Commissioner Proceedings

May 26, 2020

The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room. 

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Jon Waibel 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 were: County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson, Emergency Management Director Jill Hasbargen Olson, and County Attorney James Austad.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following additions: Clementson Park, Gun Range, Snowmobile Trail Resolution, and Website Quotes.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the official and summarized minutes of May 12, 2020 with changes.

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the official and summarized minutes of May 19, 2020.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrant’s $6,452.71, Commissioners Warrant’s $1,724.10, Commissioners Warrant’s $15,492.95.

AUDITOR/TREASURER

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $35,638.71; Road & Bridge $126,234.24; Social Service $1,200; County Development $200; Joint Ditch $450; Solid Waste $37,101.34; EDA $905.08.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 5/26/2020 For Payment 5/29/2020

Vendor Name Amount

BAYCOM, INC. 9,708.00

Bert’s Truck Equipment Of Moorhead, Inc 104,847.00

Cenex Co-Op Services, Inc. 6,503.12

Election Systems & Software, Inc 4,030.00

Lakes Gas Co 2,060.97

Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC 6,207.45

LOW County Auditor-Treasurer 19,298.46

LOW Highway Dept 7,326.25

Mar-Kit Landfill 9,243.50

Northern Light Region 4,155.46

Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc 9,333.40

36 Payments less than 2000 19,015.76

Final Total: 201,729.37

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: May 13, 2020 for $7,451.06; May 20, 2020 for $10,450.14.

Permission to Advertise/Interview/Hire

Motion
Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve advertising and interviewing for a Deputy Auditor/Treasurer- License Clerk/Board Administration position.

Snowmobile Trail Resolution

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried, with Commissioner Joe Grund abstaining, and moved for adoption: 

MN Snowmobile Trail Assistance Program

FY2020 Trail Improvement Grant

Resolution – 20-05-02

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County supports the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the FY20 Trail Improvement Project on behalf of the Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club.  The application is to repair bridges on the Border Trails in Lake of the Woods County. The trail system is located within Lake of the Woods County 

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County recognizes that the Lake of the Woods Area Drifters Snowmobile Club will be contributing a twenty-five percent (25%) cash match to the project. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, if Lake of the Woods County is awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, the County agrees to accept the grant award, and may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project.  The County will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant has read the Conflict of Interest Policy contained in the Trail Program Grant Manual and certifies it will report any actual, potential, perceived, or organizational conflicts of interest upon discovery to the state related to the application or grant award.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Board names the fiscal agent for Lake of the Woods County as: 

Lorene Hanson 

County Auditor-Treasurer

206 8th Ave SE #260, 

Baudette, MN 56623

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County hereby assures the trail improvements will be maintained for a period of no less than twenty (20) years as required by the Recreational Trail Grant Programs.

VETERAN SERVICES

Update

Rick Rone gave an update on the Veteran Services program. There are currently 354 veterans that reside in Lake of the Woods County and the program provided 758 visits in 2019.  Transportation needs have slightly decreased as more veterans are able to access medical services in the region through the Community Care Program.  Bronze star grave markers have been placed on graves, contact Rick Rone if there is a need for grave markers.  Other topics discussed were home health, grants, dental care, and COVID-19 funds.

Appointment of Veteran Services Officer

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund to re-appoint Rick Rone as Lake of the Woods County Veterans Service Officer from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022 pursuant MN Statutes 197.60 Subd. 2.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

COUNTY HIGHWAY/LANDFILL

Appointment of County Engineer
Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to re-appoint Anthony (AJ) Pirkl as County Engineer for a four-year term effective June 1, 2020.

Parks and Rec Policy Review

The Board reviewed both the Parks and Recreation Policy and the Application and Permit for use of a County Park.  An update was discussed for the Parks and Recreation Policy, Rule and Regulation Number Four.  The updated rule and regulation number four would read as follows; No person, firm or corporation shall: While within County parks, consume any intoxicating or non-intoxicating liquors without a permit. The Application and Permit for use of a County Park will be reviewed by County Attorney James Austad before updates are made.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve an update to the Parks and Recreation Policy, Rule and Regulation Number Four to read as follows; No person, firm or corporation shall: While within County parks, consume any intoxicating or non-intoxicating liquors without a permit.

Ship’s Wheel Boat Landing

The dock at the Ship’s Wheel County Access is currently in need of repair.  It was the consensus of the Board to have the dock removed and to get quotes for a roll-in dock.

Clementson Park

Commissioner Cody Hasbargen was asked by The Baudette Rotary Club/Take A Kid Fishing if they could work on the purchase of a dock for Clementson Park.  The Commissioners would like to invite The Baudette Rotary Club to the next regular board meeting to discuss the project.

Highway Update

County Engineer, AJ Pirkl, provided an update.  Road restrictions went off last Wednesday, May 20, 2020. The highway department has been cleaning JD16.  They will be looking at converting a bridge south of the Birch Beach area to a box culvert.  

Landfill Update

County Engineer, AJ Pirkl, provided an update.  The grinder is here, training is done and it is working faster and is safer than the old machine.

NWA BOARD MEETING DATE

The meeting at the Northwest Angle, originally scheduled for June 16, 2020, will be postponed until July 14, 2020.  The regular scheduled meeting on July 14, 2020 will now be held at the Northwest Angle at 10 a.m. and the Angle Outpost Resort will be contacted for meeting accommodations.

COVID-19

Update

Jill Hasbargen Olson, Emergency Management Director, provided an update.  She indicated that there is interest in requesting an emergency hire for a seasonal/temporary position to help monitor traffic in the Government Center Lobby and to assist with cleaning. The new hire must be at least 18 years old.  

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve an emergency hire for a Seasonal/Temporary COVID-19 Cleaning Specialist at Grade 6, Step 1, $15.41 per hour.  This position will be less than six months in duration.  

Update Continued

Hasbargen Olson continued with the COVID-19 update and recommended maintaining the open-by-appointment format at the Government Center through at least the next regular board meeting on June 9, 2020.  She said that the National Guard may be coming to Lake of the Woods County to do COVID-19 testing for long-term care residents and workers, but that needed to be confirmed with CHI LakeWood Health.  Hasbargen Olson will create identification badges for Commissioners for use when crossing the U.S.-Canadian Border for meetings and other county business, photos will be taken at the special board meeting on June 2, 2020. She reminded staff to complete and turn in FEMA ICS class certificates as soon as possible.

WEBSITE QUOTES

MIS Director, Peder Hovland, provided quotes from three website designers, CivicPlus, Inc., Granicus, and Revise. The Commissioners requested a quote from a local vendor and asked if the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office website could be incorporated into the project as well.   The Commissioners asked for a website update at the special board meeting on June 2, 2020.  

GUN RANGE

Commissioner Joe Grund and County Attorney James Austad are reviewing a lease agreement for the 40-acre gun range.

RECESS

With no further business before the Board, Chairman Jon Waibel called the meeting to recess at 10:45 a.m.

Attest: June 23, 2020

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chairman of the Board, Jon Waibel