REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 9:30 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Pavleck, Sjoblom, Adee, and Murray MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Skoe

000 The County Board approved the agenda, approved the minutes from the March 8, 2022 regular meeting,

approved Courthouse claims in the amount of $70,822.19, approved Highway claims in the amount of $85,160.91, approved

a Burial claim in the amount of $1,400, and approved Public Health and Human Service warrant voids totaling

$1,096.38 Motions carried unanimously.

000 The Board received notice of hires: Two (2) part-time E-911 Dispatcher/Correction Officers and one (1) full-time

E-911 Dispatcher/Correction Officer.

2022/03-17 Motion by Sjoblom, seconded by Murray that during County Administration Director, Jenny Herman's

leave to approve Betsy Zaren, County Administrative Assistant stepping up to ensure critical work is being done with

additional compensation. Janelle Peterson Human Resource Generalist will temporarily step up to ensure critical work

is being done with additional compensation to be determined by the Personnel Committee; and further that Teresa

Briggs, former County Administration Director will assist Betsy Zaren as a temporary hire.

Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-18 Motion by Adee, seconded by Murray to appoint Jody Reller to the University of Minnesota Extension

Committee for a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023. Motion carried unanimously.

000 Bob Ewald approached the Board and expressed his concern over setting up a special taxing district for the

International Falls Ambulance Service. He is thoroughly opposed to it.

000 Commissioner Pavleck responded that before we sign anything or start doing anything we decided to have a

meeting. Out of that meeting came an agreement that we would have equal representation there with two from

International Falls, Ranier, and Koochiching County, and St. Louis County to be determined. If that group goes forward

and all agree that would be the body that would steer how we move forward with the ambulance district.

2022/03-19 Motion by Adee, seconded by Murray to appoint Commissioners Murray and Sjoblom to a Steering

Committee for the International Falls Ambulance SpecialTaxing District and to adopt the resolution allowing the

appointed Koochiching County Commissioners to meet: NOW THEREFOREB, E IT RESOLVEDth, at the Commissioners,

County of Koochiching, Minnesota, hereby agrees to participate in a Steering Committee and appoints Terry Murray

and Jason Sjoblom to such Steering Committee. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-20 Motion by Murray, seconded by Adee approving the request by KTI to be the host site for a temporary

one-year position that will be focused on expanding broadband access to

underserved locations and advancing technology availability. This position is fully funded through AmeriCorps Lead

For America program. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-21 Motion by Murray, seconded by Sjoblom authorizing the Sheriff's Office to raise the Jury Bailiff temporary

position from $13 to $18 an hour. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-22 Motion by Adee, seconded by Murray approving the 2020 Stonegarden Grant with an amount of

$165,000 and effective dates of 09/01/2020 through 08/31/2023. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-24 Motion by Murray, seconded by Sjoblom approving the donation of outdated PC equipment to KEDA for

the joint effort with KOOTASCAfo r local tax preparation assistance to the underserved in Koochiching County. Motion

carried unanimously.

2022/03-25 Motion by Murray, seconded by Adee to approve the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant language and

to authorize Tom West's signature on the grant. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-26 Motion by Adee, seconded by Sjoblom to approve the temporary hire of Bob Peterson, former Koochiching

County Auditor/Treasurer to address election year staffing. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-27 Motion by Adee, seconded by Sjoblom to approve the preparation of an RFPa, dvertisement, review bids,

and prepare contracts for the replacement of Lee Hervey with Voyageur Communications for the maintenance of the

TV towers providing free TV service to Koochiching County residents. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-28 Motion by Adee, seconded by Murray authorizing the Highway Department to advertise for the vacant

Permanent Part-time laborer position(s). Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-29 Motion by Murray, seconded by Adee authorizing the Environmental Services Director (ESD) to enter into

a staffing agreement with Always There Staffing, Inc. to provide DNR trained AIS Watercraft inspectors for 2022 to

help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-30 Motion by Murray, seconded by Adee authorizing the Environmental Services Director (ESD) to enter into

an agreement with North St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to help prevent the spread of

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) at sites on Lake Kabetogama and Ash River. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-31 Motion by Adee, seconded by Murray to support Clay County's resolution No. 2021-56 affirming the State

utilize all Solid Waste Management Tax Revenue for increase

SCORE grants to Koochiching County. Koochiching County affirms its support for Clay County

Board Resolution No. 2021-56 requesting the state legislature to appropriate all Solid Waste Management Tax revenue

to increased SCORE grants to counties. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-32 Motion by Sjoblom, seconded by Murray approving the Minnesota GreenCorps Host Site Resolution to

host a Minnesota GreenCorps member to help us with recycling and reuse programming within Koochiching County.

This is a program coordinated through the MPCA which places full-time GreenCorps members with host sites across

the state. Motion carried unanimously.

2022/03-33 The Environmental Services Director asked the Commissioners to consider the approval of Conditional

Use Permit (#CUP 2202) from the Rainy Lake Vacation Campground LLC. The Planning and Zoning Commission met

on February 10th and again on March 10, 2022, to hold a public hearing on the conditional use permit application

submitted by Cole Hraban, Rainy Lake Vacation Campground LLC. The applicants are requesting approval of a

conditional use permit in order to expand the existing 30-unit RV Campground. After receiving public comment, the

planning and zoning commission made the recommendation to approve the conditional use permit allowing the

campground expansion for 17 additional RV sites as proposed.

It was decided April 19th at 9:30 a.m. the commissioners will meet at Rainy Lake Vacation Campground to do a site

inspection, and this will come back to the Board April 26th.

The meeting adjourned at 12:33 p.m.

A full copy of the minutes is available on the County website at www.co.koochiching.mn.us and for public inspection

at the County Administration Office during regular business hours