Hopes are that state funding for demo of Williams School will come this year

At their January 24th meeting, the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners discussed with County Engineer A.J. Pirkl the possibility of state funds becoming available to help the county with the demolition of the Williams School. "There was 1.5 million dollars in the omnibus bill that passed through both houses of the (Minnesota) legislature last year," Pirkl told the board, "but the governor never signed the bill. So we're back at square one."

Apparently the county is not completely back to square one though.
Board Chair Ed Arnesen responded, "Our lobbyist is aware of this and is working on it as we speak."

Last year's proposal to use state funds to help the county with the demolition project was pushed by State Senator Paul Utke. However, due to redistricting, Lake of the Woods County became part of District 2 and newly elected State Senator Steve Green will need to take up the cause.

In other county-related business the commissioners:

• Approved the Public Works Department's Title VI Anti-Discrimination Implementation plan. The commissioners also accepted a bid of $19,557 to have Plutko Plumbing and Heating install two 180,000 BTU boilers in the shop at the County Landfill, and approved the expenditure of $5,700 to replace and upgrade shop tools in the Landfill shop.

• Paid the Social Service Claims as presented by Social Services Director Amy Ballard. The commissioners also approved renewing a contract with Schackman, Kramer and Associates for Medication Management Services.

• After a short discussion about a charge for more Blue Blades, approved paying the Auditor/Treasurer's Claims as presented by Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson. County Engineer A.J. Pirkl told the board that the additional Blue Blades were for new construction and blades that had been destroyed by the home owner. Also approved was a transfer of $10,900 from the Judicial Ditch #26 account back into the Revenue Fund.

• Set a public watershed hearing for April 11, at 10 a.m.

• Accepted a Federal Boat and Water grant of $3,745 to be used to upgrade buoys and buoy hardware.

• Accepted a bid of $628,133.20 by Korby Contracting for work to be done on County Highway #69. The commissioners also gave County Engineer Pirkl permission to advertise for bids on a two-year project to repave and replace two box culverts on County Highway #8 between County Highway #4 (the Graceton Beach Road) and County Highway #2.

• Approved a memorandum of understanding with Koochiching County. The agreement is to participate in a long term lease agreement with Kooch County for longer term housing of inmates at the Koochiching County Jail provided Koochiching County builds a new jail facility.

• Approved a resolution in support of a bed tax, except for the city of Baudette, of no more than 3%.

• Discussed without action maintenance on the county's television tower, potential land sales involving the DNR, and the need for the city of Baudette to have a City Attorney in order to prosecute city cases.

There being no further business to discuss, Board Chair Arnesen recessed the meeting at 10:14 a.m.