LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PROCEEDINGS

                                                           August 25, 2026

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 Tuesday, August 25th,2026 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

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

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: add receiver dumps purchase for NW Angle

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of August 4th, 2026.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $53,217.97; Commissioners Warrants $5,984.28; Commissioners Warrants $16,261.86. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the contract with Medica for SNBC Care Coordination.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the contract with Medica for MSHO/MSC + Care Coordination.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $218,400.82; Road & Bridge $125,301.61; Joint Ditch $10,515.41; and Solid Waste $64,615.06; EDA $1,685.54.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 8/25/2026 For Payment 8/28/2026

 

Vendor Name                                               Amount

AMI Consulting Engineers P.A.                         3,605.00 

Arrowhead Library System                             33,118.00

ByteSpeed, LLC                                             6,400.00 

CentralSquare Technologies, LLC                             45,276.60 

Clay County Sheriff                               2,121.79 

Co-Op Services, Inc.                                     14,124.78     

Counties Providing Technology                         4,583.00

Farmers Union Oil company                             4,281.92 

Houston Engineering Inc                                  2,939.00 

Integris LLC                                         2,240.07

 Larkin Hoffman Attorneys                               8,275.00

Law Offices of Patrick D. Moren                     12,799.66 

LOW Highway Dept                                      12,778.14

LOW Soil & Water Cons. Dist.                        29,033.00 

Mar-Kit Landfill                                           27,522.20

Mark Rock & Concrete Co.                             17,469.14 

Midway Ford Company                                 47,961.84

MN Counties Intergovernmental Trust                2,815.50 

Northdale Oil Inc.                                29,437.46

Northern Light Region                                     2,861.00 

NW MN Multi County HRA                           40,000.00

Quadient Finance USA Inc.                              3,000.00 

R & Q Trucking, Inc                                        5,480.00 

Rainy Lake Oil, Inc                                2,045.40 

Saber Shred Solutions, Inc                       4,953.00 

Titan Machinery - Roseau                                 3,889.76 

U.S. Bank Equipment Finance                           6,268.50 

Verus LLC                                           2,138.00 

Walker Pipe & Supply                                     9,260.00 

Wex Bank                                            2,186.61 

62 Payments less than 2000                            31,654.07

Final Total:                                        420,518.44

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: August 6th for $73,658.80; August 12th for $50,264.19; August 20th for $13,473.84.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to accept the LCCMR State of Minnesota grant contract agreement.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to accept the contract with AMI for Pine and Curry Island.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to purchase two refurbished receiver containers for $25,000.

Lots 15 and 16, Block 1, Sandy Shores in Section 21, Township 163 North, Range 33 West- Parcel #16.55.01.150 and 16.55.01.160. Applicants are requesting a Conditional Use Permit, in accordance with Sections 902 and 903 of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance, to allow the movement of more than 10 yards of material within the shore impact zone of Lake of the Woods to repair/reconstruct the existing rock rip rap. Additionally, the applicants are requesting to construct a private water access ramp on Lot 16. Lake of the Woods is a General Development Lake.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following Conditional Use Permit #26-03CU by Bryce and Tracy Evans to allow the movement of more than 10 yards of material within the shore impact zone of Lake of the Woods to repair/reconstruct the existing rock rip rap. Additionally, the applicants have been approved to construct a private water access ramp on Lot 16.

Name of Applicant:  Bryce and Tracy Evans                                                    Date:  August 25, 2026

 

Location/Legal Description:  Lots 15 and 16, Block 1, Sandy Shores in Section Twenty-one (21), Township One Hundred Sixty-three (163) North, Range Thirty-three (33) West                                                  

Parcel Number: 16.55.01.150 and 16.55.01.160

Project Proposal:  Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to allow the movement of more than ten (10) yards of material within the shore impact zone of the Rainy River to repair the existing rock rip rap installed after the 2014 high water event. Additionally, applicants are requesting to construct a private access ramp to Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods is a General Development Lake.

1)  Is the project proposal consistent with the Lake of the Woods County Comprehensive Land Use Plan?                                                                                                          YES (X) NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Shoreline Protection

2)  Is the project proposal consistent with maintaining the public health, safety, and welfare?

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

3)    Is the project proposal consistent with the goal of preventing and controlling water pollution, including sedimentation and nutrient loading?                                                                                               YES (X) NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Prevent Erosion

4)    Will the project proposal not adversely affect the site’s existing topography, drainage features, and vegetative cover?                                                                                                                                                             YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  No change

5)    Is the project proposal’s site location reasonable in relation to any floodplain and/or floodway of rivers or tributaries?          YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? _______________________________________________________________________  

6)    Has the erosion potential of the site based upon the degree and direction of slope, soil type and existing vegetative cover been adequately addressed for the project proposal?                YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

7)     Is the site in harmony with existing and proposed access roads?                             YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

8)    Is the project proposal compatible with adjacent land uses?                         YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Shoreline & Residential

9)  Does the project proposal have a reasonable need to be in a shoreland location?     

Why or why not?  Shoreland protection and access

10)    Is the amount of liquid waste to be generated reasonable and the proposed sewage disposal system adequate to accommodate the project proposal?                                                                                                              YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________ 

11)    Will the visibility of structures and other facilities as viewed from public waters comply with Section 901 of the Zoning Ordinance?                                                                                                                            YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

12)    Is the site adequate for water supply and on-site sewage treatment systems?         YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

13)    Are the affected public waters suited to and able to safely accommodate the types, uses, and numbers of watercraft that the project proposal will generate?                                                                                                         YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

 

14)    If the project proposal includes above ground or below ground storage tanks for petroleum or other hazardous material that is subject to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requirements, has a permit been sought?       YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

15)    Will there be fencing and/or other screening provided to buffer the project proposal from adjacent properties?         

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

16)    If signage is associated with the project proposal, has the applicant demonstrated the need for the number and size requested, and minimized the visual appearance as viewed from adjacent properties to the extent possible?                 YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

17)    If the project proposal will generate additional traffic to or from the site, has the applicant adequately demonstrated how the additional traffic and parking is to be addressed?                                                                                 YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ________________________________________________________________________

The answers to the questions above, together with the facts supporting the answers and those other facts that exist in the record, are hereby certified to be the Findings of the County Board of Commissioners.

The specific reasons for denial or conditions of approval are as follows:

               August 25, 2026                                   _____________________________________

                   Date                                                          Joe Grund

                                                                                   Chair, County Board

 

This is in accordance with the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance

Land and Water Supervisor Josh Stromlund discussed with the board E-911 Special Circumstance Request that was received by his office. After discussion it was decided that Josh will follow up with applicant to further discuss what is still needed. 

Facilities Supervisor Shane Shaw discussed with the board quotes for window replacements for the building. The board decided to add this discussion to the following board meeting to get more information.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting and open ditch authority.

Joint Ditch Authority members for JD 62 reviewed a partial ditch petition from the DNR. No action was taken at this time.

The ditch authority reviewed assessments and future maintenance of Ditch 17. Beneficiaries discussed their estimated assessments and reviewed the ditch maps.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to close the Ditch Authority meeting and reconvene the regular meeting.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve assessing Ditch 17 for 2027.

 

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 a.m.

Attest:                                                                September 8, 2026

________________________________             _________________________________

Auditor/Treasurer Anna Sanchez                      Chair Joe Grund