Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve. Chair Sve led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Unless otherwise stated, all actions have been approved by unanimous yea vote. Lake County Board members present in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota: District 1 Commissioner Joe Baltich, District 2 Commissioner Derrick “Rick” L. Goutermont, District 3 Commissioner Richard “Rick” C. Hogenson, and District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Board member absent: District 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd. Also present: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, County Auditor Linda Libal, Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: Hurd
Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made.
Beverly Sidlo-Tolliver, Principal Planner for ARDC Planning, a division of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC), updated County Commissioners on the work of the Arrowhead Regional Transportation Coordinating Council (Arrowhead RTCC) to improve access, availability, and options for transportation services in Northeastern Minnesota through improved communication, coordination, and collaboration. The Arrowhead RTCC strives to support planning and management activities and projects for improving coordination among public transportation and other transportation service providers. RTCC is not a transportation provider. Ms. Sidlo-Tolliver clarified that Arrowhead RTCC is not Arrowhead Transit, which is a branch of the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). Arrowhead RTCC is one of several RTCCs across Minnesota. Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services were discussed. She discussed the federal transit law, as amended, the FAST Act. RTCC addresses gaps and needs in mobility management, regional transit planning, and transit infrastructure improvement. She informed County Commissioners about the goMARTI self-driving shuttle pilot in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, an autonomous vehicle pilot in Northern Minnesota. These shuttles are staffed with people who accompany riders. She discussed a web transportation provider finder tool and reviewed transportation service definitions. She provided information about the Arrowhead Regional Transportation Health Care Access Subcommittee, a Volunteer Driver Coalition, and the Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2023. Visit gomarti.com, volunteerdrivermn.org and arrowheadrtcc. org to learn more about these programs.
Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business. Lake County Auditor Linda Liba and Lake County Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy provided updates for their respective departments.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of October 22, 2024.
2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts:
a. Administrative Payments $ 28,872.75
b. Region III Payments $ 417,083.02
c. Special Payments $ 5,000.00
3. Approve an increase of the total contract cost of IEA Safety to a cost not to exceed $55,000, an increase of $15,000.
4. Approve the repurchase request of New Direction IRA for benefit of Robert Thomas Stauber IRA.
5. Authorize payment not to exceed the amount of $10,000 to NuSpire (Invoice dated 8/18/2024) for Managed Gateway Services – Firewall annual maintenance and support renewal (past-due). The attached quote extends the renewal date to August 18th, 2025.
6. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-24-029r, submitted by Two Harbors Hideaways LLC at 1240 Lindgren Road, Two Harbors MN 55616.
7. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-24-030r, submitted by Judy Linman at 6637 Leskinen Road, Finland MN 55603.
8. Adopt findings and conditions by the Environmental Service Department for Interim Use Application I-24-031r, submitted by Chad Linden at 289 Sawmill Lake Road, Two Harbors MN 55616.
9. Authorize the County Board Chair to sign the 2022 Operation Stonegarden Grant Agreement.
10. Authorize the Board Chair, Highway Engineer, Auditor and Attorney to sign a Cooperative Agreement with St. Louis County to bid, award, and contract for pavement marking maintenance projects on Lake County State Aid highways and make payment to St. Louis County of $1,000.00 for administration fees plus the value of the contract for work on Lake County highways.
11. Authorize the Board Chair, Highway Engineer, Auditor and Attorney to sign a Cooperative Agreement with St. Louis County to bid, award, and contract for pavement marking maintenance projects on Lake County non-State Aid roads and town roads and make payment to St. Louis County of $500.00 for administration fees plus the value of the contract for work on Lake County roads.
12. Authorize Highway Department payment to Nuss Truck and Equipment at a cost not to exceed $7,006.04 for a 2017 Mack Truck, unit #4160. The original estimate for $5,986.26 was approved on 10/22/2024.
13. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Cooperative Light and Power utility permit for an underground electric line from a power pole east of the Two Harbors airport driveway to a bore location 150’ east and parallel to Airport Road.
14. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Cooperative Light and Power utility permit for an overhead electric line from an existing power pole on the north side of Hefflefinger Road to a proposed pole located 48’ from center line on the south side of Hefflefinger Road.
15. Approve Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Committee recommendation for requiring a PLA on Highway Department Project SAP 038-631- 001, Lindstrom Creek Culvert Replacement on CSAH 31, Lax Lake Road.
16. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Special Event Permit for Julebyen Christmas Village in Knife River, scheduled for December 7 & 8, 2024, located in Knife River, and requiring road closures, lane closures, and flagger-controlled traffic in around Knife River, including Scenic Drive (CSAH 61).
17. Approve the Resolution to Request Waiver of State Aid Regular Construction Fund Balance Limit.
18. Authorize Highway Department payment to Nuss Truck and Equipment at a cost not to exceed $19,321.03 for repair to unit 4090, a 2010 Mack truck.
19. Authorize payment to Kemble Inc. for invoice # 600705 in the amount of $11,000 for the chipping of the 2024 seasons brush material and wood screened from the recently processed compost pile. This produced 2500 cubic yards of wood chips.
20. Accept proposal # GN24121 dated 10/14/21 from UHL Company (low bidder) furthermore; authorize payment to UHL Company in an amount not to exceed $19,834.00.
21. Rescind the appoint of Abigail Lingwall, Human Development Center, from the North Shore Collaborative Joint Powers Board, effective August 7, 2024.
22. Approve the appoint of Meg Justison, Human Development Center, to the North Shore Collaborative Joint Powers Board, effective August 7, 2024, for a term to end December 31, 2024.
23. Approve status change of Honor Schauland from organization representative to citizen on the Lake County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, effective September 10, 2024, for a term to expire December 31, 2024.
24. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair and Lake County Health and Human Services Director to sign the Minnesota Department of Human Services County Grant Contract #GK304 (GRK258783) for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, for Children’s Mental Health Screenings. Further authorize the Board Chair and Health and Human Services Director to sign any subsequent amendments or grant award letters through the term of this grant.
25. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with Accend Services, Inc., to provide Adult Mental Health Targeted Case Management Services for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
26. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with the Lake County Developmental Achievement Center for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $18,500.00.
27. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with the Human Development Center to provide Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) Supported Employment Services for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00.
28. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with the Human Development Center for Employment and Training Services for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $41,600.00.
29. Approve and authorize financial assistance for the Two Harbors Area Food Shelf in the amount of $10,000.00 for calendar year 2025.
30. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with Northshore Area Partners to provide footcare services to Lake County citizens age 60+ for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $4,500.00. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 03 – Approve the probationary appointment of Joshua Krafka to Sign Maintenance Worker at the Step 2 rate of $23.59 per hour effective November 13, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND HOGENSON: 04 – Approve the change in employee status of Roger Schreffler, Highway Maintenance Coordinator, due to completion of trial period effective November 17, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 05 – Approve the change in employee status of Eric Warnecke, Lead Mechanic, due to completion of trial period effective November 19, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 06 – Approve the change in employee status of Colleen Wallin, Environmental Services Professional, due to completion of probation period effective November 16, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 07 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:31 p.m. Absent: Hurd
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings:
• Committee of the Whole, at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Lake County Highway Department Headquarters, 1513 Highway 2, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, in the Lake County Service Center, SRRR, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
ATTEST:
Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
