Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners Proceedings

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

Election of Chair and Vice Chair  County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson called for nominations for Chair for Lake of the Woods County Board for the year 2025. Commissioner Buck Nordlof nominated Commissioner Joe Grund for Chair with Commissioner Ed Arnesen seconding the nomination. County Auditor/Treasurer called for nominations two more times.

Chair Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to close the nominations for Chair. County Auditor/Treasurer, Lorene Hanson called for a roll call for Commissioner Joe Grund for Chair.  Roll call carried as follows: All in favor: Commissioners: Jon Waibel, Joe Grund, Cody Hasbargen, Ed Arnesen, and Buck Nordlof.  Against: None.  Commissioner Joe Grund assumed the position of Chair of the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners for 2026.

Vice – Chair Chair Joe Grund called for nominations for the position of Vice-Chair for the year 2026.  Commissioner Jon Waibel nominated Commissioner Buck Nordlof for Vice-Chair for Lake of the Woods County Board with Commissioner Cody Hasbargen seconding the nomination. Chair Joe Grund called for nominations two more times.  Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to close the nominations for Vice-Chair. Chair Joe Grund called for a roll call for Commissioner Buck Nordlof for Vice-Chair.  Roll call carried as follows: All in favor: Commissioners, Jon Waibel, Joe Grund, Cody Hasbargen, Ed Arnesen, and Buck Nordlof.  Against: None. Commissioner Buck Nordlof assumed the position of Vice-Chair of the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners for 2026.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to authorize County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson, Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Connie Nesmith and Chair Joe Grund to sign the National Bank of Commerce signature cards for account numbers 6443,6484,3846,8645.

National Bank of Commerce  Signature Cards Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to authorize County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson and Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Connie Nesmith to sign the National Bank of Commerce signature card for account number 8645 and investments.

Border Bank Signature Cards Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to authorize County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson and Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Connie Nesmith to sign the Border Bank signature card for account number 2404.

National Bank of Commerce Motor Vehicle Checking Account Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to authorize County Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson, Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Erik Tange, Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Anna Sanchez, Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Connie Nesmith and Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Chelsea Anderson for account number 6450.

Official Depositories Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to designate the following institutions as Official Depositories of county funds for the year 2026:

Elected Officials – Minimum Salaries

WHEREAS, M.S. 388.18, Subd. 2, (County Attorney), M.S. 386.015, Subd. 2b, (County Recorder), and M.S. 387.20, Subd. 2b, (County Sheriff), requires the County Board, at the January meeting prior to the first date on which applicants may file for County elective offices, to establish minimum annual salaries to be paid to the respective office holders at the term next following; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following statutory minimum annual salaries are hereby established for county elective offices for the term beginning in January of the year 2026:

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously by roll call to close the Ditch Authority meeting and reconvene the regular meeting.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the recommendations of the Ditch Authority to set the 2026 Ditch Assessments as follows: County Ditch 1-$22,800; County Ditch 2-$882.40, Judicial Ditch 16 Outlet Fee- $8,500; Judicial Ditch 24- $16,000; Judicial Ditch 26- $24,000; Judicial Ditch 28-$50,000; Judicial Ditch 22-Joint Ditch with Roseau-$4,800; Joint Ditch 62 with Roseau-$16,900.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to set a work session for ditches on February 24,2026 following the board meeting.

Set County Road Tour Date Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously by roll call to set the county road tour date and the annual ditch meeting date for October 21, 2026 prior to the Joint Ditch Meeting.

WHEREAS, the policy of the State of Minnesota as declared in Minnesota Statutes 353.63 is to give special consideration to employees who perform hazardous work and devote their time and skills to protecting the property and personal safety of others; and WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes Section 353.64 permits governmental subdivisions to request coverage in the Public Employees Police and Fire plan for eligible employees of police departments whose position duties meet the requirements stated therein and listed below.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Commissioners of Lake of the Woods County hereby declare that the position titled Part Time Deputy Sheriff, currently held by Wyatt Shaw meets all of the following Police and Fire membership requirements:Said position requires a license by the Minnesota peace officer standards and training board under sections 626.84 to 626.863 and this employee is so licensed;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this governing body hereby requests that the above-named employee be accepted as a member of the Public Employees Police and Fire Plan effective the date of this employee’s initial Police and Fire salary deduction by the governmental subdivision.

Add to Agenda Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to add Set Work Session to the agenda.

Set Work Session Motion was made by Commission Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to set a work session for maintenance for January 13, 2026 following the regular board meeting. 

Permission to Hire Training Help Motion Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried with Commissioner Cody Hasbargen opposing to approve the request to hire Rita Hasbargen to assist with additional training in the Auditors Office at $40.00 per hour effective 01/06/2026.

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, Minn. Stat. § 13D.05, subd. 3(b) states that “meetings may be closed if the closure is expressly authorized by statute or permitted by the attorney-client privilege”; and

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County entered into a Settlement Agreement (“Agreement”) in the Matter of Hibbing Taconite Mine and Stockpile Progression and Williams Creek Project Specific Wetland Mitigation, which Agreement was dated October 6, 2015 (OAH Docket No. 11-2004-31655); and WHEREAS, the Agreement resolved issues prior to litigation; and  WHEREAS, parties to the Agreement, are seeking to modify certain terms and conditions of the Agreement; and WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Board seeks to meet with its attorney, to discuss the modification of the agreement; and WHEREAS, it would be detrimental to the interests of the Lake of the Woods County Board to hold a public discussion with its attorney regarding the strengths and weaknesses of its legal position(s), strategy, and potential settlement position regarding the requested modifications, where an opposing party or opposing attorney could listen to or be made aware of Lake of the Woods County’s positions; and WHEREAS, there is an absolute need for the Lake of the Woods County Board to obtain confidential legal advice regarding the potential settlement modifications in order to maintain the attorney-client privilege. BE IT RESOLVED by the Lake of the Woods County Board as follows:

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to close the closed session and open the regular meeting.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the amended agreement between Lake of the Woods County and Cliffs Natural Resources and for Chair Joe Grund to sign the same.

ADJOURN Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously by roll call to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 a.m.