Government Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes Commissioner's Minutes - April 20, 2010
| Commissioner's Minutes - April 20, 2010 |
| Wednesday, 26 May 2010 07:52 |
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Grand Marais, Minnesota The Board met in regular session this 20th day of April, 2010, at the Courthouse in Grand Marais, Minnesota. HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: The Human Services Board met in regular session on the 20th day of April, 2010, in the commissioner's room of the Cook County Courthouse in Grand Marais, MN. Robert Fenwick, Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. Bruce Martinson made a motion to approve the agenda for the meeting, seconded by Roger Linehan and approved all ayes. Jan Hall made a motion to approve the March 16, 2010 meeting minutes, seconded by Bruce Martinson and approved all ayes. COMMITTEE REPORTS: B. Arrowhead Health Alliance: Bob Fenwick reported from the meeting. Alyssa Mueller from Blue Cross was present. Blue Cross has been slow to work with AHA, but now are moving forward. There is an 18 month proposal rather than 12. The AHA would like to come up with 4 incentives to derive funds from Blue Cross. Sue added that PHHS received a check for $70,000 from Blue Cross for meeting target and superior rates. The only ones that did not meet either target rates were restrictive recipients and pregnancy enrollment. C. Arrowhead Regional Corrections: Jan reported from the April 16th meeting. Staff reports were given, ARC corrections, capital assessment update. Annual meeting will be May 6th. STS update was given, 75% State and 25% Counties. After the meeting they had the opportunity to tour the facility. D. Community Health Board: The next meeting is on April 26th. E. Public Health/Human Services Advisory Committee: The next meeting is in May. F. Health Care Planning Committee: Bruce Martinson reported from the April 2nd meeting. GAMC update was given, which allows hospitals the option to decline being a part. Greg Barnier is working under Harry Swift. Sherrie Moe starts April 2nd at HDC. April is Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Prevention month. Hospital is re-advertising for Administrator. Board is looking at Assisted Living options. 15-30 units were identified as a community need in a recent study. G. Interagency Services Committee: No report given as Jan was unable to attend due to the meeting date being rescheduled. H. North Shore Collaborative: Next meeting is May 5th. I. Region 3 Human Services Redesign: Bob reported from the meeting. Three presentations were given, from Regional Arrowhead Corrections (ARC), Community Health Board (CHB) and MCIT. They looked at how government and agencies can work together. Next step involves directors meeting to rank essential services. Social Services Data - Grace Bushard Grace passed out guidelines and magnets to the board members. She emphasized that PHHS works really hard to keep families together, but some kids need more specialized services that Cook County doesn't have. Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation Roger Linehan made a motion to approve the proclamation, seconded by Jan Hall approved all ayes. Financial Report - Jan Parish, Income Maintenance/Fiscal Supervisor Jan reported that July 1, 2009 was the beginning of electronic billing for mental health targeted case management. This has resulted in more of an effort to bill private insurance companies due to layers upon layer of numbers. Jan anticipates receiving $27,000 more in revenue. Director's Report - Sue Futterer, Director of Public Health and Human Services B. Quarterly Report: Sue passed out a written report to the board. She reported that in the months January through March, there were 61 working days and 3 holidays. She worked 32 of those days from the Grand Marais office and 9 from the Virginia office. She was at 12 out of town meetings and had 8 days of personal leave. The main form of communication with staff has been email. She has been doing monthly Child Support meetings via SKYPE which has been going well. Bruce Martinson commented that 9 days wasn't really a lot and he mentioned the possibility of getting more done with less distraction. Bruce concluded that he is supportive of the AWS. Janet added that she has not heard any further comments regarding the AWS. C. 2010 Budget Impacts: Sue reported from information she had available as of this meeting. A few years ago a CMS state audit was conducted of child welfare targeted case management reimbursement. This disallowed $337 million dollars. New reports showed MN only owes 3.1 million to the feds. This cost was prorated among all MN counties. Cook County has to pay $2,808. GAMC will continue. Some funding came from Adult Mental Health grant. There is a proposal for an $8,000 reduction in that grant however, more change is expected. During April and May GAMC clients will be on "fee for service". The "new" GAMC will only reimburse 37% of medically related travel expenses. Counties have the option to supplement that cost, possibly $1600 cost to Cook County. Sue asked to pay above the .08-.20 per mile for April and May. It was agreed that this was acceptable for now. PHHS has been paying volunteer drivers for no load miles. Bob Fenwick requested this topic be revisited at the end of the legislative session. D. Legislative Issues of Interest: Sue reported of another GAMC change proposal. There also was a proposal for the redesign to in effect create 10 county regions to line up with the judicial system but no action was taken. ITEM FOR BOARD ACTION: Bruce Martinson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 AM, seconded by Fritz Sobanja and approved all ayes. The next Human Services Board meeting will be on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, commencing at 8:30 AM. At 10:00 a.m. the regular meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners was called to order. Bill Parish, Highway Engineering/Office Supervisor, appeared before the Board with several issues. Parish reported that the advertisement for CP 10-02 to crush approximately 26,000 cubic yards of gravel was amended. The deadline for receipt of bids was moved from April 4, 2010 to April 11, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. No action by the Board was needed. Parish reported that the Highway Department audited final payments on SP 16-607-19 and SP 16-615-01. The audit showed that an additional $1,015.89 should be paid to Northland Constructors. Motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Martinson, and carried to approve the final payment for the two projects to Northland Constructors in the amount of $1,015.89. Parish presented a capital purchase request to obtain four 50-Watt mobile radios to be installed in the new Highway Department vehicles, in the amount of $2,156.00. Parish noted that the Department is starting to replace all of its radios, as the current equipment will become obsolete. County Board discussed whether such radios would be inter-operable with other Law Enforcement communication systems, and whether additional grant funds might become available for the purchase. Consensus was to table this capital purchase request until the May 11, 2010 meeting. Commissioner Fenwick volunteered to speak with Communications Contractor Duane Ege regarding this issue. Parish presented a capital purchase request to obtain a self-retracting lifeline, that would provide fall protection when the mechanic staff is working on the raised mezzanine located in the far bay of the main Highway Department building. Cost of purchase is $666.02. Motion was made by Hall, seconded by Martinson, and carried to purchase the lifeline as presented. Parish presented a county special road uses permit application for the Ham Run Half Marathon to be held on the Gunflint Trail on May 2, 2010. Parish noted that the Gunflint Trail Event Bureau, making application, requested that the permit fee be waived as it is a non-profit organization. Motion was made by Martinson, seconded by Hall, and carried to approve the special road uses permit for the Ham Run Half Marathon and to waive the permit fee as requested.
RESOLUTION # 2010-28 COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BE IT RESOLVED, that upon recommendation of the Cook County Planning Commission, and after public hearing duly held on April 14, 2010 the following CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT is granted, subject to the noted conditions: Hilja Iverson, request to establish a seasonal greenhouse/home business operation. Legal Description: Part of the SE ¼ of the SW ¼, Section 34, T62N, R1E. (PID #53-234-3410). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Auditor is directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the County Recorder. Timothy Nelson, Planning Director/Solid Waste Officer, appeared before the Board. Nelson reported that 2010 Household Hazardous Waste Collections would be held on June 12th and September 18th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Recycling Center. Waste Electronics collection will be held on May 22nd and August 28th from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Recycling Center, and on June 5th from 9:00 - 1:00 p.m. at the Tofte Transfer Station site. Nelson noted that costs for waste electronics collection have been decreasing. No action was needed by the County Board regarding these issues. Commissioner Fenwick moved the adoption of the following resolution and upon seconding by Commissioner Martinson was adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present: RESOLUTION # 2010-29 BE IT RESOLVED, that the following claims totaling $ 95,984.22 having been audited and found to be true and correct claims against Cook County, are approved and the Auditor-Treasurer is hereby authorized to draw warrants in payment of said claims: Braidy Powers, Auditor-Treasurer, appeared before the Board with several issues. Powers presented seasonal liquor and cigarette license renewals for 2010. Motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Hall, and carried to approve the seasonal liquor and cigarette license renewals as presented: City of Grand Marais, Gunflint Golf course - on sale beer, set ups; Tom Caldwell, Loon Lake Lodge - on sale wine, on/off sale beer; Luana Brandt, Nor'wester Lodge- on sale wine, on sale beer; Gale Quistad, Old Northwoods Lodge - on sale liquor + Sunday; Bill Hansen, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters - off sale beer; Debra Mark, Seagull Canoe Outfitters - off sale beer; Cook County/Grand Marais EDA, Superior National - on sale liquor + Sunday; Mark Darling, Trails End Café - on-off sale beer; Andrew Ahrendt, Tuscarora Lodge - off sale beer; Michael Prom, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters - on-off sale beer. Powers and the Board conducted a 2010 first quarter County budget review. No action was needed. Tristan Beaster, SWCD Conservation Technician, appeared before the Board. Beaster presented an agreement between Cook County and the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources, in the total amount of $53,000, to be used to hire a contractor to conduct a soil survey in Cook County. Beaster noted that this is a reduction from the original $80,000 amount, reflecting the actual percentage of land being surveyed between Cook and Lake County. It is estimated that it will take up to three field seasons to complete the survey, and a maximum of five years to get the information posted on the web. Auditor-Treasurer Powers noted that Cook County's financial liability to hire a contractor to perform the work is limited to the $53,000 that will be provided through the grant. Following discussion, motion was made by Martinson, seconded by Fenwick, and carried to approve the grant agreement for a soil survey as presented. Mary Black, Assessor/Land Commissioner, appeared before the Board. Black presented an abatement application from the State of Minnesota DOT (property I.D. # 59-430-1330), to reflect the tax exempt status for this property. Black also presented an abatement application from Darrell and Marsha Rosbacka (property I.D. # 53-531-4270), reverting the assessment back to its original 95' of lake front. Property owners in this area of Clearwater Lake will have to work to clarify and correct their legal descriptions. Any assessment changes will be made after that time. Motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Martinson, and carried to approve both abatement applications as presented. Commissioner Sobanja noted that he is unable to attend the Emergency Management Services Conference on April 23 and 24, to make opening remarks on behalf of the County. No other Commissioners were able to attend on those dates. Sobanja will see if County Sheriff Falk or Public Health/Human Services Director Futterer could make such remarks on behalf of Cook County. The County Board reviewed the 2010 State of Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Natural Resources Block Grant Agreement No. 16845 in the amount of $9,931.00. Said agreement provides grant funds from the MPCA for subsurface sewage treatment systems. Auditor-Treasurer Powers noted that SWCD Water Plan Coordinator Cindy Gentz monitors this grant. Motion was made by Hall, seconded by Fenwick, and carried to approve the Natural Resources Block Grant Agreement as presented in the amount of $9,931.00. The County Board discussed a letter from Minnesota Department of Corrections District Supervisor Victor Moen, informing the County that the State of Minnesota is reducing its funding for the Sentence to Serve Program from 50% down to 25%. Present for this discussion was Cook County STS Crew Leader Gary Jorgenson. Auditor-Treasurer Powers noted that the County would have to pay an additional $18,997.00 if it wanted to continue the STS Program in Cook County, as its 50% participation rate would be increased to 75%. County Commissioners noted the cost savings that the STS Program creates for the County as it does not have to incarcerate prisoners in out-of-county facilities, the work that is performed in the community, and the value that it has to the participants and their families. Crew Leader Jorgenson reported that he tried to divide the work up 50/50 between State and local projects. If the County assumes 75% of funding, he would try to conduct additional local and county projects. Commissioner Martinson inquired whether the Timber Fund could be used to pay for these additional costs. Auditor-Treasurer Powers will research that issue. Following discussion, motion was made by Hall, seconded by Martinson, and carried to support the STS Program in Cook County by contributing 75% county funding, and directing the State of Minnesota to draft the appropriate contracts and agreement for signature. Janet Simonen, Personnel Director, appeared before the Board. Simonen reported that four applications had been received for the County Engineer vacancy. The County Board agreed to extend interviews to all four candidates. Simonen will contact the applicants and report back at a future meeting. Commissioner Fenwick noted he attended an MCIT Training Seminar in St. Cloud on April 22, 2010. Commissioner Hall noted that she attended a Community Health Board meeting on April 26, 2010 and would be attending an ARC Audit meeting on April 29, 2010. Correspondence-Memos: B. MN Transportation Alliance News Review, 4/12/10. Information. C. Letter from Gov. Tim Pawlenty, 3/15/10, re: Application for Trust Acquisition of Whitecloud/Lienke property by Grand Portage Band of Chippewa. Information. D. Materials for 4/19/10 meeting of MN Rural Counties Caucus. Information. E. Materials for 4/21/10 meeting of Arrowhead Counties Ass'n. Information. F. Materials for 4/16/10 meeting of NE Regional Corrections Board. Information. G. Laurentian Resource Conservation & Development 2009 Annual Report. Information. H. Materials from 4/8/10 NE MN Area Transportation Partnership meeting. Information. I. Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority meeting minutes for 3/9/10. Information. J. Materials for 4/19/10 meeting of Cook County Higher Education Board. Information. K. Census 2010 Participant Rates report. Information.
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