Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ organizational meeting was held at the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota. Unless otherwise stated, all actions have been approved by unanimous yea vote. Lake County Board members present: 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(s) absent: None. Also present: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Planning Commission member John Bathke, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.
Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Madam Clerk called for nominations for Board Chairperson for 2025.
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND HURD: 01 – Elect County Commissioner Rich Sve as Lake County Board of Commissioners’ Chairperson for 2025. There were no additional nominations. Absent: None
Newly elected Board Chairperson Rich Sve called for nominations for Vice-Chair for 2025.
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 02 – Elect County Commissioner Derrick “Rick” L. Goutermont as Lake County Board of Commissioners’ Vice-Chair for 2025. There were no additional nominations. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 03 – Approval of the agenda as presented. Absent: None
Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made.
County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items for the organizational meeting. County Sheriff Nathan Stadler provided an update for his department. County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Board Chairperson Rich Sve, and County Attorney Lara Nygaard attended the Candlelight Vigil on January 6, 2025, that was organized by the Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force (LCSTTF) to honor victims of human trafficking. Sheriff Stadler and Board Chair Sve reported that this event was well attended.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 04 – Approve Consent Agenda as follows:
1. Upon County Auditor’s recommendation, designate Park State Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, UBS Financial Services, and Minnesota Association of Government Investing for Counties (M.A.G.I.C.) as depositories of Lake County funds for 2025 and authorize County Auditor and/or Deputy Auditors to sign signature cards for these accounts.
2. Approve the following signatories from the County Auditor’s office as authorized signers on the County’s checking, savings and deposit accounts at Park State Bank: Lola R. Haus, Ronelle L. Radle, Wendy M. Morlang, Amanda J. Johnson, Lisa M. Knight, Christine S. Libal and Jodi L. Anderson.
3. Approve the following signatories from the County Auditor’s office to be authorized signers on the investment accounts with Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, UBS Financial Services, and Minnesota Association of Government Investing for Counties (M.A.G.I.C.): Ronelle L. Radle and Wendy M. Morlang.
4. Approve the following signatories to be authorized signers on the Highway Department petty cash checking account at Park State Bank: Ronelle L. Radle, Patricia (Trish) A. Liimatta, Jason T. DiPiazza, and Chelsey M. Ojard.
5. Designate the Lake County, Minnesota website as official publication for any transportation project advertisement for bids.
6. Authorize payment in the amount of $314,390.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for Lake County’s property and casualty insurance 2025 premiums. (MCIT Invoice No. 20595R)
7. Authorize payment in the amount of $181,027.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for renewal for County Workers’ Compensation policy. (MCIT Invoice No. 20595R)
8. Authorize payment in the amount of $3,574.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) property and casualty insurance 2025 premiums. (MCIT Invoice No. 20599R)
9. Authorize payment in the amount of $7,448.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) for renewal for Workers’ Compensation policy. (MCIT Invoice No. 20599R)
10. Set date of Monday, June 16, 2025, at 5:00 pm, for the 2025 County Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting, to be held in the Split Rock River Room in the Lake County Service Center, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota. Absent: None
County Commissioners discussed factors considered for the selection of the legal newspaper for 2025. One key discussion point was the value of providing publications directly to citizens’ postal mailing addresses. Both newspapers have an online presence on the respective organizations’ web sites. The Lake County Press (Cherry Road Media Inc.) submitted a bid at $3.00 per standard advertising unit (SAU). The Northshore Journal submitted a bid at $4.00 per SAU. Commissioner Hogenson stated how valuable both newspapers are for Lake County. Commissioner Hogenson would like the County to continue with the direction provided last year by continuing to place certain advertisements in both newspapers in an effort to make sure more people are reached. Examples of advertisements to publish in both newspapers include job postings, certain public hearings, and other notices. Lake County Press Editor Kitty Mayo and Northshore Journal owner Christine Mallory were both present for the discussion.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Approve resolution awarding newspaper publication bids as follows: Designate Northshore Journal as the County’s legal newspaper for official proceedings, legal notices, delinquent tax listings and for the first publication of the financial statement for 2025. Designate Lake County Press for the second publication of the financial statement for 2025. Ayes: Baltich, Goutermont, Sve. Nay: Hogenson, Hurd. Absent: None. Motion carries.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 06 – Approve the County Board of Commissioners’ meeting schedule for 2025 as follows: Agenda meetings at 2:00 PM on the first Tuesday of the months in February through November. Meetings of the Committee-of-the-Whole board on the third Tuesday of the months from January through November. Times and locations may vary. Commissioners’ strategic planning sessions (also known as County Board Workshops) at 1:00 PM in the following months when there is a fifth Tuesday. In 2025, those dates are: April 29, July 29, September 30, and December 30. Regular meetings (also known as Action Meetings) at 2:00 PM on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, with the following exceptions: – Earlier meeting time of 10:00 AM on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, due to the Capitol Days schedule. – No meeting on Veterans Day. The meeting that week will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. – No meeting on the second Tuesday in December 2025 due to the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) Annual Conference. – Three regular meetings in December 2025: 12/02; 12/16; and 12/23. The last regular meeting of the year is Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 07 – Adopt the 2025 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Mileage Rate of 70 cents per mile, applied as follows:
• 67 cents per mile if using a personal vehicle, or
• 70 cents per mile if personal vehicle use was because a motor pool vehicle was not available. This rate requires a signed verification slip from the motor pool coordinator.
• 70 cents per mile if using a personal vehicle as a board or committee member.
Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 08 – Approve 2025 meal allowance, subject to existing policy:
Breakfast $12, Lunch $15, and Dinner $20. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 09 – Designate the following County officials as official voting delegates to represent Lake County at the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) annual meeting: Delegate: District One County Commissioner Joe Baltich. Alternate: District Two County Commissioner Derrick (Rick) L. Goutermont. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 10 – Approve appointments to Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) policy committees: District 5 County Commissioner Rich Sve to the AMC Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee. District 4 County Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd to the AMC General Government Policy Committee. District 3 County Commissioner Richard (Rick) C. Hogenson to the AMC Public Safety Policy Committee. District 1 County Commissioner Joe Baltich to the AMC Health & Human Services Policy Committee. District 2 County Commissioner Derrick (Rick) L. Goutermont to the AMC Transportation Policy Committee. Absent: None
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 11 – Designate the following County officials as official voting delegates to represent Lake County at the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) Annual Conference and during the year 2025: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, District One County Commissioner Joe Baltich, District Two County Commissioner Derrick (Rick) L. Goutermont, District Three County Commissioner Richard (Rick) C. Hogenson, District Four County Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd, District Five County Commissioner Rich Sve, Human Resources Director Cammie Young, and Environmental Services Director Christine M. McCarthy. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 12 – Approve the appointment of Commissioner Joe Baltich as representative on the Northeast Minnesota Emergency Communications Board (ECB) and County Sheriff Nathan Stadler as alternate, for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2025. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 13 – Approve the appointment of County Sheriff Nathan Stadler as representative on the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) and Chief Deputy Sheriff Timothy Luoma as alternate, for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2025. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 14 – Approve the appointments of Local ARMER System Administrator Steve Olson and Emergency Manager Matt Pollmann as Lake County representatives on the Users Committee, for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2025. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 15 – Approve the appointment of Local ARMER System Administrator Steve Olson as representative on the Owner & Operators Committee (O&O) and Jail Administrator/PSAP Supervisor as alternate, for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2025. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 16 – Approve 2025 Lake County Board of Commissioners’ committee assignments. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 17 – Adjourn Organizational Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 2:36 p.m. Absent: None
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meeting.
- Regular meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. 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
