road & Bridge $119,587.32; County Development $4,501.50; Solid Waste $11,236.03; EDA, $409.56. 

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 3/09/2021 For Payment 3/12/2021

Vendor Name Amount

Baudette/City Of 5,000.00

Bollig Inc 2,000.00

Ferrellgas 3,086.21

FM Truck Sales, LLC 39,575.00

LOW Highway Dept 3,557.50

Mn State Dept-Correction 21,528.82

R & Q Trucking, Inc 2,575.00

Team Lab 66,000.00

WIDSETH 5,751.50

50 Payments less than 2000   28,228.02

Final Total: 177,302.05

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: February 24, 2021 for $61,872.23; March 2, 2021 for $275,624.46; March 3, 2021 for $10,956.63.

PUBLIC WORKS

Highway

Purchase of Semi-Trailer, Tire Changing Machine

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of: Midland belly dump trailer at $40,255, Midland side dump trailer at $44,555, tire changing machine at $4,545 and hydro seeder at $31,595.

Bridge Replacement Resolution

The following Resolution was offered by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following:

Prioritized Bridge Replacement List

Resolution No. 2021-03-01

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County has reviewed the pertinent data on bridges requiring replacement, rehabilitation, or removal, supplied by local citizenry and local units of government, and

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County has identified those bridges that are high priority and that require replacement, rehabilitation, or removal within the next five years;

NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the following deficient bridges are high priority and Lake of the Woods County intends to replace, rehabilitate, or remove these bridges as soon as possible when funds are available,

FURTHERMORE, Lake of the Woods County does hereby request authorization to replace, rehabilitate, or remove such bridges; and

FURTHERMORE, Lake of the Woods County does hereby request financial assistance with eligible approach grading and engineering costs on township bridges, as provided by law. 

Bridge Soil Boring Approval

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve bridge soil boring by Element at a cost of $31,740.

Solid Waste

MPCA Update

It was the consensus of the Board to set up a Solid Waste Work Session for March 23rd, after the regular Board meeting, to review the updated MPCA stipulation agreement, landfill life expectancy and additional solid waste items.

Approval of Building Improvements

County Engineer AJ Pirkl requested to bring this agenda item back to the Board at a later date.

Approval of E-waste Grant

County Engineer AJ Pirkl requested permission to work on a MPCA E-waste Grant for TV disposal.  It was the consensus of the Board for Pirkl to proceed and to prepare a resolution for approval.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Approval to Advertise, Interview and Hire

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve to advertise, interview and hire for the Environmental Specialist position at Grade 9, Points 232, Step 1, $18.80 per hour.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve to advertise, interview and hire for the Assistant Zoning Inspector position at Grade 11, Points 262, Step 1, $20.93 per hour.

Jail/TAC Admin Job Description

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the job description as presented for Jail/TAC Admin at Grade 11, Points 262.

Jail/TAC Admin Advertise Interview and Hire

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve to advertise, interview and hire for the Jail/TAC Admin position at Grade 11, Points 262, Step 1, $20.93 per hour.

Permission to Hire Highway Deputy Accountant

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve to hire for the Highway Deputy Accountant position at Grade 10, Points 233, Step 3, $20.70 per hour.

Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Training

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of workplace harassment and discrimination training through Convene at a cost of $498 for both management and frontline employees.

WEBSITE UPDATE

Katie Pieper from Sand Pieper Design provided the Board with an update on the County’s website project.  The next phase will be to provide training to each department on how to update website information.

LAND AND WATER PLANNING

Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund met with the board and presented a Consideration of Conditional Use Permit #21-03CU by Gregg Hennum: Lot 14 Block 1 Birch Acres Section Twenty-four (24), Range One Hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range Thirty-two (32) West – Parcel ID#: 19.61.01.140. Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit as required by Section 401.B of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance to establish a Residential Planned Unit Development in a Residential Development (Rl) Zoning District.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following Findings of Fact for Gregg Hennum to establish a Residential Planned Unit Development in a Residential Development (Rl) Zoning District as presented: 

Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners

Findings of Fact and Decision

Name of Applicant:  _Gregg Hennum____________________________ Date:  _March 9, 2021__

Location/Legal Description:  _Lot 14, Block 1, Birch Acres Subdivision___________________

Project Proposal:  _Residential PUD in R1 District______________________________________

1.  Is the project proposal consistent with the Lake of the Woods County Comprehensive Land Use Plan? YES (X) NO (  )  N/A (  ) Why or why not?  Residential housing in growth corridor.

2. Is the project proposal consistent with maintaining the public health, safety, and welfare?

YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Stormwater to be addressed.

3. Is the project proposal consistent with the goal of preventing and controlling water pollution, including sedimentation and nutrient loading?                        YES (X) NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  See #2.

 4. Will the project proposal not adversely affect the site’s existing topography, drainage features, and vegetative cover?                                            YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Will not.

5. Is the project proposal’s site location reasonable in relation to any floodplain and/or floodway of rivers or tributaries? YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ______________________________________________________

  6. Has the erosion potential of the site based upon the degree and direction of slope, soil type and existing vegetative cover been adequately addressed for the project proposal?

YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ______________________________________________________

7. Is the site in harmony with existing and proposed access roads?     YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Access from Fishery Road.

8. Is the project proposal compatible with adjacent land uses? YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Residential zoning.

9. Does the project proposal have a reasonable need to be in a shoreland location?

YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ______________________________________________________

10. Is the amount of liquid waste to be generated reasonable and the proposed sewage disposal system adequate to accommodate the project proposal? YES (X )  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Wheeler’s Point Sanitary District.

11. Will the visibility of structures and other facilities as viewed from public waters comply with Section 901 of the Zoning Ordinance?         YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ______________________________________________________

12. Is the site adequate for water supply and on-site sewage treatment systems?

YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  New well and Sanitary District.

13. Are the affected public waters suited to and able to safely accommodate the types, uses, and numbers of watercraft that the project proposal will generate? YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ______________________________________________________

14. If the project proposal includes above ground or below ground storage tanks for petroleum or other hazardous material that is subject to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requirements, has a permit been sought?                                                YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  If required.

15. Will there be fencing and/or other screening provided to buffer the project proposal from adjacent properties?                                                                                               YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Fence on NE side.

16. If signage is associated with the project proposal, has the applicant demonstrated the need for the number and size requested, and minimized the visual appearance as viewed from adjacent properties to the extent possible?                                                                              YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ______________________________________________________

17. If the project proposal will generate additional traffic to or from the site, has the applicant adequately demonstrated how the additional traffic and parking is to be addressed? 

                                                                                                       YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  On site plan.

If all answers to the Findings of Fact-Criteria are either “Yes” or are “Not Applicable” to the request, the criteria for granting the conditional use permit have been met. The conditional use permit will maintain the goals of safety, health, and general welfare of the public.  

The specific conditions of approval are as follows:  _____________________________________________

Approved  as Presented  (X) Approved with Conditions  (  ) Denied  (  )

March 9, 2021 _____________________________________

Date Joseph Grund

        Chair, County Board

This is in accordance with Section 1204 of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance.

TOURISM

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to pursue special legislation for a Lake of the Woods County-wide lodging tax, which includes all land and water in Lake of the Woods County.

RECESS

The Board took at brief recess at 11:04 a.m. and reconvened at 11:10 a.m.

ATTORNEY

Closed Session

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen to close the regular meeting at 11:10 a.m. and go into closed session pursuant to MN. Stat § 13D.05 sub. 3. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and the same being put to a vote was unanimously carried. 

In attendance: Commissioners: Joe Grund, Jon Waibel, Buck Nordlof, Cody Hasbargen and Ed Arnesen; Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson, Attorney James Austad, Human Resources Savanna Slick, Sheriff Gary Fish.

Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen to close the closed session at 11:50 a.m. and open the regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and the same being put to a vote was unanimously carried.

RECESS

With no further business before the Board, Chair Joe Grund called the meeting to recess at 11:55 a.m.

Attest: March 23, 2021

_________________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chair of the Board, Joe Grund