MINUTES & AGENDAS
May 23, 2023
May 23, 2023
The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 23, 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: Buck Nordlof, Ed Arnesen, Jon Waibel, Cody Hasbargen and Joe Grund. Also present was Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: New Hire, Permission to Advertise, Interview & Hire, and Williams & Northwest Angle Fire Departments.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of May 9, 2023.
Bid Opening
Land Lease
The board received two bids for the land lease on approximately 13 acres of Ag Land.
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to accept the bid from Brian Powers and Duwayne Thompson in the amount of $32.00 per acre contingent on FSA certification. The following legal description of the approximately 13 acres tillable land within Parcel #18.2342.000 is as follows: The tillable portion currently existing within that part of the West half of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (W1/2-NW1/4-SE1/4), Section 23, Township 162, Range 33, Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota, containing approximately 13 acres.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Claims
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $15,623.57; Commissioners Warrants $4,697.34; Commissioners Warrants $17,024.35.
Contract Renewal
Cooperative Fraud Agreement
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the contract renewal of the Cooperative Fraud Agreement between Beltrami County Human Services and Lake of the Woods County Human Services Department.
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 $109,790.12; Road & Bridge $16,405.92; County Development $2,000; Solid Waste $11,274.82; EDA $1,241.36.
WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION
Warrants Approved On 5/23/2023 For Payment 5/26/2023
Vendor Name Amount
Baudette/City Of 6,000.00
Bert’s Truck Equipment Of Moorhead, Inc 2,680.00
ByteSpeed, LLC 4,490.00
Counties Providing Technology 4,329.00
Emergency Services Marketing Corp.,Inc 3,975.00
Integris LLC 4,016.92
JMD Manufacturing Inc 3,420.32
Lakewood Health Center 23,958.00
Larkin Hoffman Attorneys 30,570.00
LOW High School Trap Team 2,258.00
NetCenter Technologies 5,600.00
Pennington County Sheriff Office 13,475.00
Plutko Plumbing & Heating 3,170.80
Take A Kid Fishing 2,000.00
U.S. Bank Equipment Finance 6,268.50
45 Payments less than 2000 24,500.68
Final Total: 140,712.22
Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: May 10, 2023 for $28,692.90; May 16, 2023 for $442,206.92; May 16, 2023 for ($163.94); May 17, 2023 for $36,844.73.
Legislative Update
Commissioner Ed Arnesen gave an update that included: PILT, Tourism, Northwest Angle, and the Williams School.
Emergency Management
Resolution
The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and moved for adoption:
RESOLUTION
DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
Resolution No. 23-05-03
WHEREAS; the Spring Flooding of 2023 impacted the population of Lake of the Woods County and its cities, and;
WHEREAS; the Spring Flooding event has caused a significant amount of public property damage, and;
WHEREAS; the Lake of the Woods County Department of Emergency Management requests the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners to declare Lake of the Woods County in a STATE OF EMERGENCY for the Spring Flooding Event of April 2023.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners declares Lake of the Woods County in a STATE OF EMERGENCY for conditions resulting from the April 2023 Spring Flooding Event of April 2023.
County Recorder
County Fair Booth
County Recorder Sue Ney informed the board that the Auditor/Treasurers office and Recorders office will have a booth at the Lake of the Woods County Fair this year to inform residents of their options for Passports, Real Driver’s License/I.D., and Enhanced Driver’s License/I.D. They will also discuss the documentation needed to obtain an I.D.
NWA Discussion
The board discussed agenda items for the upcoming meeting to be held at the Northwest Angle on June 13, 2023.
Public Works
Equipment Purchases
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of a Plow truck, two Bush Hog Mowers, and two Ford trucks in the total amount of $382,004.60 to be paid for out of the Highway Department budget as follows:
- Plow Truck- $262,555.00
- Two Bush Hog Mowers- $51,992.00
- Ford F150- $33,591.80
- Ford F150- $33,865.80
Add to Agenda
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to add Purchase of Gravel to the agenda.
Purchase of Gravel
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of 8,200 yards of gravel at $10.50 per yard from LaValla Sand & Gravel over a two year period.
Add to Agenda
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to add Set Work Session for Highway Operations to the agenda.
Set Work Session
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to set a work session for Highway Operations for June 6, 2023 following the regular board meeting.
Public Works Updates
County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave an update that included: County Road 8 project, Northwest Angle Roads, Lakes Gas Building at Solid Waste, and Scrap Metal.
Human Resources
Environmental Specialist- January Certification
Human Resources Director Savanna Slick informed the board that the Environmental Specialist position that was approved in the previous board meeting was certified in January and requested to have back pay from January until the current pay period to reflect the position approval. It was the consensus of the board to deny the request for back pay as the position was just approved in the previous board meeting and did not exist at that time.
Personnel Committee Recommendation- Social Services
Position Approval
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve Heather Larson to be Lead Worker at Grade 15, Step 4, $29.30 per hour at 349 points effective next full pay period.
Set Date Department Head Reviews
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to set the date for Department Head Reviews for June 27, 2023 following the regular board meeting.
Permission to Advertise, Interview, & Hire
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the hire of Jimmy Ney as night time dispatch and corrections at Grade 11, Step 1, $22.28 per hour plus $2.00 for night shift differential, at 253 points.
Permission to Hire
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to hire Jon Foss for the Part-time Deputy Sheriff position at Grade 13, Step 1, $24.73 per hour, at 291 points.
Recess
A brief recess took place at 10:30 a.m. and reconvened at 10:35 a.m.
Sheriff
Resolution
The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Jon Waibel and moved for adoption:
Public Employees Police and Fire Plan
Resolution No. 23-05-04
WHEREAS, the policy of the State of Minnesota as declared in Minnesota Statutes 353.63 is to give special consideration to employees who perform hazardous work and devote their time and skills to protecting the property and personal safety of others; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes Section 353.64 permits governmental subdivisions to request coverage in the Public Employees Police and Fire plan for eligible employees of police departments whose position duties meet the requirements stated therein and listed below.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Commissioners of Lake of the Woods County hereby declare that the position titled Part Time Deputy Sheriff, currently held by John Foss meets all of the following Police and Fire membership requirements:
- Said position requires a license by the Minnesota peace officer standards and training board under sections 626.84 to 626.863 and this employee is so licensed;
- Said position’s primary (over 50%) duty is to enforce the general criminal laws of the state;
- Said position charges this employee with the prevention and detection of crime;
- Said position gives this employee the full power of arrest, and
- Said position is assigned to a designated police or sheriff’s department.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this governing body hereby requests that the above-named employee be accepted as a member of the Public Employees Police and Fire Plan effective the date of this employee’s initial Police and Fire salary deduction by the governmental subdivision.
The resolution was seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.
Funds Requests
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve American Rescue Plan funds potential obligations up to the amounts discussed in the work session as follows:
- Lake of the Woods County Museum- $18,000.00
- Baudette Fire Department- $35,000.00
- NWA Signage- $1,450.00
- Unused Wells- $20,000.00
- Trail Mower-Roseau- $6,000.00
- Fairgrounds- Electrical-$30,000.00
- Williams Fire Department-$25,000.00
- Clementson Park- $5,000.00
- Northwest Angle Fire Department-$10,000.00
- Public Safety- $40,000
- Senior Housing- $200,000
Old/New Business
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to remove Water Level from the old/new business list.
Recess
With no further business before the Board, Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to recess at 11:04 a.m.
Attest: June 6, 2023
______________________________ _________________________________
County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chairman Ed Arnesen