The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 25, 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, Cody Hasbargen, Ed Arnesen and Buck Nordlof. Also present: County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following additions: HUMAN RESOURCES/Covid-19 Updates, SHERIFF/ MN DNR State Boating Grant, ATTORNEY/Closed Session.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the official and summarized minutes of May 11, 2021.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $12,140.48; Commissioners Warrants $1,899.21; Commissioners Warrants $26,317.24.

Fraud Prevention Agreement
Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the regional Fraud Prevention Investigation program agreement and for Social Services Director, Amy Ballard, to sign the same.

EAGLE SCOUT BADGE

The following resolution was offered by Chairman Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and moved for adoption:

RESOLUTION NO. 21-05-03

RECOGNITION OF ANTHONY KALK FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT ON EARNING THE “EAGLE SCOUT BADGE”

WHEREAS, Boy Scout Troop 62-member Anthony Kalk has advanced through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life; and has now earned the highest advancement rank in scouting as an Eagle Scout;

WHEREAS, Anthony as a Life Scout has served actively for a period of six months as a Boy Scout Troop Senior Patrol Leader;

WHEREAS, Anthony has earned his 21 badges, with 13 of them in specialized areas. At each advancement, he has taken part in scoutmaster conferences, has demonstrated participation in increasingly more responsible service projects, and demonstrated leadership skills by holding one or more specific youth positions of responsibility in his troop;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners hereby congratulates Anthony Kalk on his rank as “Eagle Scout”.

AUDITOR/TREASURER
Claims
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $12,245.99; Road & Bridge $4,742.83; County Development $425.00; Solid Waste $14,887.25; EDA $936.49. 

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 5/25/2021 For Payment 5/28/2021

Vendor Name Amount

Compudyne, Inc 2,210.00

North East Technical Service,Inc 3,033.75

Quadient Finance USA Inc. 2,000.00

Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc 5,272.51

U.S. Bank Equipment Finance 6,268.50

30 Payments less than2000   14,452.80

                                 Final Total: 33,237.56

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: May 12, 2021 for $69,749.67; May 19, 2021 for $91,693.30.

American Rescue Plan, Authorized Representative

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene G. Hanson as the American Rescue Plan authorized representative for Lake of the Woods County, Mn.

Snowmobile Trail Assistance Program

Resolution
The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and moved for adoption: 

Resolution No. 21-05-04

Sponsorship of Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program

BE IT RESOLVED, that Lake of the Woods County will act as the legal sponsor for an application for funding to the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resource for NW Angle Islands maintenance of snowmobile trails managed by Northwest Angle Edge Riders Club. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon approval of its application by the state, the Lake of the Woods County may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project and that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the agreement. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that County Auditor-Treasurer, Lorene G Hanson is hereby authorized to serve as the fiscal agent for the above referenced project. 

Resolution
The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and moved for adoption: 

Resolution No. 21-05-05
Sponsorship of Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program

BE IT RESOLVED, that Lake of the Woods County will act as the legal sponsor for an application for funding to the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resource for Lake of the Woods Drifters Land and Big Traverse Trails managed by Lake of the Woods Drifters. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon approval of its application by the state, the Lake of the Woods County may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project and that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the agreement. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that County Auditor-Treasurer, Lorene G Hanson is hereby authorized to serve as the fiscal agent for the above referenced project. 

University of Minnesota Extension Agreement
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the agreement between the University of Minnesota and Lake of the Woods County for providing Extension programs locally and employing Extension staff and for Chair Joe Grund and Attorney James Austad to sign the same.

Cartway, Peter Jones
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to set a hearing date for Tuesday, July 13 at 11 a.m. at the Lake of the Woods County Government Center Commissioners’ Room.

SHERIFF
MN DNR State Boating Grant
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the MN DNR State Boat & Water Safety Grant for fiscal year 2021 in the amount of $7,188.00 and for Sheriff Gary Fish and Chair Joe Grund to sign the same.

PUBLIC WORKS
Highway
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of an iPad with Verizon cellular plan/contract for Public Works Employee, Keith Grund.

Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to allocate the $500 payment, received from Border Patrol, for use of the gun range to the park and recreation fund.

Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve requesting quotes for gravel, 10,000 tons a year for the next two to three years.

Solid Waste/Landfill
More than 500 TVs and monitors were collected during the MPCA grant sponsored collection event.

HUMAN RESOURCES
Covid-19 Updates
Human Resources Director, Savanna Slick, provided an update on Covid-19 procedures.  The County will continue to follow its Covid-19 preparedness plan.  Signs requiring customers to wear masks will be taken down, a permanent hand sanitizing station will be placed in the entrance of the Government Center, and a more permanent solution will be researched to replace the plexiglass at the counter. The Lake of the Woods County District Court will require masks through June 14, 2021.

CLOSED SESSION
Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting and open the closed session at 9:55 a.m. pursuant to MN Statute 13D.05, subd.3b. (Pending or threatened litigation).  

Members present: Commissioners Ed Arnesen, Cody Hasbargen, Buck Nordlof, Jon Waibel and Joe Grund.  Others present were:  County Attorney James Austad, County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson and Human Resources Director Savanna Slick.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to close the closed session and open the regular meeting at 10:44 a.m.

RECESS
With no further business before the Board, Chair Joe Grund called the meeting to recess at 10:45 a.m.

Attest: June 8, 2021

_________________________________ _________________________________

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