OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Tuesday, December 3, 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 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd, and District 5 Commis­sioner Rich Sve. Board member absent: District 3 Commissioner Richard “Rick” C. Hogenson. Also present: County Adminis­trator Matthew Huddleston, County Auditor Linda Libal, County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy, Information Technology (I.T.) Di­rector Dan Lackore, County Veterans Ser­vice Officer (CVSO) Brad Anderson and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: Ho­genson

Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made.

Library directors for the two Lake County libraries were present to provide 2024 Li­brary Updates. Madeline Jarvis is the Di­rector for the Two Harbors Public Library, and Shannon Walz is the director for the Silver Bay Public Library. Our libraries are part of the Arrowhead Library System (ALS). Library directors thanked the Lake County Board of Commissioners for its support. Director Jarvis provided statistics regarding circulation and programming, provided accessibility updates, and dis­cussed upcoming strategic initiatives. Director Walz discussed similar topics and provided an update on the Silver Bay Public Library building renovation and expansion. The library had moved to a temporary location in the Mary MacDonald Center for two months and moved back to the Silver Bay Public Library location after renovations were completed. The Silver Bay Public Library re-opened in the newly updated space on December 2, 2024. Di­rector Walz invited everyone to the official Grand Re-Opening event to take place on Friday, December 13, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM to celebrate the success of this project.

Lake County Information Technology (I.T.) Director Dan Lackore discussed a poten­tial change to transition from our current transport services provider to another transport services provider for connectivity between Lake County buildings. Director Lackore provided a comparison of provider costs and reviewed a proposed four-year agreement, including a sample service or­der agreement. Service level and respon­sivity to customer needs are factors that are being considered.

Board Chairperson Rich Sve called for a recess at 2:27 PM. The County Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 2:29 PM with all members present, ex­cept for Commissioner Hogenson.

Lake County Environmental Services Department Director Christine McCarthy introduced the topic of renewing the con­tract with the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention. Lake SWCD AIS Program Coordinator & Wa­ter Resources Technician Liz Anderson virtually joined the meeting. Ms. Anderson provided updates on AIS projects, rusty crayfish, watercraft inspections, grant coordination, early detection surveys and monitoring, education and outreach events. Director McCarthy explained changes to the contract that is funded by grant aid provided by the State of Minne­sota. Grant dollars that counties receive from the State of Minnesota to support AIS prevention programs is based on the number of public boat ramps and trailer parking spaces. The new contract is a two-year contract for calendar years 2025 and 2026. Ms. Anderson discussed infor­mation that is available on the web site lakecountyais.org. Annual metrics will be sent to the Minnesota Department of Natu­ral Resources (DNR), will be posted on the web site and will be shared with the County Commissioners.

Lake County Administrator Matthew Hud­dleston provided an update on several items of county business. Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler provided an update for his department.

Lake County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Brad Anderson provided com­ments regarding the proposed resolution for providing matching funds to the Lake County Veterans Memorial Association, Inc. (LCVMA). CVSO Anderson recom­mends that the County and the LCVMA en­ter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) documenting procedural require­ments such as how to request payments for authorized uses of funds, processing requests, and making payments. LCVMA members Gordy Anderson and Keith Lar­son were present for the discussion.

Keri Cavitt, Regional Director Northeast Region, for the University of Minneso­ta-Extension was present in case there were any questions on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that is on for board action and signature today. Director Cavitt thanked the Lake County Board of Com­missioners for its support of Extension’s work within the county. Ms. Cavitt spoke briefly about the work of the Lake County Extension Committee (CEC).

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BAL­TICH: 02 – Authorize financial contribu­tion in the amount of $250.00 to the Two Harbors Area Recreational Trails Alliance (a non-profit club) towards preparation of its vision plan for trail development in the area. Absent: Hogenson

MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTER­MONT: 03 – Approve Consent Agenda as follows:

1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of Novem­ber 26, 2024.
2. Approve the Agreement between the Regents of the University of Minnesota and Lake County, Min­nesota, for providing Extension programs locally and employing Extension staff, effective January 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2027.
3. Approve the Proclamation desig­nating January 2025 as “Human Trafficking Awareness Month”.
4. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair and Health and Human Services Director to sign the Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis Community Health Board Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Agreement and Tem­porary Aid for Needy Families Memorandum of Understanding for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2029. Fur­ther authorize the Lake County Board Chair and Health and Hu­man Services Director to sign any subsequent amendments during the term of this grant period.
5. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Memoran­dum of Agreement with Community Partners to provide community support services for Lake County citizens age 60+ for the period of January 1, 2025, through Decem­ber 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $27,560.00.
6. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Memoran­dum of Agreement with Northshore Area Partners to provide communi­ty support services for Lake County citizens age 60+ for the period of January 1, 2025, through Decem­ber 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $44,500.00.
7. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with the Human Development Center to provide Community Mental Health Services for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $80,000.00.
8. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Pur­chase of Service Agreement with the Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment for chemical health ser­vices the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $16,000.00.
9. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Pur­chase of Service Agreement with Kartta Group, LLC, for the period of January 1, 2025, through Decem­ber 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00.
10. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Memoran­dum of Agreement between Lake County and First Witness Child Advocacy Center for Safe and Strong Child© and Safe and Strong Communities programming, and Forensic Interview and Coordina­tion Services for the period of Jan­uary 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in a total amount not to exceed $11,550.00.
11. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement between Lake County and Kayla Diercks, MA, BCBA, LLC, for training and con­sultation services for the period of January 1, 2025, through Decem­ber 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $10,560.00.
12. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement between Lake County and Up North Therapy to provide mental health services to Lake County residents for the pe­riod of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $8,000.00.
13. Approve and authorize Lisa B. Han­son, Health and Human Services Director, to sign all award letters, grant agreements, and amend­ments for state and federal grant funds that flow through the Com­munity Health Board (CHB), for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
14. Authorize payment to Information Systems Corporation (ISC) for 2025 Application Xtender in the amount of $24,835.00 (Invoice Number M31080).
15. Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign the contract agree­ment between Lake County and the Lake County Soil and Water Con­servation District (SWCD) to pro­vide Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention services for the period January 1, 2025, through Decem­ber 31, 2026. Absent: Hogenson

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BAL­TICH: 04 – Adopt resolution pledging fi­nancial assistance from the County of Lake (the “County”), not to exceed $250,000.00, to be provided as matching funds to Lake County Veterans Memorial Association, Inc (the “Association”). This pledge to pro­vide matching funds is retroactive to assist with funds that Lake County Veterans Me­morial Association, Inc. has already raised. Further matching funds payments may be made after the Association provides corre­spondence documenting dollar amounts raised through fundraising opportunities and/or grants from other organizations. Such correspondence may be submitted to the County on a regular basis. Match­ing funds payments may be provided on a quarterly basis until the $250,000 thresh­old is reached. Quarterly time periods are defined as follows: First Quarter is January through March; Second Quarter is April through June; Third Quarter is July through September; and Fourth Quarter is October through December. Further resolved, the County and the Association will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) doc­umenting procedures and authorized uses of funds. The County Veterans Services Officer and County Administrator are au­thorized to prepare and execute the MOA which must be signed before the County issues payment(s). Absent: Hogenson

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:52 p.m. Absent: Hogenson

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

• 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