Lake of the Woods County Board Proceedings, February 8, 2022

March 01, 2022

COMMISSIONER PROCEEDINGS
February 8, 2022

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

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

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

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add PILT update.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the minutes from January 25,2022.

Social Services Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $17,156.15; Commissioners Warrants $2,425.81; Commissioners Warrants $16,481.31.

NorthWest Community Action Tim Anacabe, Executive Director of NWCA, came to the board with an update on the Blue Plus car repair grant. The initial grant is for $40,000 and can be used in LOTW, Marshall, Roseau, and Kittson counties. They are requesting an additional $10,000 from each county and would be used as first come first serve. The board discussed their concerns and decided to support the program for one year and would like an update after this trial year is finished. Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve $10,000 from the American Rescue Plan funds, if applicable, to NWCA to assist in car repairs.

Auditor/Treasurer Claims Motion Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $177,924.59; Road & Bridge $33,705.16; Solid Waste $10,056.79.
WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 2/08/2022 For Payment 2/11/2022

Vendor Name Amount

Avenu Insights & Analytics 6,695.96

Compass Minerals America 5,383.06

Counties Providing Technology 3,972.00

Freeberg & Grund, Inc 4,896.00

Howard's Oil Company 6,035.97

Information Systems Corporation 9,439.00

Integris DBA 5,471.00

LOW Highway Dept 5,207.50

LOW Soil & Water Cons. Dist. 101,188.00

Pemberton Law, P.L.L.P. 3,497.78

Quadient Finance USA Inc. 3,000.00

R & Q Trucking, Inc 2,575.00

State Of Minnesota 32,283.99

Woody's Service 4,370.57

61 Payments less than 2000 27,670.71

Final Total: 221,686.54

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: January 26,2022 for $10,857.54; and February 2,2022 for $129,053.55.

Official Depository Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to accept the RFP from RiverWood Bank as the official safekeeping institution for Lake of the Woods County for the year 2022.
Change Work Session Date Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to change the ARP and Solid Waste work session date from February 22,2022 to March 8,2022.

County Assessor Appointment of County Assessor Resolution

The following Resolution was offered by Commissioner Jon Waibel and moved for adoption:

A RESOLUTION APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY ASSESSOR

Resolution No. 2022-02-01

WHEREAS, the County Assessor position is appointed and/or reappointed every four (4) years pursuant MN Statute 273.061, Subd 2; BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners does hereby approve the appointment of Alisa Jacobsen for the term of January 28, 2022 through December 31, 2024; fulfilling the term of her predecessor, Mary Jo Otten, who retired on January 27, 2022;BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners recommends that the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) confirm this appointment. The resolution was seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried.

Salary Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the salary for County Assessor Alisa Jacobsen at Grade 20, Points 476, Step 1 at $35.07 per hour, effective retroactive to January 28, 2022, upon the appointment of County Assessor.

Land and Water Land and Water Director Josh Stromlund met with the board and presented a Consideration of Conditional Use Permit #22-02CU by Winter Sett Inc. Michael Herzog: Lot 12, Block 3, Winter Sett Estates of Section nine (9) Township One Hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range Thirty-three (33) West- Parcel ID# 18.51.03.120. Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit as required by Section 902 of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance, to cumulatively move more than fifty (50) cubic yards of material outside of the shore impact zone of Lake of the Woods for the purpose of disposing dredged material from an existing inland harbor. Lake of the Woods is a General Development Lake.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following Findings of Fact/Conditional Use Permit #22-02CU for Winter Sett Inc. Michael Herzog to cumulatively move more than fifty (50) cubic yards of material outside of the shore impact zone of Lake of the Woods for the purpose of disposing dredged material from an existing inland harbor.

The specific conditions of approval are as follows:
1. Obtain Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Permit
Economic Development Authority Motion to Approve Contract was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve a contract for Lake of the Woods EDA Staffing Services between Lake of the Woods County and Lake of the Woods Economic Development Authority and for Chair Buck Nordlof to sign the same.

Public Works Permission to Advertise, Interview, & Hire Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve permission to advertise, interview & hire for a Heavy Equipment Operator in the public works department at Grade 11, Step 1, $21.68 per hour, Points 265.

Permission to Bid Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to authorize the advertisement for project bids on SAP 039-030-001.

Williams School Update Public Works Director Anthony Pirkl gave an update on the Williams school building and an estimate of the costs to complete the project. No action was taken at this time.

PILT Funds Commissioner Ed Arnesen gave the board an update on PILT funding from the last Northern Counties Land Use Board meeting.

Law Enforcement Approval of Snowmobile Grant Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the Snowmobile Safety Enforcement Grant in the amount of $7,144.00 for a total of two years beginning July 1,2021 through June 30,2023 and for Sheriff Gary Fish and Chair Buck Nordlof to sign the same.

Stonegarden Sheriff Salary Resolution The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following:

AMEND COUNTY SHERIFF SALARY

Resolution No. 22-02-02

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Homeland Security has asked local law enforcement agencies along our Nation’s border to step up border monitoring, pursue joint objectives, and enhance their capabilities for providing border security; and,WHEREAS, in an effort to assist local governments in fulfilling this request, the Department of Homeland Security through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, offered “Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant; and,WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office is a successful recipient of an Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant; and,

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff has undertaken, as additional duties, the responsibility to avail himself and his officers for additional training, or to provide such training for his officers’ himself, for border protection and border security, and the additional duties of improving the distinct capability of the sheriffs’ office as a whole with regard to border security and border patrol as part of a joint mission; and in addition, as and for additional duties, the sheriff will necessarily devote more of his own time to border patrol and border enforcement; and,WHEREAS, the Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant given to assist the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office in its efforts to secure the border includes the sum of $133,000 and $82,599 of this grant is for salaries.WHEREAS, it is estimated that these additional border security duties will necessitate that the Sheriff expend on average another eight (8) hours per week; and,WHEREAS, through the Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant, all of the additional overtime worked by officers devoted to border security issues is fully reimbursable under the grant, including the cost of officer overtime pay, PERA, Medicare and worker’s compensation, so that the net cost of the additional homeland security duties to Lake of the Woods County is fully reimbursed by the grant.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the resolution setting the sheriff’s salary, as originally set by this board on December 30, 2021 was $94,078.40 and fringe benefits were $18,016.02, be amended so that the sheriff’s salary is increased by the sum up to $18,815.68 and fringe benefits are increased up to $3,603.21 commencing January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, with the increase funding from the Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant contingent upon the following:

1. That the Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant funding be available; and

2. That the Sheriff works, in addition to his regular duties, eight (8) hours per week of said Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant.At such time that the Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant funding is no longer available and/or if the Sheriff is unable to complete the additional eight (8) hours per week of Operation Stonegarden 2020 grant work, the Sheriff’s salary shall return to the original balance set by the board on December 30, 2021 in addition to the accumulated Stonegarden wages earned based on Stonegarden funding available and actual hours worked.

ARMER Contract Service Renewal Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the ARMER contract service renewal with Motorola Solutions in the amount of $15,206.40 and for Emergency Management Director Jill Olson to sign the same.

ATV Grant Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the Off Highway Vehicle Safety Grant in the amount of $10,709.00 a year for a total of two years beginning July 1,2021 through June 30, 2023 and for Sheriff Gary Fish and Chair Buck Nordlof to sign the same.

Attorney Client Privilege- Closed Session Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting at 10:25 a.m. and open the closed session pursuant to MN Statute 13D.03B Attorney Client Privilege.

The following were present: Commissioners: Joe Grund, Buck Nordlof, Cody Hasbargen, Jon Waibel, Ed Arnesen, County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson, Human Resources Director Savanna Slick and Sheriff Gary Fish.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to close the closed session at 10:55 a.m. and reopen the regular meeting.

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

Attest: February 22, 2022

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chairman James “Buck” Nordlof

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