Lake of the Woods County Board Commissioners Meeting Proceedings

                                                               July 14, 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, July 14th,2026 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

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, and Jon Waibel. Absent: Commissioner Buck Nordlof. Also present was County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: add open enrollment/Integrity.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of June 23, 2026.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $3,223.74; Commissioners Warrants $13,270.81; Commissioners Warrants $21,868.51.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $109,665.25; Road & Bridge $320,179.11; County Development $3,975.00; Joint Ditch $52,817.14; Solid Waste $52,780.03; and EDA $1,424.11.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 7/14/2026 For Payment 7/17/2026

Vendor NameAndy's Garage, Inc.Auto Value BaudetteBaudette/City OfBraun Intertec CorporationCo-Op Services, Inc.Contech Engineered Solutions LLCCounties Providing TechnologyElection Systems & Software, IncEmergency Services Marketing Corp.,IncFarmers Union Oil companyKC TECH LLCKnife River CorporationLady Lakers Volleyball AssociationLavalla Sand & Gravel IncLaw Offices Of Patrick D. MorenLOW Highway DeptLOW Marine, IncLOW School District--390LW County FairMar-Kit LandfillMarco Technologies LLC Metal Culverts, Inc. North Leaf Auto Body Northdale Oil Inc.Northern Light RegionPowerplanR & Q Trucking, IncRainy River Refrigeration LLCSeaChange Print Innovations Titan Machinery - RoseauTrue North Equipment CoUniversity Of MnWalker Pipe & Supply 58 Payments less than  2000Final Total: | Amount 2,926.29 3,234.92 7,400.00 6,845.00 4,271.01               29,780.80                 4,583.00 5,191.81 4,379.01 3,784.13 2,925.00               232,744.61                    2,981.25                 7,450.92                12,625.66 16,729.82               12,777.29                3,000.00                                   3,000.00                                 21,963.85                                   2,764.75             14,916.50               3,333.54                                   6,921.17                                   2,607.00                                   4,442.40             13,152.00               6,263.38                                   5,379.76                                 34,000.00                                   3,699.00                                 19,312.50                                   3,560.00                 31,894.27                540,840.64 |  

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: June 24th for $71,937.22; June 26th for $29,379.57; July 8th $155,781.17; July 9th $2,580.50; July 10th ($70.40); July 10th ($581.52); July 10th 952,048.56.

County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson met with the County Board to approve election judges, to set up UOCAVA, Mail and Absentee Ballot Boards, for the appointment of the Canvassing Board and to request a pay increase for the election judges; all for the 2026-2027 primary and general elections.

 Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following election judges for the 2026-2027 Election cycles: Christie Russell, Sandy Peterson, Cassie Brune, Shelley Pepera, Rita Krause, Margie Sporlein, Dale Boretski, Dawn Christianson, John Carroll, Alisa Jacobsen, Heather Larson, Barb Larson, Greg Kramer, Roy Sandstrom, Mary Jo Otten, Jaime Boretski-Lavalla, Mike Rasmussen, Marti Carlson, Jon Hanson, Lester Boomgaarden, Julie Berggren, Andrew Carlson, Connie Nesmith, Anna Sanchez, Chelsea Anderson, Erik Tange and Lorene Hanson.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to appoint the above-named Election Judges to the UOCAVA, Absentee and Mail Ballot Boards for the 2026-2027 State Primary and General Elections.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the hourly pay for election judges as follows: head election judges at $22.00 per hour and election judges at $21.00 per hour, effective with the 2026 elections.

County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson met with the County Board to request approval to appoint two Commissioners to the 2026 Canvassing Board.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to appoint Commissioners Cody Hasbargen and Jon Waibel to the Canvassing Board for the 2026 State Primary and General Elections.

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel  and carried unanimously to approve the following:

WHEREAS; the Lake of the Woods Youth Hockey Association has submitted a Minnesota Lawful Gambling LG220 Application for Exempt Permit Gambling to be conducted at the following establishment, which is located in Lake of the Woods County: Lake of the Woods International Arena 5 drawings between November 2026 and March 2027

Lake of the Woods International Arena 234 15th Ave SW, Baudette, MN 56623

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners hereby approves said application for submission to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the cigarette license application for The Mercantile LLC effective July 1st, 2026.

Human Resource Director Savanna Slick brought to the board the request to change Val Canfield’s title to case aid.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to change the job title for Val Canfield to Case Aid to grade 10, step 3, $25.64, 240 points effective July 19, 2026.

County Board discussed briefly an adjustment for IT Director. It was the consensus to continue this discussion in the IT work session previously scheduled following this meeting.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve online open enrollment with Integrity Benefits.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve and the Agreement for removal of structure known as “Tobin Fish House” and make payment to Jon and James Meikle in the sum of $12,500 following satisfactory proof of removal of said Tobin Fish House within 60 days from date of this agreement.

Board discussed the documents presented for the Road Vacation Petition from Michael Anderson and Michael D Anderson Trust but deemed the petition incomplete at this time. Petition was sent back to the petitioner to complete the signatures requirement. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of a LowBoy Trailer for the Highway Department from Kaufman Trades for the amount of $71,255 plus delivery fees.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve to lease a Sany motor grader for the Highway Department for 3 months for $6,000 from Lano Equipment, Inc in Loretto, MN.

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of a new bailer for the Solid Waste Department in the amount of $130,000 from Apex Equipment.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the final payment of SAP 039-629-001 for Red Lake Builders of Blackduck in the total amount of $3,527,537.75 and hereby authorize final payment of $198,535.64.

 Ditch Authority

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting and open ditch authority.

Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to close the Ditch Authority meeting and reconvene the regular meeting.

Met with the County Board to discuss the minimum maintenance road leading to his property. The County Board asked County Public Work Director AJ Pirkl to visit the site and report back to the board.

A .78-acre tract in Government Lot 1, Section Twelve (12), Township One Hundred Sixty-one (161) North, Range Thirty-two (32) West-Parcel ID #23.12.14.040. Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to allow the movement of more than ten (10) yards of material within the shore impact zone of the Rainy River to re-slope the bank to minimize sloughing and future erosion. The Rainy River is an Agricultural River Segment.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to approve the following Conditional Use Permit/Findings of Fact by Geoffrey and Allison Slick to move more than ten (10) yards of material withing the shore impact zone of the Rainy River to re-slope the bank to minimize sloughing and future erosion. The Rainy River is an Agricultural River Segment.

Name of Applicant:  Geoffrey and Allison Slick                                           Date:  July 14, 2026

 Location/Legal Description:  A .78-acre tract in Government Lot 1, Section Twelve (12), Township One Hundred Sixty-one (161) North, Range Thirty-two (32) West                                                                                      Parcel Number: 23.12.14.040

Project Proposal:  Applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to allow the movement of more than ten (10) yards of material within the shore impact zone of the Rainy River to re-slope the bank to minimize sloughing and future erosion. The Rainy River is an Agricultural River Segment.

1)  Is the project proposal consistent with the Lake of the Woods County Comprehensive Land Use Plan?                                                                                                                                               YES (X) NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Better access to public waters and will stabilize shoreline.

2)  Is the project proposal consistent with maintaining the public health, safety, and welfare?

Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________

3)    Is the project proposal consistent with the goal of preventing and controlling water pollution, including sedimentation and nutrient loading?                                                                                             YES (X) NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  Will provide some level of prevention of sedimentation loading which prevents water pollution.

4)    Will the project proposal not adversely affect the site’s existing topography, drainage features, and vegetative cover?                                                                                                             YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  The adverse effects are to correct an issue to prevent further erosion and correct the problem.

5)    Is the project proposal’s site location reasonable in relation to any floodplain and/or floodway of rivers or tributaries?                      YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  A small portion of the project may be in the floodplain of the Rainy River. 

6)    Has the erosion potential of the site based upon the degree and direction of slope, soil type and existing vegetative cover been adequately addressed for the project proposal?    YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

Why or why not?  The site does slope to the Rainy River and needs reshaping and re-sloping. Proper erosion control is to be implemented.

      

7)    Is the site in harmony with existing and proposed access roads?                        YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not?_____________________________________________________________________

8)    Is the project proposal compatible with adjacent land uses?                               YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (  )

      Why or why not?  No change.

9)  Does the project proposal have a reasonable need to be in a shoreland location?            

Why or why not?  The project location is within the shoreland area of the Rainy River.

10)    Is the amount of liquid waste to be generated reasonable and the proposed sewage disposal system adequate to accommodate the project proposal?                                                                                                        YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

      Why or why not?_____________________________________________________________________

11)   Will the visibility of structures and other facilities as viewed from public waters comply with Section 901 of the Zoning Ordinance?                                                                                                                     YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

      Why or why not?  There will be no change.

12)   Is the site adequate for water supply and on-site sewage treatment systems?     YES (X)  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? A well does exist on the property and a new septic system was installed last year.

13)    Are the affected public waters suited to and able to safely accommodate the types, uses, and numbers of watercraft that the project proposal will generate?                                                                                                 YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________

14)    If the project proposal includes above ground or below ground storage tanks for petroleum or other hazardous material that is subject to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requirements, has a permit been sought?        YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________

15)    Will there be fencing and/or other screening provided to buffer the project proposal from adjacent properties?    

Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________

16)    If signage is associated with the project proposal, has the applicant demonstrated the need for the number and size requested, and minimized the visual appearance as viewed from adjacent properties to the extent possible?              YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________

17)    If the project proposal will generate additional traffic to or from the site, has the applicant adequately demonstrated how the additional traffic and parking is to be addressed?                                                                  YES (  )  NO (  )  N/A (X)

Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________

The answers to the questions above, together with the facts supporting the answers and those other facts that exist in the record, are hereby certified to be the Findings of the County Board of Commissioners.

The specific reasons for denial or conditions of approval are as follows:

                  July 14, 2026                                             _____________________________________

                        Date                                                                             Joe Grund

                                                                                                        Chair, County Board

Representative Duran and Senator Green updated the board on current legislative projects that have recently passed as well as ones that might affect the County in the next session. Some of the topics discussed included: Jail Facilities, landfill MPCA rules, Family Leave, drainage, SWCD Funding, and PILT Payments.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 a.m.

Attest:                                                                         July 28, 2026

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