OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Tuesday, November 26, 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, District 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd, and District 5 Commis­sioner Rich Sve. Board member absent: None. Also present: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, County Auditor Linda Libal, County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: None

Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. Dan Cruikshank spoke about the Two Har­bors Area Recreational Trails Alliance (a non-profit club) and its vision for trail devel­opment in the area, including construction plans for a parking lot and a pavilion. The Errki Harju Ski Trail has teamed up with the Bigfoot Trail and local biking enthusiasts to join an alliance. The club’s vision is to cre­ate an improved network of trails for skiing, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and enjoying nature. Mr. Cruikshank discussed ideas for new bike trails. Local board mem­bers will be raising funds to create a vision and a plan for future trail development. The board will also work on trail maintenance and volunteer coordination. The club has received a proposal for preparing a vision plan, in the amount of $5,000. Two other entities are contributing $4,500 and $250. The alliance is requesting a donation from Lake County in the amount of $250 toward this vision plan. There was a brief discus­sion regarding land ownership and lands that the Lake County Agricultural Society owns. Land Commissioner Nate Eide was present for public comments and spoke in support of the alliance’s vision.

Lake County Administrator Matthew Hud­dleston provided an update on several items of county business.

Lake County Auditor Linda Libal and Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler provided updates for their respective departments.

MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as follows:

1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of Novem­ber 12, 2024.

2. Approve Health and Human Ser­vices claims payments in the fol­lowing amounts:

a. Special Payments $ 117,212.67

3. Approve resolution designating Lake County Human Services Director, Lisa Hanson, to sign on Probate Account for Lake County as Personal Representative of the Estate of Deborah Frances Mc­Lean, and to perform the duties of Personal Representative, including but not limited to deposit, withdraw and sign on the account as Estate Personal Representative of the Es­tate.

4. Authorize payment to Darrel D. Johnson Excavating, Inc. for in­voice # 5920 dated 9/29/2024 in the amount of $17,625 for the in­stallation of a septic mound Septic Permit SP-23-127. The cost for this septic mound is funded by the Lake Superior North Watershed Based Funding Grant C24-0200.

5. Approve an amendment extending the deadline and modifying the project task to include hydraulic study of the 4th Street crossing of Skunk Creek in Two Harbors for the Federal SubAward and State of Minnesota Grant Contract Agree­ment with the State of Minnesota for receipt of $18,300.00 through Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Lake Su­perior Coastal Program, provided by Coastal Zone Management funding administered by the Office of Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis­tration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.

6. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Cooperative Light and Power utility permit for an under­ground electric primary 3-phase distribution duct under the right-of-way on Scenic 61 (CSAH 61), Stanley Road (CSAH 9), and Old North Shore Road (UT 101).

7. Authorize Highway Department purchase of Sno-Shock carbide cutting edges for snowplow wings and belly blades from Kris Engi­neering at a cost not to exceed $8,207.53 plus any additional deliv­ery and tax.

8. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for In­terim Use Application, I-24-032r, for Brian & Jessica Flotterud, for renewal Interim Use for a Vacation Rental Home at 3812 Hwy 3, Two Harbors, MN 55616

9. Approve Lodging Tax disbursement to Lovin Lake County in the amount of $502,692.00.

10. Approve the appointment for Lake County Extension Committee Member, appointing Sarah Mayer, 6589 Park Hill Road, Finland, Min­nesota, from Commissioner District 1. This appointment is Sarah’s first term as a member of the committee and is for a three-year term from January 1, 2025– December 31, 2027. Absent: None

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BAL­TICH: 03 – Approve a General Leave of Absence without pay for Tracy Gilsvik, Public Health Director, effective December 3 through December 30, 2024. Absent: None

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BAL­TICH: 04 – Approve the resignation of Andrew DeBeltz, Highway Maintenance Worker, effective November 7, 2024. Ab­sent: None

MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTER­MONT: 05 – Approve the filling of one full-time Highway Maintenance Worker. Absent: None

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND HOGEN­SON: 06 – Approve the 67-day temporary appointment of Kean Raygor, Snow Plow Operator for the Highway Department, at $22.50 per hour including maximum return incentive effective November 27, 2024. Absent: None

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 07 – Approve the probation­ary appointment of Nathan Hegg Raway to Dispatcher/Jailer at the Step 1 rate of $24.42 per hour effective November 27, 2024. Absent: None

MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTER­MONT: 08 – Authorize the County Admin­istrator or Board Chair to sign two letters of support requested by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) Area 2C Specialist – Parks and Trails – for grants for two Gitchi Gami State Trail (GGST) projects. The letter of support for the National Scenic Byways Program would be for GGST development from the current terminus at Superior Shores Road to Floodbay State Wayside. This would be a 0.3 mile segment, with anticipated development to include a coastal bridge crossing on the lakeward side of Lake Superior and an ADA compliant parking lot with stormwater BMPS. The letter of sup­port for the Transportation Alternative (TA) Program would be for GGST development from Steam Engine Road to a frontage road on MN-61. This would be a 0.3 mile segment. Absent: None

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 09 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 2:55 p.m. Absent: None

The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings:

• A special meeting will be convened for the purpose of considering pur­chase of counsel tables from the 2025 budget, as requested by the Minnesota Sixth Judicial District. County Commissioners will meet with representatives of the Min­nesota Sixth Judicial District for a tour of the courtroom scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, to take place in the Lake County Courthouse, 601 Third Av­enue, Two Harbors, Minnesota,

• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, to be held in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minne­sota.

• 2025 Levy and Budget Public Hear­ing on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lake County Highway Department, Highway 2 Meeting Room, 1513 Highway 2, Two Harbors, Minnesota.

• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, to be held in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minne­sota.

• Public Hearing at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, re­garding a proposed Lake County Cannabis Ordinance, to be held in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota.

ATTEST:

Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners