Commissioner Proceedings

September 27, 2016

The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

Call to Order

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

Approval of Agenda

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Remove Social Services Grants, and  add Health Insurance and Broadcasting High School Tournaments.

Approval of Minutes

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Hanson and carried unanimously to approve the official and summarized minutes of September 13, 2016.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Social Service Director, Amy Ballard met with the board requesting approval of claims and introduced newly hired Eligibility Worker Hannah Palm to the board.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following claims against the county: Commissioners Warrants: $ 7,464.48; Commissioners Warrants: $16,158.93.

Credit Card

Social Service Director, Amy Ballard met with the board requesting approval for a credit card for Eligibility worker, Hannah Palm.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to authorize Eligibility Worker, Hanna Palm a county issued credit card.

ASSESSORS

County Assessor, Mary Jo Otten met with the board to inform them that her term as County Assessor will be expiring at the end of the year.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to appoint Mary Jo Otten as Lake of the Woods County Assessor for another term beginning January 1, 2017 thru December 31, 2020.

MN Tax Court

County Assessor, Mary Jo Otten informed the board that MN Energy Resources Corporation filed an appeal with the Commissioner of Revenue appealing the valuation of their utility operating property for assessment year 2016 for taxes payable year 2017. Mary Jo explained that this could affect the values certified to Lake of the Woods County for MN Energy Resources; however, in our County it would not have a large impact as other counties.

AUDITOR/TREASURER

Claims

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board requesting approval of claims.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the county as follows: Revenue $15,555.53, Road & Bridge $28,999.38, Solid Waste $328.15, EDA $3,578.00

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 9/27/2016 For Payment 9/30/2016

  Vendor Name                                                  Amount

   Lavalla Sand & Gravel Inc                                                20,292.00

   LOW School District–390                                                  3,000.00

   Minn-Dak Asphalt Inc                                                         2,488.50

   Northwest Community Action, Inc                                     3,578.00

   Rtvision Inc                                                                         4,264.00

30  Payments less than 2000   14,838.56

Final Total: 48,461.06

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: September 14, 2016 – $869,270.04, September 21, 2016- $991,254.70

2017 Proposed Budget

County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson presented the 2017 Proposed Budget to the board for their approval.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the 2017 Proposed Budget with a 2.5 % levy increase.

Resolution Adopting

Proposed 2017 Budget and Tax Levy

Resolution   2016-09-01

The following Resolution was proposed and moved for adoption by Commissioner Tom Hanson:

WHEREAS, the Proposed County Budget for the year 2017 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 2017:

Revenue Fund                                               $ 1,607,395

Road & Bridge Fund                                    $    339,580

Social Services Fund                                     $    603,935

Economic Development Authority Fund    $      60,000

2017 Proposed Budget and Tax Levy         $ 2,610,910

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following amounts be levied against the unorganized townships of Lake of the Woods County for 2017:

                        Twp Road & Bridge                                     $   437,555*

                        Twp Fire – Baudette                                      $     30,000  

                        Twp Fire – Williams                                      $     30,159  

                        Twp Fire – NW Angle                                   $       6,500

                        Total                                                               $   504,214  

2017                

* $437,555 for Township Road & Bridge includes $12,000 which is specifically levied to Northwest Angle residents for Calcium Chloride.  (425,555+12,000=437,555)

A public meeting to discuss the 2017 Proposed Budget and Tax Levy will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. in the Lake of the Woods County Commissioners’ Room.

The motion was seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

Voyageurs Comtronics Corporation

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson met with the board to inform them that Lee Hervey forwarded a memorandum of understanding from KSTC-TV regarding sublicensing of rights to broadcast specified MN State High School League Championship Games, with a $300.00 cost which will allow Voyageurs to install an antenna which will make this possible remotely.

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Beckel and carried unanimously to authorize Voyageurs Comtronics Corporation to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with KSTC-TV for broadcasting specified MN State High School League Championship games and authorizes payment of $300.00 for installing an antenna, with the funding from the revenue fund.

CORRESPONDENCE

The board reviewed the following correspondence: MN Tourism, MN DNR- Krohn Property.

OLD/NEW

Commissioner Beckel informed the board that Wheelers Point Sewer District is still waiting on wetlands approval; and the county board requesting removing HWY 11 from Old/New Business.

AMEND AGENDA

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to amend the agenda and add Ditch 7, 26 and Ditch 28 to the agenda.

Ditch Discussion

Marshall Nelson met with the board to discuss ditch issues.

Motion-Ditch 7&26

Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to set a Public Hearing on October 27, 2016 for Ditch 7&26 starting at 6:00 p.m.

Motion-Ditch 28

Motion was made by Commissioner Beckel, seconded by Commissioner Nordlof and carried unanimously to set a Public Hearing on November1, 2016 for Ditch 28 starting at 6:30 p.m.

RECESS

With no further business before the board, Chairman Moorman called the meeting to recess at 10:10 a.m.

Attest:                                                                                     October 11, 2016

__________________________________                            _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson                            Chairman of the Board, Ken Moorman