Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners Proceedings

October 30, 2023

COMMISSIONER PROCEEDINGS

October 10, 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/TREASURER’S 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 October 10, 2023 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

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

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changed: Add: Block Grant Approval

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of September 26, 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 $30,948.04; Commissioners Warrants $3,431.75; Commissioners Warrants $4,284.57.

MFIP Biennial Service Agreement for 2024-25 Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the 2024-2025 County Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) Biennial Service Agreement.

Public Works Updates

County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave a brief update on various Highway and Landfill Projects.

Frontier Precision Purchase Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Frontier Precision purchase in the amount of $7,468 to be paid for by SWCD.

Pine Island Barrier Study County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave an update on the Pine Island Barrier Study and informed the board that the $21,500.00 previously set aside and approved out of ARPA funds will be used for this project.

Auction Items County Engineer Anthony Pirkl requested approval from the board to auction various items in a sealed bid newspaper auction.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the request to hold a sealed bid newspaper auction.

Auditor/Treasurer Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $59,457.30; Road & Bridge $101,577.92; Solid Waste $34,612.54.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 10/10/2023 For Payment 10/13/2023

Vendor Name Amount

Accurate HD Ltd. 4,878.00

Cenex Co-Op Services, Inc. 2,574.38

Farmers Union Oil company 3,250.51

Frontier Precision Inc 7,468.36

Howard's Oil Company 6,418.87

Integris LLC 2,161.28

Justin C. Reitmeier 35,750.00

LOW Highway Dept 6,386.77

Mar-Kit Landfill 15,307.50

Marco Technologies LLC 3,303.49

Moren/Law Offices Of Patrick D 8,803.60

R & Q Trucking, Inc 6,110.00

Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC 42,438.28

Titan Energy Systems, Inc 3,079.92

True North Equipment Co 12,236.73

University Of Mn 14,752.69

50 Payments less than 2000 20,727.38

Final Total: 195,647.76

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: September 27, 2023 for $1,532,671.66; September 29,2023 for $258,557.60; September 29, 2023 for ($1.00); October 4, 2023 for $206,912.70; October 5, 2023 for $274,405.53; October 5, 2023 for ($1,450.10).

Set Work Session Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to set a work session for Maintenance for October 24, 2023 following the regular board meeting.

Purchase Approval- Lawnmower Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of a John Deere lawnmower in the amount of $12,236.73 to be paid for out of ARPA funds.

Approval of Flu Shots Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve Lakewood Health to administer the flu vaccine to county employees at the Lake of the Woods County Government Center.

Human Resources Accept Resignation Human Resources Director Savanna Slick informed the board that the county received a resignation notice from Assessment Technician Emily Brandt effective December 15, 2023.

Approve Interim Assessment Technician Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve Christie Russel as interim Assessment Technician in addition to her current position in the Recorder’s office for six months with a monthly stipend of $1,000.00 effective October 10, 2023 and ending April 10, 2024.

Permission to Advertise, Interview, & Hire Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the request to Advertise, Interview, & Hire for a position in the Assessor’s office.

Joining the Meeting Chair Ed Arnesen joined the meeting at 9:30a.m.

HRA Loan Program Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to give $40,000.00 from ARPA funds to the HRA Loan Program.

Land & Water Block Grant Approval Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the electronic signature of the Block Grant in the amount of 195,681.00.

Consideration of Conditional Use Permit Application #23-15CU by Dennis Braaten and James Frohreich

Tracts in Government Lot 4, Section Seventeen (17), Township One Hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range Thirty-two (32) West (Wheeler)- Parcel ID#19.17.23.020 and 19.17.23.010. Applicants are requesting a Conditional Use Permit as required by Section 902 of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance to move more than 10 cubic yards of material within the shore impact zone of Lake of the Woods to repair shoreline damage that occurred during the 2022 high water event and to move more than 50 cubic yards of material outside the shore impact zone for the construction of a dike. Lake of the Woods is a General Development Lake.

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following Conditional Use Permit/Findings of Fact to allow the applicants to move more than 10 cubic yards of material within the shore impact zone of Lake of the Woods to repair shoreline damage that occurred during the 2022 high water event and to move more than 50 cubic yards of material outside the shore impact zone for the construction of a dike as presented.

Consideration of Conditional Use Permit Application #23-16CU by Terry and Susannah Brateng

Lot 13, Block 1, Riverside Plat in Section Seventeen (17), Township One Hundred Sixty-one (161) North, Range Thirty-one (31) West (Baudette) Parcel ID#24.50.01.130. Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit as required by Section 401.B of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance to use a Recreational Vehicle (RV) in a Residential Development (R1) Zoning District on Rainy River. Rainy River is an Agricultural River Segment.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following Conditional Use Permit/Findings of Fact to allow the applicant to use a Recreational Vehicle (RV) in a Residential Development (R1) Zoning District on Rainy River with the following conditions:

1.) A holding tank is allowed until a well is drilled and services the property. Upon a well servicing the property, a full septic system is required to be installed.

2.) CUP expires 12-31-25 and the camper must be removed.

Consideration of Conditional Use Permit Application #23-17CU by Dallas Schwandt (Nels Holte Agent)

A tract in Government Lot Three (3), Section Seventeen (17), Township One Hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range Thirty-two (32) West- Parcel ID#19.17.24.070 (For Reference Only). 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 use consisting of a private winter ice fishing access road to Lake of the Woods in a Residential Development Zoning District (R1). Lake of the Woods is a General Development Lake.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the following Conditional Use Permit/Findings of Fact to allow a commercial use consisting of a private winter ice fishing access road to Lake of the Woods in a Residential Development Zoning District (R1) with the following conditions:

1.) The Conditional Use Permit expires upon sale or transfer of the property, except if sold or transferred to the designated agent, as identified in application #23-17CU.

2.) No parking or storage of vehicles, ice fishing equipment, or any other related items pertaining to the project proposal shall occur on the property.

3.) A single four (4) foot x eight (8) foot sign is allowed, and it must state that this is a private road only. It is not for public access. The sign shall be seasonal and is allowed to be placed on the property from December 1-April 30.

4.) No parking or storage is allowed on County Road 4.

5.) Must be in compliance with Solid Waste.

Recess A brief recess took place at 10:05a.m. and reconvened at 10:10a.m.

Closed Session-Union Negotiations Resolution

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

Closed Session-Union Negotiation

RESOLUTION NO. 23-10-01

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, Minn. Stat. § 13D.03, subd. 1 states that:

“The governing body of a public employer may by a majority vote in a public meeting decide to hold a closed meeting to consider strategy for labor negotiations, including negotiation strategies or developments or discussions and review of labor negotiation proposals, conducted pursuant to sections 179A.01 to 179A.25.”

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners shall hold a closed meeting on October 10th, 2023 at 10:15 AM to consider strategy for labor negotiations. The closed session shall be held at the Lake of the Woods County Courthouse, Commissioners’ Room, 206 8th Ave. SE, Suite 234, Baudette Minnesota 56623; and

BE IT RESOLVED by the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners as follows:

The Board of Commissioners hereby closes this meeting pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13D.03, subd. 1 to consider strategy for labor negotiations including negotiation strategies or developments or discussion and review of Labor negotiation proposals, conducted pursuant to sections 179A.01 to 179A.25.

This closed session shall be tape recorded at the expense of the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners and said recording shall be preserved for two years after the contract is signed and shall bemade available to the public after all labor contracts are signed by the governing body for the current budget period.

Motion to Close/Open Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to close the closed session Union Negotiations MN Statute 13D.03, Sub 1 and open the regular meeting.

Set Work Session Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to set a work session for the Sheriff’s Office on October 24, 2023 following the regular board meeting.

Approval of Step Increases for Highway and Solid Waste Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following step increases for Highway and Solid Waste:

Cody Nelson-Grade 12, Step 2, $23.97 per hour (1 Step Increase)

Curt Ferrier- Grade 12, Step 3, $24.47 per hour (1 Step Increase)

Corey Olson-Grade 12, Step 2, $23.97 per hour (1 Step Increase)

Grant Stebakken- Grade 12, Step 2, $23.97 per hour (1 Step Increase)

Kraig Stokke- Grade 12, Step 3, $24.47 per hour (2 Step Increase)

Greg Ganje- Grade 12, Step 2, $23.97 per hour (1 Step Increase)

Adjourn Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:40 a.m.

Attest: October 10, 2023

______________________________ _________________________________

County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson Chair Ed Arnesen