OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Tuesday, February 11, 2025. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly sched­uled meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve. Please note: the meeting time for this meeting only was adjusted to an earlier time due to the Capitol Days trav­el and schedule. Chairperson 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’s office staff member Wendy Morlang, Land Com­missioner Nate Eide, Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza, Environmental Services Assistant Director Tanya Feldkamp, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.

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

Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made. Lake Coun­ty Fee Schedule review was previously tabled. County Commissioners discussed the County Fee Schedule. Concerning departments proposed fees to recoup their costs in processing certain types of applications, it was discussed that our levy has already taken that into consideration. There were questions and discussion about gravel pits. County Administrator Matthew Huddleston advised about the history of the fee schedule. Platting was discussed. The philosophy behind some of the fees are to keep applicants’ costs lower to help encourage compliance with the ordinance. Vacation rentals were dis­cussed. Environmental Services Assistant Director Tanya Feldkamp advised about the Planning and Zoning division’s process in reviewing the environmental services fee schedule review. Also discussed were standard plats, resort conversions, com­mercial septic systems. Conditional use permit increase in mileage for Planning Commission members when meetings are held at the Fall Lake Town Hall. Dis­cussion included how we subsidize this department. Again, concerns about gravel pit fees were discussed. County Commis­sioners discussed setting the gravel pit fee at $500. County Commissioners discussed “meeting in the middle” on some of those Environmental Services Fee Schedule proposed increases. Preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) fee was pro­posed to more than double from the pre­vious years’ current rate. An opinion was voiced that it would be unfair at this point in time for the proposed change in that fee to $1,500. Cluster subdivision development was discussed. The difference between PUDs and standard plats was discussed. EAW and delineation were discussed.

County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business, including seeking new members for the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission. Administrator Hud­dleston provided a Labor Management Committee update, Employee Recognition Program update, and a joint meeting of the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and the City of Two Har­bors HRA. An agreement was discussed for review and approval that will be coming forward at a later date. The agreement po­tentially could include the City, the County, and each respective HRA. A discussion on the County Auditor’s Office will take place with Interim County Auditor Ronni Radle and County Administrator Matthew Huddleston.

County Administrator Huddleston provided an overview of the Capitol Days appoint­ment schedule and meeting with the Min­nesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) and the Senator and Represen­tatives. A meeting with the Department of Revenue is also being scheduled. Man­agement and Budget virtual meeting is to be scheduled, along with the Forst Ser­vice, and bring in the Land Commissioner, regarding the Kawishiwi Bridge. Various provisions of bills and legislation were discussed regarding funding. A hearing is coming up on the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) was also discussed, as well as Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). A request from the Trap team was brought up as a potential action item for today.

Land Commissioner Nate Eide was pres­ent for questions on his trail centric action requests. Land Commissioner Eide dis­cussed trail grooming concerns. A Title Protection Program was brought up re­garding the Recorder’s Office section on the county website that people have found rather confusing. Some adjustments to how that information is posted may need to be done for people to register and to make it more user friendly for the public.

Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza dis­cussed his current requests for board action. Environmental Services Assistant Director Tanya Feldkamp was present for questions on the proposed county fee schedule. Auditor’s Office staff member Wendy Morland provided an electronic timecard project update. There was a dis­cussion about idocmarket.com and that it is free, yet it is not obvious how to do it. A mailing went out last summer and we received a lot of questions on it. Electronic signatures proposals to be brought forward at a later date.

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

1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of January 28, 2025.

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

a. Administrative Payments $ 17,412.07

b. Region III Payments $ 26,700.00

c. Special Payments $ 84,494.00

3. Adopt the resolution titled “Fed­eral Recreational Trail Program (FRTP) Grant Request – Friends of Flathorn-Gegoka Trails”, which names the Lake County Auditor as fiscal agent for this project.

4. Adopt the resolution for Federal Recreational Trail Program (FRTP) grant request for Split Rock Wilds (SRW) Trail Maintenance.

5. Adopt resolution for Greater Minne­sota Regional Parks & Trails (GM­RPT) support for Superior Hiking Trail (SHT).

6. Approve the request from The Knife River Heritage & Cultural Center (KRHCC) to increase in county rec­reation funds in 2025 from $3,000 to $4,000 to help offset cost to pro­vide public green space.

7. Authorize payment to City of Silver Bay in the amount of $17,610.92, invoice 0000282, for Unorganized Territory Number 1 (UT 1) fire de­partment services for the 2024 fis­cal year.

8. Authorize the Highway Department to advertise for bids for a con­struction contract for the following planned improvement and mainte­nance projects:

• SAP 038-602-036 – Highway 2 Reconditioning, CSAH 2 (White Pine Picnic Area to Greenwood Lake)

• SP 038-607-015 – Bridge 38J44 & Approaches, Cramer Road (CSAH 7) at Ninemile Creek

• SAP 038-632-003 – Banks & Edison Blvd Reconstruction, City of Silver Bay

9. Approve a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Two Harbors for the 2025 Seal Coat Project in Two Harbors (SAP 038-626-008) and authorize the Board Chair to sign the agreement pending County At­torney review.

10. Authorize the Highway Department to provide Silver Creek Township with up to 500 cubic yards of pit run, 150 cubic yards of loam overburden and 300 cubic yards of screened sand material from Swanstrom Pit for the purpose of maintaining township roads, com­pleting road projects including the township cemetery, and for use in treating (sanding) township roads for icy conditions.

11. Authorize Highway Department purchase of one 2026 Western Star 47X Tandem Axle truck cab and chassis for snowplow and dump truck buildout from Boyer Trucks through State CPV Contract 242594, Release T-647(5) at a cost not to exceed $171,432.00 plus any additional delivery, tax, title, or reg­istration fees.

12. Authorize Highway Department purchase of installed snowplow dump body and snow fighting equipment (plows, wings, sanders, lighting, etc.) for one tandem axle truck body from Towmaster, LLC (Monroe) through State CPV con­tract 222949A, Release S-863(5) at a cost not to exceed $176,592.00 plus any additional delivery, tax, title, or registration fees.

13. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Keewaydin Resources Inc. utility permit for 2D Seismic Data Acquisition related to the Pulsar Helium Topaz Project along High­way 2 between MN Hwy 1 and a point 8.5 miles south of MN Hwy 1.

14. Authorize payment to Tritech Soft­ware Systems, a Centralsquare Company in the amount of $16,430.40 for the 911 System Annual Maintenance Fees from 4/9/2025 – 4/8/2026 (invoice 428986)

15. Authorize payment to Tritech Soft­ware Systems, a Centralsquare Company in the amount of $36,151.08 for the 2025 Zuercher suite annual subscription and main­tenance fees (invoice 428986). Ab­sent: None

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 03 – Remove the pro­posed 2025 Lake County Fee Schedule from the table. Absent: None

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HO­GENSON: 04 – Approve the 2025 Lake County Fee Schedule with corrections. The fee for a permit for gravel pit opera­tions will be set at $500 for 2025, and the fee for Planned Unit Development (PUD) will be set at $1,500 for 2025. Absent: None

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Approve the changes to the 67-Day Temporary Employee Wage Schedule. Absent: None

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BAL­TICH: 06: – Approve the Highway Depart­ment request to fill the following 67-day temporary positions:

Laborer 2 positions $18.00 per hour

Industrial Mower 5 positions $19.00 per hour

Truck Driver 4 positions $21.00 per hour Absent: None

MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTER­MONT: 07 – Approve the Maintenance Department request to fill two 67-day tem­porary Grounds Maintenance positions at $18.00 per hour. Absent: None

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTER­MONT: 08 – Approve the trial appointment of Jonathan Plese, Human Services Spe­cialist, to Human Services Supervisor at the Step 2 rate of $33.00 per hour effective February 17, 2025. Absent: None

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 09 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Human Services Specialist. Absent: None

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTER­MONT: 10 – Set the Interim County At­torney 2025 Salary at $135,000. Absent: None

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 11 – Authorize disburse­ment to the Trap team in the amount of $1,500 for 2025. Further resolved, provide feedback for them to provide their request in advance for 2026. It is requested that the Trap team submit its request in July 2025 during the budgeting process, in order for funds to be budgeted for 2026. Absent: None

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 12 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 11:11 a.m. Absent: None

The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meeting

• Committee of the Whole, at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, to be held at the Lake County Highway Department Headquar­ters, 1513 Highway 2, Two Harbors, Minnesota.

• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 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