November 28, 2023

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on November 28, 2023 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

CALL TO ORDER

Vice-Chair Cody Hasbargen 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, and Joe Grund. Also Present was Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson. Absent: Commissioner Ed Arnesen.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: Snowmobile Grant-in-Aid, Snowmobile Grant, ATV Grant, Department of Health Grant, and Affidavit of Lost Warrant.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of November 14, 2023.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $8,862.28; Commissioners Warrants $3,940.50; Commissioners Warrants $9,972.59.

Approval of AMHI Joint Powers Agreement

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Region 2 Adult Mental Health Initiative Joint Powers Agreement between the following counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, and Lake of the Woods.

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 $128,500.14; Road & Bridge $25,165.55; County Development $200.00; Natl Resc Enhanc $406.00; Solid Waste $28,835.66. 

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 11/28/2023 For Payment 11/30/2023

Vendor Name Amount

AMI Consulting Engineers P.A. 21,500.00

Axon Enterprise,Inc 35,000.00

Counties Providing Technology 4,204.00

Farmers Union Oil Co. 5,031.14

Forum Communications Printing 2,102.51

Integris LLC 2,161.66

Interstate Billing Service Inc 2,894.15

K-Log, Inc 9,889.83

Koochiching Co Treasurer 2,500.00

Larkin Hoffman Attorneys 16,885.00

Marco Technologies LLC 2,378.44

Mn Dept Of Transp 9,127.83

North East Technical Service,Inc 18,910.05

Pomp’s Tire-Thief River Falls 2,308.80

State Of Minnesota 16,000.00

U.S. Bank Equipment Finance 6,268.50

Verus Corporation 5,100.00

Voyageurs Communications, Inc 2,045.03

29 Payments less than2000 18,800.41

Final Total: 183,107.35

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: November 21, 2023 for $2,050,825.69.

Approve Rinke Noonan Rates

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the 2024 rates for services from Rinke Noonan.

Approval of Snowmobile Grant-in-Aid 

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the FY 2024 Snowmobile Grant-in-Aid for LOW Drifters/Big Traverse and NW Angle EdgeRiders in the amount of $173,419.54 and for County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same.

Approve Affidavit of Lost Warrant

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the Affidavit of Lost Warrant #99367 in the amount of $81.79.

Museum Update

Lake of the Woods County Historical Society Executive Director Lindsay Marshall informed the board that she has accepted a position in another county effective December 13, 2023 and gave an update on various projects at the museum.

Public Works

Update

County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave an update on various projects in Highway and Solid Waste.

Add to Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to add Permission to bid for SAP 039 559 004 and SAP 039 559 005.

Permission to Bid

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the request to bid for projects SAP 039 559 004 and SAP 039 559 005 to replace two wooden bridges.

LRIP Support Resolution

Resolution

The following Resolution was offered by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following:

LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY SPONSORING AGENCY

For Eighth Ave South East, City of Baudette Project

Resolution No. 2023-11-03

WHEREAS, the City of Baudette is applying to the Commissioner of Transportation for a grant from the Minnesota State Transportation Fund for Local Road Improvement for Project- Eighth Ave South East;

BE IT RESOLVED, that Lake of the Woods County agrees to act as the sponsoring agency for the project identified as Eighth Ave South East, seeking Local Road Improvement Program funding and has reviewed and approved the project as proposed. Sponsorship includes a willingness to secure and guarantee the local share of costs associated with this project and responsibility for seeing this project through to its completion, with compliance of applicable laws, rules and regulations; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Lake of the Woods County hereby authorizes County Engineer, Anthony Pirkl to act as agent on behalf of this sponsoring agency.

Transfer Vehicle to the Assessor’s office

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to transfer a 2018 Chevy Silverado from Public Works to the Assessor’s Office.

MIS Update

Systems Administrator John Butenhoff gave an update on the recent shutdown and the implementation of updated security features.

Set Work Session

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to set a work session for MIS following the regular board meeting on December 12, 2023.

Hoffman, Philipp, & Martell, PLLC

Audit Exit Review

Colleen Hoffman from Hoffman, Philipp, & Martell, PLLC  provided an audit exit review to the County Board of Commissioners.

Add to Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to add Set Work Session for Tourism to the agenda.

Set Work Session

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to set a work session for tourism on December 13, 2023 at 9:00a.m.

Feedlot Plan Approval

County Feedlot Officer Mike Hirst from SWCD presented the 2024-2025 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency County Feedlot Program Delegation Agreement Work Plan to the County Board of Commissioners.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the 2024-2025 Feedlot Plan.

Sheriff

Department of Health Grant

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the Department of Health grant in the amount of $68,300.00 for plumbing in the jail.

Approval of ATV Grant

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the 2024-2025 two-year ATV grant in the amount of $18,130.00 and for Vice-Chair Cody Hasbargen to sign the same.

Approval of Snowmobile Grant

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the 2024-2025 two-year Snowmobile grant in the amount of $7,070.00 and for Vice-Chair Cody Hasbargen to sign the same.

Con-Con Fund Application Review

Lake of the Woods County Development Year 2024

Baudette Arena Assoc-$6,000.00; Williams Arena Assoc-$7,000.00; Baudette Community Foundation-Grand Theater-$10,000.00; Friends Against Abuse-$2,500.00; LOW Historical Society-$2,300.00; LOW Humane Society-$7,500.00; Williams Sr Center-$4,000.00; Williams Potato Day-$1,000.00; Williams Public Library-$1,200; Joint Powers Natural Resources Board-$1,000.00; LOW County Fair Association 2023 Taxes-$286.00;LOW School Trap Team-$3,000.00; LOW Sr Fishing-$1,500.00; Take A Kid Fishing-$2,000.00; Widseth Smith Nolting-$16,000.00; Auditing Fees-$1,000.00; Beaver Control-$2,500.00; Drainage-$5,000.00.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, Seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to make allocations to the above organizations from the Con-Con funds, Payable 2024.

Adjourn

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:50a.m.

Attest: December 12, 2023

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Vice-Chair Cody Hasbargen