Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners Proceedings

COMMISSIONER PROCEEDINGS
August 8, 2023

PURSUANT TO MN. STATUTE 331A.01, SUBD. 10

THE PUBLISHED MATERIAL IS ONLY A SUMMARY AND THE FULL TEXT IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION

AT THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY AUDITOR/TREASURERS’ OFFICE

OR BY STANDARD MAIL OR ELECTRONIC MAIL OR LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY

WEBSITE -www.lake-of-the-woods.mn.us

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on August 8, 2023, at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

CALL TO ORDER Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners: Ed Arnesen, Buck Nordlof, Jon Waibel, Cody Hasbargen and Joe Grund. Also Present was Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: Cliffs Discussion, Northerly Park Legacy Grant, Letter of Support MNDOT, Approval of Shoreline Erosion FEMA quotes.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of July 25, 2023.

SOCIAL SERVICES Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $27,249.65; Commissioners Warrants $2,838.53; Commissioners Warrants $6,294.36.

Auditor/Treasurer Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $113,923.42; Road & Bridge $34,198.19; County Development $1,600.00; Joint Ditch $2,600.00; Solid Waste $44,861.48.
WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION
Warrants Approved On 8/08/2023 For Payment 8/11/2023

Vendor Name Amount

Business Essentials 3,109.00

CARRIFF Engineered Fabrics Corporation 2,932.53

Cenex Co-Op Services, Inc. 3,402.63

DLT Solutions, LLC 3,074.60

Farmers Union Oil company 2,265.71

Howard's Oil Company 9,747.06

Integris LLC 4,651.69

Interstate Billing Service Inc 3,990.48

LOW Highway Dept 11,679.15

LOW School District--390 3,000.00

LOW Soil & Water Cons. Dist. 29,235.00

Mar-Kit Landfill 16,065.75

Marco Technologies LLC 5,890.00

North Country Chevrolet 39,747.48

R & Q Trucking, Inc 6,721.00

Rainy Lake Oil, Inc 2,549.15

Roseau & Lakeof theWoods Sportsmans Club 5,000.00

Strata Corp, Inc 7,522.88

WIDSETH SMITH NOLTING & ASSOC., INC. 5,900.00
56 Payments less than 2000 30,698.98
Final Total: 197,183.09

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: July 26,2023 for $35,310.55; August 2,2023 for $25,466.55; August 3, 2023 for $250,563.39.

Permission to Hire Environmental Specialist Motionwas made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the request to hire Eric Best as Environmental Specialist at Grade 10, Step 1, $21.16 per hour at 245 points.

Public Works Updates County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave an update that included various projects around County Road 8.

Letter of Support MNDOT

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

LETTER of SUPPORT MNDOT
RESOLUTION NO. 23-08-01

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners supports The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MNDOT) application for funding through the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Promotion Resilient Operation for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant. WHEREAS, The PROTECT funding will facilitate the realignment of Highway 11 between Baudette and International Falls, MN, to remove the highway from two critical slope failures.

WHEREAS, the project will enhance the resilience of the transportation system in an area with very limited access to integral services, products, and employment.WHEREAS, the Highway 11 Rainy River Slide Realignment and Resiliency Project aligns with the goals of the PROTECT program, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the USDOT.WHEREAS, the completion of the Highway 11 Rainy River Slide Realignment and Resiliency Project will strengthen our transportation system and contribute to growth in our region. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners offers their support for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MNDOT) application to receive funding from the PROTECT grant for the completion of the Highway 11 Rainy River Slide Realignment and Resiliency Project.

Approve Shoreline Erosion Quotes Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the quote from Denton DirtWorks in the amount of $43,769.16 for work on Public Access Roads, and to include Birch Beach and Rocky point to be paid for by FEMA funds.

Salary Increase Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve a salary increase for County Engineer Anthony Pirkl from $110,115 to $140,000 per year with an annual increase of 2.5% over the next three years effective next full pay period.

Land & Water Approval of Grade Increase Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve a Grade increase for Environmental Specialist Scott Head from Grade 9, Step 11 to Grade 10, Step 11, $25.60 per hour effective next full pay period.

Consideration of Conditional Use Permit Application #23-11CU by Jesse Mayfield and Steve Asplin

That portion of Government Lot 9, Section Six (6), Township One Hundred Sixty (160) North, Range Thirty (30) West (Gudrid)- Parcel ID# 31.06.44.020. Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit as required by Section 401 B of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance to allow a commercial activity consisting of a storage building in a non-shoreland Residential Development Zoning District (R1).

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the following CUP #23-11CU/Findings of Fact by Jesse Mayfield and Steve Asplin to allow a commercial activity consisting of a storage building in a non-shoreland Residential Development Zoning District (R1) with the following conditions:

1.) The conditional use permit is specific to the submitted application and sketch only.

2.) No habitation of the structure or on the property.

Consideration of Conditional Use Permit Application #23-12CU by Christopher and Dawn Eklund

A tract of land located in the Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter (SE1/4SW1/4) Section Twenty-one (21), Township One Hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range Thirty-two (32) West (Wheeler)- Parcel ID# 19.21.34.040. Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit as required by Section 6.3 of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Floodplain Ordinance to allow an alternative elevation method of the existing structure. This portion of Bostic Creek is considered Lake of the Woods, a General Development Lake.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following CUP #23-12CU/Findings of Fact by Christopher and Dawn Eklund to allow an alternative elevation method of the existing structure with the following conditions:

1.) Upgrading of well and septic system to be completed one year from approval.

2.) Lowest portion of the building must be at 1066.2 or higher.

3.) Meet all other applicable requirements per Lake of the Woods County Floodplain Ordinance.

Cliffs Natural Resources Discussion

The board reviewed information from Cliffs Natural Resources

Set Work Session Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to set a work session regarding Cliffs Natural Resources proposal for September 12, 2023 at 1:00p.m.

IT- Eagleview Flyover Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve a full county 6 inch resolution imagery flyover by Eagleview in spring of 2024 in the amount of $114,060.00 to be paid in three annual installment amounts of $38,020.00.

County Surveyor County Surveyor Chad Conner discussed the land leased by Mr. Brian Powers with legal description and surveyed boundaries. He alsogave an update on funds approved in legislation that will become available to apply for in the fall that would benefit project efforts in surveying areas of the county.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the land lease with Mr. Brian Powers for one year until December 31, 2024.

County Attorney County Attorney James Austad gave a formal resignation and will supply a letter of resignation at a later date. Michelle Moren joined by phone and discussed terms for being an interim County Attorney to complete the remaining 3-year term of James Austad.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to accept the resignation from County Attorney James Austad with a projected last day of September 1, 2023.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to appoint Michelle Moren as interim County Attorney to complete the 3-year term of County Attorney James Austad effective August 16, 2023 at $100,000 per year plus mileage.

Northerly Park Legacy Grant Approval Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Northerly Park Legacy Grant in the amount of $70,000.

Set Meeting Date-Commissioner/Senate Bonding Committee Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to set a meeting date with the Senate Bonding Committee for August 16, 2023 at 7:00p.m. with a viewing of the Williams School and Law Enforcement Center to follow.

Correspondence The board reviewed correspondence for the upcoming the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board Public Information Session August 16,2023.

Recess With no further business before the Board, Chair Ed Arnesen called the meeting to recess at 11:00 a.m.

Attest: August 22, 2023

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chairman Ed Arnesen