Lake of the Woods County Board Commissioners Meeting Proceedings

                                                               May 26, 2026

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 
website -www.lake-of-the-woods.mn.us

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 26,2026 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

 CALL TO ORDER

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

 APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: Employment offer, Closed Session, and Legislative Update.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of May 12, 2026.

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $4,403.61; Commissioners Warrants $1,835.43.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $65,764.04; Road & Bridge $130,368.23; County Development $200.00; Solid Waste $15,372.07; EDA $1,706.19.

Clay County Sheriff                                                                                                         2,713.54

Contech Engineered Solutions LLC                                                                           117,585.82

DLT Solutions, LLC                                                                                                           3,231.76

Integris LLC                                                                                                                         2,240.07

John Deere Financial                                                                                                      2,321.89

Larkin Hoffman Attorneys                                                                                            35,140.00

LOW High School Trap Team                                                                                      2,688.00

Northeast Technical Service, Inc                                                                               6,018.00

Northdale Oil Inc.                                                                                                            5,715.69

Olson Construction Bdt LLC                                                                                         5,000.00

SJF Material Handling Inc.                                                                                            3,395.28

U.S. Bank Equipment Finance                                                                                     6,268.50

35 Payments less than 2000                                                                                        21,091.98

Final Total:                                                                                                                          213,410.53

 

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: May 13th for $139,893.17; May 20th for $4,718.69.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried as follows: For: Commissioners Arnesen, Nordlof, Grund, and Waibel; Opposed: Commissioner Hasbargen, to hire Andrew Carlson at Grade 13, Step 1, 287 points beginning June 8th, 2026.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and approved unanimously to approve the counter offer as presented the Child Support Officer.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve to hire Marla Carlson at Grade 13, Step 1, 293 points with an initial 80 hours of vacation to start beginning July 1st, 2026.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to purchase a S240 John Deere lawnmower for the landfill at $3,699.00.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the JD-22 Contract with Houston Engineering for erosion repair, totaling $32,397.00 with a 1W1P grant covering $30,000.00 of the cost and remainder split between Roseau County and Lake of the Woods County.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to add ConCon Fund question brought by Emergency Management Jill Hasbargen-Olson.

Blue Ethos is conducting specialized training for personnel in the area that would provide emergency services for CHI, school staff, EMS, Law Enforcement and others. It was the consensus of the board to have Jill return to the board at a later date with an update on the total funding cost and shortage for possible support from the county with ConCon funds.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried as follows: For: Commissioners Waibel, Hasbargen, Grund, and Arnesen; Abstaining: Commissioner Nordlof, to approve $2688.00 for the School Trap Team tournament in Alexandria.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried as follows: For: Commissioners Waibel, Hasbargen, Nordlof, and Grund; Abstaining: Commissioner Arnesen, to approve the Cannabis Application for Sunset Lodge.

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and moved for adoption: 

 

            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, a labor negotiation development has arisen regarding a labor dispute between Lake of the Woods County (public employer) and Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc., Local Union No. 510 specifically regarding back pay;  and  

WHEREAS,  the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners shall hold a closed meeting on May 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM to consider the terms of a labor negotiation proposal with the union.  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:

 

1.              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.

 

2.              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 be made available to the public after all labor contracts are signed by the governing body for the current budget period.  

 

            Dated this 26th day of May, 2026.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel and seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to reopen the regular session.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 a.m.

Attest:                                                                         June 09, 2026

________________________________                    _________________________________

Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson                              Chair Joe Grund