Mille Lacs County Board Meeting

                                                                                                                        Tuesday, October 28, 2003

 

Chairman Hoefert called the meeting to order at 10:31 a.m. with all members present.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

Additions were made to the agenda.  A motion was made by Cmsr Neske, seconded by Cmsr Peterson, to approve the agenda as amended.  The motion carried.

 

Barbara Berg, Assistant County Attorney, presented an update on the Mille Lacs County vs. Peck zoning violation case.  She reported that Order for Judgment and Conservation Easement documents have been filed.  She also presented payment from the respondent in the amount of $500 for an administrative fine.

 

Bobbie Danielson, County Coordinator, discussed a request to increase the jail nurse’s hours.  She reported that the proposal would add 10 hours of jail nurse coverage while decreasing public health hours by 10 per week.  Brent Lindgren, County Sheriff, was present and commented that the work of the jail nurse can no longer be done in 30 hours per week.  A motion was made by Cmsr Peterson, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to approve a request to increase the jail nurse hours from 30 to 40 per week, subject to semi-annual review.  The motion carried.

 

A request to fill a new dispatch sergeant position was considered.  Coordinator Danielson reported that the pay equity rating came back at Grade 8 for this position.  Sheriff Lindgren discussed the request.  A motion was made by Cmsr Peterson, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to authorize filling a new dispatch sergeant position.  The motion carried.

 

Sheriff Lindgren presented a request to replace the sheriff’s server, install a firewall on the sheriff’s BCA connection and replace the jail receptionist’s workstation.  He discussed budgets and reviewed price quotes.  A motion was made by Cmsr Courteau, seconded by Cmsr Peterson, to approve purchase of a PowerEdge 1600SC server from Dell for the amount of $7,257.54, tax included, a WatchGuard Firebox 700 from Syntax, Inc., in the amount of $1,624.13, tax included, and an OptiPlex GX270 MiniTower from Dell for the amount of $1,112.07, tax included.  The motion carried.

 

Sheriff Lindgren discussed a request to purchase metal detectors for court security.  He discussed a Department of Justice grant that could be used for this purchase.  A motion was made by Cmsr Neske, seconded by Cmsr Satterstrom, to approve the purchase of 2 Garrett Magnascanner CS-5000 metal detection units and one Magna Dolly from ATD-American Co., for the total amount of $6,060.98, tax and shipping included, to be paid for by the ODP/DOJ Grant.  The motion carried. 

 

The monthly Veterans Service Report for September 2003 was reviewed.  Cmsr Satterstrom reported that the wheelchair apparatus is being removed from the old WIC van and passenger seats are being put back in and reported that VSO Olson is working with organizations for donations for the veterans transportation program.

 

A motion was made by Cmsr Neske, seconded by Cmsr Courteau, to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

 

            BE IT RESOLVED that the Mille Lacs County Board of Commissioners hereby approves renewal

            of Gambling Licenses for Princeton Youth Hockey Association at White Cap Inn, East Side Township,

            at Princeton Lanes and Lounge, Princeton Township, and at Bud’s Place, Princeton Township, as

            approved by the respective township boards.

The motion carried and the resolution was adopted.

 

ATTEST:

 

 

Philip Thompson                                                                       Robert Hoefert

County Auditor-Treasurer                                                         County Board Chairman

 

A motion was made by Cmsr Courteau, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

 

            BE IT RESOLVED that the Mille Lacs County Board of Commissioners hereby approves renewal

            of Gambling Licenses for Mille Lacs Drift Skippers Snowmobile Club at Macs Twin Bay, East

            Side Township, at Edgewater Resort & Marina, Kathio Township, and at The Smoking Hills, East

            Side Township, as approved by the respective township boards.

The motion carried and the resolution was adopted.

 

ATTEST:

 

 

Philip Thompson                                                                       Robert Hoefert

County Auditor-Treasurer                                                         County Board Chairman

 

A motion was made by Cmsr Courteau, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to appoint Cmsr Hoefert as the voting delegate to the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust Annual Meeting on December 8, 2003 with Auditor-Treasurer Thompson as alternate.  The motion carried.

 

Auditor-Treasurer Thompson presented information regarding election for two seats on the MCIT Board of Directors and reported that if any of the board members were interested in running for an MCIT Board position they should complete an MCIT information sheet and return it directly to MCIT.

 

Joe Ahner, Building Maintenance Supervisor, reported that the Historical Society suggested adding tempered glass panels on the upper level rotunda railings to protect against a child slipping through the rails.  Price quotes were reviewed.  A motion was made by Cmsr Courteau, seconded by Cmsr Satterstrom, to accept the bid of Glass Works, Inc., for installation of tempered glass on the Courthouse Rotunda railings in the amount of $2,127.00, from General Fund reserves.  A motion was made by Cmsr Peterson, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to amend the motion to use available Building Maintenance funds first, with any balance to come from the General Fund.  The amendment and the motion carried.

 

Richard Larson, County Engineer, discussed repair of a retaining wall in front of the old International dealership on CSAH 32 west of the alley between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave SW in Milaca.  He discussed use of 1.5’ x 4’ retaining blocks as an option.  A motion was made by Cmsr Peterson, seconded by Cmsr Courteau, to purchase 1.5’ x 4’ retaining blocks for repair of a retaining wall along CSAH 32 in Milaca at a cost of $3,056.  Cmsrs Peterson and Courteau voted aye with Cmsrs Neske and Satterstrom voting nay.  Chairman Hoefert voted nay and declared the motion failed.

 

Engineer Larson discussed the CSAH 1 improvement project and prior discussions of an ongoing drainage problem in the area of the bridge at CSAH 12 and the Bogus Brook crossing of CSAH 1.  He requested approval of a consulting agreement for hydraulic analysis.  A motion was made by Cmsr Courteau, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to authorize the county engineer to enter into an agreement for engineering services with Barr Engineering for analyzing Rum River/Bogus Brook hydraulics for the amount of $10,000.  The motion carried.

 

Engineer Larson requested that a Road & Bridge meeting be set to review department policy and develop a draft 5-Year Plan for road improvements.  A meeting was scheduled for December 12, 2003, immediately following the regular board meeting.

 

Engineer Larson reported on a used Cat 950G Loader available under the state bid with Ziegler.  He reported that the loader has 389 work hours on it and has 4 years left on the warranty.  He said the loader could be ordered now and the first payment wouldn’t be due until after the capital equipment bond proceeds are available in 2004.  A motion was made by Cmsr Courteau, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to authorize purchase of a Cat 950G Loader for $151,988.28, tax included, from Zeigler.  The motion carried.

 

Engineer Larson reported that Curtis Eastlund, an employee of Minnesota Department of Transportation, passed away in a tragic car accident on his way to work Friday morning, October 24, 2003.  As County Engineer, he worked closely with Mr. Eastlund on many projects and said that Mr. Eastlund was a friend to Mille Lacs County and supportive of our efforts including the recent improvements at the intersection of State Highway 169 and County Road 11, the support and funding for the Soo Line Trail Bridge by Onamia and on his efforts to improve State Highway 169 in its present location along Mille Lacs Lake.  Engineer Larson said that Mille Lacs County certainly lost a supporter and friend on transportation issues and as a liaison with the state.

 

Coordinator Danielson reported on an employee resignation.  A motion was made by Cmsr Peterson, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to accept the resignation of Paul Hesch, Correctional Officer/911 Dispatcher, effective October 23, 2003, and to approve refilling the full time position.  The motion carried.

 

Coordinator Danielson reported that the AFSCME Courthouse Unit did not accept the proposed agreement regarding the starting placement grievance.  She reported that arbitration was held on October 24th and that the arbitrator has approximately 60 days to give his decision.

 

Cmsr Satterstrom reported that a Safety Committee meeting has been scheduled.  He also updated the board on an East Central Area on Aging hearing recently held regarding proposals to combine districts.

 

Cmsr Hoefert reported that the East Central Solid Waste Commission is looking at proposing a solid waste management fee to be charged to customers and collected by the garbage haulers rather than the current assessment collected on the property tax statements.  He also reported that the Commission wants to know Mille Lacs County’s intentions regarding participation in the Joint Powers Board after the bonds are paid off in 2007.  Discussion took place regarding future participation in ECSWC with no decision being made.

 

A motion was made by Cmsr Peterson, seconded by Cmsr Neske, to adjourn the meeting; 12:29 p.m.  The motion carried.

 

ATTEST:

 

 

Philip Thompson                                                                       Robert Hoefert

County Auditor-Treasurer                                                         County Board Chairman