Government Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes Commissioner's Minutes - May 25, 2010
| Commissioner's Minutes - May 25, 2010 |
| Tuesday, 15 June 2010 14:30 |
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SESSION: MAY 25, 2010 Grand Marais, Minnesota The Board met in regular session this 25th day of May, 2010, at the Courthouse in Grand Marais, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. with the following members present: Commissioners Fenwick, Hall, Martinson, and Sobanja. Absent: Commissioner Johnson. County Board Chair Sobanja led the Commissioners in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion was made by Martinson, seconded by Hall, and carried to amend the agenda for the meeting as presented. George Wilkes appeared before the Board on behalf the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP). Wilkes reported that CCLEP is submitting a grant application to the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), for Grand Marais and Cook County to be example communities for a biomass project. Ely is also applying to be a similar example community. Wilkes requested that the County Board send a letter of support for this grant proposal. Motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Martinson, and carried to send a letter of support to LCCMR regarding the "Supporting Community-Driven Sustainable Bio-Energy Projects". The County Board noted that some Planning & Zoning as well as Soil & Water Conservation District staff time would be committed to this project as an in-kind contribution. Commissioner Martinson encouraged CCLEP to look at the availability of Biomass material from each source (U.S. Forest Service, DNR, and private land) on an annual basis, as there are continued concerns about Federal Legislation to redefine the term "biomass" so that said material may not be available from Federal Forest Land. Russell Klegstad, Maintenance Supervisor, appeared before the Board with several issues. Klegstad presented a capital purchase request to obtain two salt-sand tarps, as the salt/sand piles at Hovland and Tofte need to be covered. Klegstad was able to obtain only one bid, in the amount of $4,800 plus tax to obtain the two tarps. Motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Martinson, and carried to purchase the two salt/sand tarps as presented. Klegstad requested permission to advertise for summer maintenance for the special service tax districts. Motion was made by Martinson, seconded by Hall, and carried to approve said advertising. Klegstad reported that KGM Contractors has an excess of gravel and other products available for purchase. The Highway Department has approximately $19,000 remaining in its 2010 budget for gravel, and Klegstad would like to negotiate with KGM to purchase same material from their pit on the Sawbill Trail. Motion was made by Martinson, seconded by Fenwick, and carried to authorize Klegstad to negotiate with KGM for the purchase of up to $19,000 of gravel from their pit as requested. Commissioner Hall moved the adoption of the following resolution and upon seconding by Commissioner Martinson was adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present: RESOLUTION #2010-39 BE IT RESOLVED, that the following claims totaling $ 105,282.61 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: At 9:00 a.m. a Public Hearing was convened to consider making revisions to Cook County ATV Ordinance # 54 regarding Class 1ATV Use on County Roads. Present for this public hearing were 18 citizens. Commissioner Sobanja reported that the Public Hearing was being held to consider three revisions to the current ATV Ordinance: whether to make the ordinance permanent, whether to expand use of ATVs to include the inner ditch side of paved county roads, an whether to clarify use on State Aid roads within the City Limits of Grand Marais, so that the County and City regulations are the same. Sobanja noted that the current ordinance was to be in effect for three years and would expire on May 26, 2012 unless extended by the County Board. Commissioner Sobanja and Martinson expressed their interest in retaining the three year trial period, as changes are being considered. Martinson noted that a County Ordinance is never "permanent", as the Board has the authority to rescind it at any time. The Commissioners discussed use of ATVs on the inner ditch side of paved county roads. The following points were discussed: whether removing ATVs from ditches would benefit the environment, whether having ATVs operate on paved roads at higher speeds would create a safety hazard, whether certain county paved roads should be excluded from ATV use, and the need for continued ATV education for all users. The Board also discussed whether consistency between City and County regulations within the City Limits of Grand Marais would be of benefit. Written and verbal public comment was also received. Following significant discussion, a motion was made by Martinson, seconded by Hall, and carried vote to direct the County Attorney to amend the Cook County ATV Ordinance to allow ATV use on the far right hand side of County State Aid Roads, as Timothy Nelson, Planning Director/Solid Waste Officer, appeared before the Board with several issues. Nelson reported that the recruitment period for the Environmental Health Officer position was extended, but that no qualified applicants were interested. Nelson will review the options for this position and will report back to the Board at a future date. Nelson provided an update of recent septic system legislation. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has developed an implementation and enforcement task force that will work toward a timely implementation of the new rules. Consensus of the County Board was to wait to revise the Cook County Septic System Ordinance until the final rules are adopted at the State level. Nelson will keep the Board updated regarding this issue. Nelson reported that amendments to the Cook County Zoning Ordinance can be initiated by the County Board and requested that the County Board initiate Amendments to the Cook County Zoning Ordinance, the Subdivision Ordinance, and Storm Water Ordinance. Nelson and the Board reviewed the proposed changes. Following discussion, motion was made by Martinson, seconded by Fenwick, and carried to authorize the Planning Department to proceed in developing proposed revisions to the Cook County Zoning Ordinance, the Cook County Subdivision Ordinance, and the Cook County Storm Water Ordinance as presented, with a Public Hearing to be conducted by the Planning Commission on July 14, 2010. LeRoy Halberg, Environmental Health Specialist, appeared before the Board. Halberg provided information regarding the negative impact that improper septage disposal systems have on water supplies. Properly operating septic systems cause the soil to remove the bacteria in septage so that it does not enter drinking wells, thus reducing illness and death rates. Halberg noted that County responsibilities regarding septage issues are increasing, as new rules are becoming tighter and also address larger systems. Commissioner Martinson noted that a revolving loan fund program to assist low income residents in repairing a failing septic system would be a high priority. Halberg reported that septage is currently being spread on the surface of a gravel pit on County Road 6, but he recommends that site be closed as the soils are inappropriate for continued use. G & G Septic (Pete Gresczyk) will be installing a septage disposal system in the Industrial Park that will pump the material directly into the city sewage treatment plant, which will eliminate the disposal problem. Mark Falk, County Sheriff, appeared before the Board. Falk reported that the Sheriff's Department is working to create a fiber link from the Law Enforcement Center to the State Tower. Falk received two quotes for said project, with money to come from the 2007 Homeland Security Grant. Motion was made by Hall, seconded by Martinson, and carried to approve the low bid from Jay Carlson in the amount of $98,000 to create this fiber link as proposed. Bev Green, Cook County Senior Center Director, appeared before the Board. Green reported that the Senior Center parking lot is receiving increased use due to the Farmers Market and tourist traffic during the summer weekend days. Arrowhead Transit has requested permission to park two or three twenty-passenger buses in the west courthouse parking lot during the weekends, to alleviate some of the parking pressure downtown. Motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Hall, and carried to allow Arrowhead Transit to park their buses in the far end of the west courthouse parking lot during the weekends in the summer as needed, unless otherwise specified or directed. Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers appeared before the Board with several items. Powers reported that Pete Gresczyk submitted a revolving loan fund application to assist in financing construction of a septic receiving facility in the Business Development Area. The Committee recommended approval of a loan up to $75,000 over a ten year term, with a second position on a real-estate mortgage as collateral plus UCC filing on equipment. Total cost of the project is estimated at $350,000. Motion Powers informed the Board that Elhers and Associates reported that Cook County could refund its Courthouse Bonds using new general obligation debt and save an estimated $28,000 in interest costs. Additional money could be saved if the County combined the issuance with other bonding projects, because the underwriting and issuance costs would be spread over multiple projects. No action was needed by the County Board at this time. Powers and the Commissioners will continue to review their refinancing and bond options. The Commissioners noted that a Joint Cook County/Grand Marais City Council/ISD # 166 Board of Education/Grand Portage Tribal Council meeting would be held on May 27, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in Grand Portage. Mary Black, Assessor/Land Commissioner, appeared before the Board. Black reported that the County Tax System is being upgraded. Black presented six abatement applications and requested that they be approved now rather than waiting until the system is revamped. The following abatement applications were reviewed: Ronald Gervais Sr. (property I.D. # 25-016-4490), as the rollhome assessed on the parcel belongs on a neighboring parcel; Peter Passolt (property I.D. # 55-404-2220), as an incorrect lake frontage was used for calculations; Laura and Ronald Fiedler (property I.D. # 55-404-2221), as an incorrect frontage and acreage amount was used to calculate values; Moral and Verna Meverden (property I.D. # 27-346-5000), as two cabins were assessed for the parcel that only contains one cabin; Thomas Surprenant (property I.D. # 56-427-3300), as the incorrect foundation type was inputted on the house record, and Ramey Enterprises, LLC (property I.D. # 55-260-0021), as a portion of the property had inadvertently been changed from "Ma & Pa" resort to "Seasonal Restaurant on a Lake". Motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Martinson, and carried to approve the abatement applications as presented. Janet Simonen, Personnel Director, appeared before the Board to discuss the hiring of a County Engineer/Agriculture Inspector. Simonen reported that Commissioners Hall and Martinson were authorized to negotiate an employment offer with David Betts, the preferred candidate. The following offer was recommended: appointing David Betts as the Cook County Engineer/Agriculture Inspector for an initial probationary term to May 2011, with a starting date during the week of June 28, 2010. Betts would be placed at the D63-2 Step 10 level of the 2010 Department Head Salary Scale, in recognition of his 17 years of experience as a municipal engineer. Betts would be placed at the initial level of the Paid Leave accrual schedule, but he would move to the second level if he was appointed to a full four year term as County Engineer in May 2011. In addition, the County would assist with relocation expenses by paying for a moving company to pick-up, transport, and unload a moving van. Betts would do his own packing. Following discussion, motion was made by Fenwick, seconded by Martinson, and carried to approve the employment offer for David Betts as presented. Correspondence-Memos: B. AMC Agriculture & Rural Development Advisory Committee and MN Rural County Caucus joint meeting summary for 3/24/10. Information. C. MN Transportation Alliance 2010 Legislative Session Summary. Information. D. Materials for 5/19/10 meeting of Arrowhead Counties Ass'n. Information. E. Cook County Hospital District meeting minutes for 4/30/10. Information. F. Materials for 5/24/10 meeting of Cook County Higher Education Board. Information. G. Materials for 5/19/10 meeting of Cook County Transit Advisory Committee. Information. H. Materials for 5/18/10 meeting of Cook County Univ. of MN Extension Committee. Information. I. Materials for 5/18/10 meeting of Cook County Community Center Board of Trustees. J. Cook County Board of Commissioner meeting minutes for 4/20/10 and 4/27/10. Motion was made by Hall, seconded by Fenwick, and carried to approve the County Board minutes as presented. There being no further business, motion was made and carried that the meeting be adjourned.
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