Commissioner Proceedings

September 11, 2018

The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday,
September 11, 2018 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

Call to Order

Chairman Arnesen called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners: Cody Hasbargen, Ed Arnesen, Buck Nordlof, Jon Waibel and Ken Moorman. Also present were: County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson and Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Janet Rudd.

Approval of Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Moorman, seconded by Commissioner Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following additions: Sheriff- Jail Supplies, Williams Potatoes Day, CPUI Contract, Land and Water- Small Community Watershed.

Approval of Minutes

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes and summarized minutes of August 28, 2018.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Social Services Director, Amy Ballard met with the board requesting approval of claims.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Moorman and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $17,731.70, Commissioners Warrants $ 1,188.07, Commissioners Warrants $13,979.01.

COUNTY AUDITOR/TREASURER

Claims

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board requesting approval of claims, approval of Dr. Retention, CHI Public Health Contract, Proposed 2019 Budget and Tax Levy, Tviet Land Lease, Forfeited Land and Williams Potatoes Day.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Moorman, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the county as follows: Revenue-$22,053.68; Road & Bridge-$302,830.80- Co Development- $870.00-Joint Ditch-$2,717.50-Solid Waste-$41,163.06-EDA-$44.56.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 9/11/2018 For Payment 9/14/2018

Vendor Name                                        Amount

Farmers Union Oil Co.                                              2,128.55

Government Management Group, Inc                      3,600.00

Howard’s Oil Company                                            8,646.08

Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC                                      5,861.70

LOW Highway Dept                                                 7,641.25

Mar-Kit Landfill                                                       15,758.00

Mn Dept Of Transp                                                  4,028.21

Pro-West & Associates, Inc                                    2,685.00

R & Q Trucking, Inc                                                  5,665.00

Swanston Equipment Corp                                      4,271.24

Woody’s Service                                                     4,455.01

Ziegler, Inc                                                           281,560.00

63 Payments less than 2000 23,379.56

Final Total: 369,679.60

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following Auditor warrants: August 29, 2018-$12,565.46, September 5, 2018- $336,525.47.

Lakewood Health-Dr. Retention

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson presented the proposed Dr. Retention Contract with LakeWood Health Center. County Attorney, James Austad recommended that a statement in the contract needs to be added stating that the money was paid to individual Physician/Advanced Practice Clinician. The board requested that this be brought back to the board when the language was added for approval.

Lakewood Health Center-Community Health Services Contract

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson presented the Purchase of Service Agreement between Lake of the Woods County and LakeWood Health Center for the Community Health Services.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Moorman, seconded by Commissioner Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the Purchase of Service Agreement between Lake of the Woods County and LakeWood Health Center for the Community Health Service effective January 1, 2019 thru December 31, 2019 and authorize County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson and Chairman Arnesen to sign.

Proposed 2019 Budget and Tax Levy

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board and presented the Proposed 2019 Budget and Tax Levy for Lake of the Woods County.

Resolution

Resolution Adopting

Proposed 2019 Budget and Tax Levy

Resolution   2018-09-01

The following Resolution was proposed and moved for adoption by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Hasbargen and carried unanimously.

WHEREAS, the Proposed County Budget for the year 2019 has been reviewed by the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners; and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following Proposed Budget and Tax Levy is hereby adopted for the Lake of the Woods County for 2019:

Revenue Fund                                                $ 1,602,875  

Road & Bridge Fund                         $    449,580

Social Services Fund                                      $    603,935

Economic Development Authority Fund       $      60,000

2019 Proposed Budget and Tax Levy           $ 2,716,390  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following amounts be levied against the unorganized townships of Lake of the Woods County for 2019:

                        Twp Road & Bridge                                       $   450,320*

                        Twp Fire – Baudette                                       $     25,000

                        Twp Fire – Williams                                        $     25,795

                        Twp Fire – NW Angle                         $       6,500

                        Total                                                               $   507,615

2019    

* $450,320 for Township Road & Bridge includes $12,000 which is specifically levied to Northwest Angle residents for Calcium Chloride. (438,320+12,000=450,320) 

A public meeting to discuss the 2019 Proposed Budget and Tax Levy will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. in the Lake of the Woods County Commissioners’ Room.

AMEND AGENDA

Motion was made by Commissioner Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Moorman and carried unanimously to add August 28 thru the 30 budget meeting minutes for approval.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the budget minutes for August 28 thru August 30.

Land Leases

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson presented the Land Leases for Byron Tviet for approval for renewing these for another three years.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Moorman, seconded by Commissioner Norldof and carried unanimously to approve the leases with Byron Tviet effective January 1, 2019 for three (3) years at the cost of nine dollars (9.00) per acre payable annually and authorize County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson and Chairman Arnesen to sign. The following legal description of the three parcels are as follows:  The Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NE1/4 of SE1/4), Section Twenty-eight (28), Township One Hundred Sixty-three (163N), Range Thirty-four (34W), containing 40 acres agricultural land, more or less. (tillable land); The Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (NW1/4 of NW1/4), Section Twenty-seven (27), Township One Hundred Sixty-three (163N), Range Thirty-four (34W), containing 40 acres. (tillable); The Southwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter (SW1/4 of SW1/4), Section Twenty-two (22), Township One Hundred Sixty-three (163N), Range Thirty-four (34W), containing 38 acres. (tillable land).

Forfeited Land

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson informed the board that a forfeited property of Lake of the Woods County has a tree down in the City of Williams and that needs to be removed. The board requested the MIS/Maintenance Supervisor, Peder Hovland overlook forfeited property maintenance concerns and contact a business that does such removal. The board requested that County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson set aside $3,000 for Forfeited land maintenance.

Potato Day

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board and informed the board that the Potato Day Committee requested funding in the amount of $500.00.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Moorman, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to contribute $500.00 to the Potato Day Committee from the Revenue Fund.

MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR

Maintenance Director, Peder Hovland met with the board and requested approval to replace light fixtures in the Government Center and also the Water Softener.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Hasbargen and carried unanimously to authorize Maintenance Supervisor, Peder Hovland to replace the light fixtures in the Government Center in the amount of $24,822 after rebates and with installation and authorize Holen Electric to do the installation, with the funding from the Maintenance account.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Moorman and carried unanimously to approve the replacement of the water softener in the Government Center in the amount of $6,800 with installation and authorize Plutko Plumbing to do the installation with the funding from the Maintenance account.

HUMAN RESOURCE/MIS DIRECTOR

Human Resource Director, Savanna Slick and MIS Director, Peder Hovland met with the board requesting approval for IT Technician, John Butenhoff to be moved grade 11, step 5, effective August 26, 2018 and grade 12, step 6, effective January 1, 2019

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve grade and step for IT Technician, John Butenhoff at grade 11, step 5, $21.51 per hour, effective August 26, 2018 and grade 12, step 6, $23.45 per hour effective January 1, 2019.

CPUI CONTRACT

MIS Director, Peder Hovland and County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board to discuss the contract from CPUI. County Attorney, James Austad had approved the signing of the current contract. Peder also discussed the new contract. The board directed MIS Director, Peder Hovland to get the financial information for them to review at September 25 board meeting. The County Board requested to set a work session after the next board meeting on September 25, to discuss the tax system.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Hasbargen and carried unanimously to authorize County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson and Chairman Arensen to sign the 2015-2018 CPUI contract for services rendered for the tax system.

VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER

County Veterans Service Officer, Rick Rone met with the board via conference call in the regards to the Veteran’s Home which will be built in Bemidji for local area resident veterans.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Moorman, seconded by Commissioner Waibel and carried unanimously to contribute $35,100 to the Veterans Home, which will be built in Bemidji MN with funding from the Community Health fund and with Federal money matching this contribution. 

DITCH AUTHORITY

Public Works Director, Tim Erickson met with the board and updated them on the progress of Ditch 28 and reviewed the plans on State Hwy 172. The Board also received and update on the progress on Ditch 26.

YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION

The following resolution was offered by Chairman Arnesen and moved for adoption:

Recognition of years of service

Michele Paradise

Resolution No. 18-09-02

Whereas:  Michele Paradise has served Lake of the Woods County as Deputy Accountant/Office Specialist since August 5, 1981 (37 years, 37 days);

Whereas:  Michele will retire from Lake of the Woods County effective September 11, 2018;

Now Therefore, Be it Resolved:  That Lake of the Woods Board of County Commissioners extends its deepest appreciation to Michele Paradise for her dedicated service and wishes her well on her retirement.

The resolution was seconded by Commissioner Hasbargen and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

RECESS

The meeting was called to recess at 10:53 a.m. and reconvened at 11:03 a.m. as follows.

LAND AND WATER PLANNING

Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund met with the board to discuss the Small Community Wastewater Treatment Program, which could assist with grants up to $60,000. The consensus of the board was to have Josh move forward with the Small Wastewater Program.

GUN CLUB UPDATE

Commissioner Nordlof informed the board the Gun Club is requesting 40 acres out of the 80 acres. He informed the board that there are over 41 youth in the gun club. They currently are leasing the land from the State, but they would really like to own the land and be able to gate the property of land that is being purchased by Lake of the Woods County. The board discussed the options and the best option is for Public purpose. The board discussed a long-term lease. County Attorney, James Austad will review the long-term lease procedure.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Hasbargen and carried unanimously to purchase State Land Sale number 13912, – South Half of the Southeast Quarter (S1/2SE1/4) Section 14, Township 160 N, Range 31 W, containing 80 acres, more or less in the amount of $51,674.81 from the con-con fund.

PAUL BUNYAN TRANSIT

Executive Director, Lezlie Grubich, and Luann Bloom, Operator Manager and Safety Coordinator met with the board and reviewed the Operating Costs and Revenue with the board and discussed the purchase of a second bus for Lake of the Woods County. Lezlie informed the board that the local match is $15,839, and the next time a bus is up for purchase for Lake of the Woods County will be in 2025.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Moorman and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of a new bus with county the share of $15,839 coming from the transportation account.

SHERIFF

Motion was made by Commissioner Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of supplies for the Sheriff Office in the amount of $2,077.49.

Correspondence

Lake of the Woods Senior Citizens Council invited the Commissioner to a Grand Opening for the Newly renovated Brink Community Senior Center on September 13, 2018.

RECESS

With no further business before the board, Chairman Arnesen called the meeting to recess at 11:50 a.m.

Attest:                                                                          September 25, 2018

__________________________________                _____________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson                    Chairman of the Board, Edward Arnesen