Tuesday, September 26, 2023. 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 (SRRR), 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota: 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. Vacancy: First District. Also present: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, County Auditor Linda Libal, County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Brad Anderson, Assistant County Veterans Service Officer (ACVSO) Melissa Crandall, Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy, 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 Veterans Service Officer Brad Anderson presented an annual update for his department regarding the operations over the past year, which included information on mission, goals, initiatives, benefit data, new Assistant CVSO that started in August 2023, homelessness, mental health, and some information on the Veterans Crisis response Team in Itasca County.
Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business.
Lake County Auditor Linda Libal provided an update from her office, which included the upcoming special county commissioner election, Tyler vs. Hennepin County tax forfeit land U.S. Supreme Court case, a data request and upcoming visit from the State Auditor later in the meeting.
Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler advised that the jail kitchen passed the county health inspection. Other items discussed were new processes for the screening during inmate intake and Wi-Fi calling as it related to 911 dispatch.
Lake County Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza advised that proposal evaluation is underway regarding reinforcement and repair of Bridge 93091, Hawk Hill Road over the Knife River. The Lake County Highway Department has consulted with and subsequently requested cost and schedule proposals from highway bridge contractors in the region. Proposals have been received and will be scored based on the proposed cost and earliest project completion date. Bridge 93091 is a four-span timber bridge on Hawk Hill Road, County Road 102, over the Knife River, and had been restricted to a reduced legal load weight capacity rating due to advanced deterioration of timber structural elements, including ice and debris damage. The legal load weight restriction has placed a hardship on residents at the end of Hawk Hill Road (a dead-end road) by limiting or preventing access to their homes for emergency and other services. The Lake County Highway Department through contract with an engineering firm, has developed plans for a reinforcement and repair project that will increase the legal load weight capacity of bridge 93091 to allow emergency and other service vehicle access and reduce risk of further debris damage. Engineer DiPiazza plans to bring forward a recommendation for awarding a Construction Services Contract at the board meeting on October 10, 2023. Lake County resident Ryan Brucklemeyer was present for the discussion of the Hawk Hill Bridge and spoke in support of a bridge repair that would allow for the most tonnage.
Lake County Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy overviewed contract language changes for septic inspector and septic pumping contracts regarding the septic survey program.
Land Commissioner Nate Eide noted that there were no major washouts or damage to forest roads from the 50 to 100-year rain event.
State Auditor, Julie Blaha, provided an update to the County Board regarding the auditor shortage. There is an increase in demand for audits due to the increase in federal funds and the increased public calls for accountability. This increased demand, coupled with the public finance professional staffing shortage, have resulted in increased audit costs and lack of entities completing audits. The State Auditor then went through options that are being considered to help with these challenges and solicited others to provide their ideas.
Board Chair Rich Sve called for a brief recess at 3:35 p.m. The Board of Commissioners was reconvened at 3:42 p.m. with all members present.
MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of September 12, 2023.
2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts:
a. Administrative $ 27,564.87
b. Region III $ 453,616.47
c. Special Payments $ 6,113.32
3. Adopt findings by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-23-023i, submitted by T. Jefferson Properties LLC, PID: 29- 5310-12070.
4. Adopt findings by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-23-035r, submitted by Judy Lykins, PID: 29-5409-23265.
5. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between Lake County and Lake View Hospital for Medical Consulting Services for the period of September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $6,000.00 per year.
6. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Onsite Influenza Immunization Clinic Agreement between Lake County and Lake View Hospital for the period of October 1, 2023, through February 28, 2025.
7. Approve Amanda Johnson and Lisa Knight as authorized signers for the County’s checking, savings and deposit accounts at Park State Bank.
8. Authorize payment to Cellebrite in the amount of $6,450 (Quote Q-3369948-1) for the Cellebrite subscription from November 25, 2023 – November 24, 2024.
9. Authorize payment to the Anoka County Treasury Office for the Medical Examiner’s invoice dated August 29, 2023, in the amount of $11,531.81.
10. Award CSP 023-001 to the lowest responsible bidder, TNT Construction Group, LLC in the amount of $ 214,900.00 for crushing aggregate stockpiles for Lake County Road maintenance, plus $67,600.00 awarded in bid alternates for crushing aggregate stockpiles for the City of Two Harbors and Crystal Bay Township, for a total contract award of $282,500.00 and authorize the Board Chair to sign the construction contract pending County Attorney review.
11. Approve the following additional signature to be authorized signer on the Highway Department petty cash checking account at Park State Bank: Patricia Liimatta.
12. Authorize the Highway Engineer to approve the work quote, authorize work, and make payment for completed work to H&R Const. Co. for replacement and or repair of damaged guardrail installations at the following locations and estimated costs:
– Moose Lake Road (CR 183): $7,634.87
– Scenic Drive (CSAH 61): $25,656.03
– Penn Blvd/Lax Lake Road (CSAH 5): $8,964.02
13. Authorize Highway Department payment to Nuss Truck & Equipment at a cost not to exceed $6,254.42 for exhaust system components for Unit #4160, a 2016 Mack tandem axle dump/plow truck.
14. Authorize Highway Department purchase of a Western MVP3 10.5’ Stainless Steel V-Plow from Bill’s Diesel Repair at a cost not to exceed $10,885.00 plus any additional delivery, tax, title, or registration fees.
15. Authorize Highway Department purchase of an Erskine SB300 Hydraulic Snowblower Attachment from RossCo Equipment at a cost not to exceed $13,800.00 plus any additional delivery, tax, title, or registration fees.
16. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Contour Inc. utility permit for a new water service across 15th Street, CSAH 27, in the City of Two Harbors, near the intersection of August Omtvedt Drive.
17. Authorize payment of $100,000 to Rock Solid Trail Contracting (Invoice # 1634) for trail work to be funded by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) of the State of Minnesota in accordance with grant contract agreement (PO ID 3000009340) and matched by One Track Mind (OTM) Foundation.
18. Approve and Authorize the Lake County Environmental Services Director to sign the contract between Lake County and Minnesota Certified Individual C1010 Advanced Septic Inspector and Licensed Business L2928, Jeff Crosby, to conduct septic compliance inspections on systems identified in the recent residential outreach survey. These inspections are fully funded by the Septic Survey grant received under the Lake Superior North One Watershed One Plan (LSN1W1P) program.
19. Authorize sale of 1999 Sterling Lt9511, dump truck “as-is” (unit #4991, VIN: 2FZNNECB7XAA74182), in the amount of $1.00, to Crystal Bay Township. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 03 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Human Services Technician. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 04 – Adopt the preliminary 2024 Net Property Tax Levy of $12,431,329. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 05 – Adopt the preliminary 2024 Net Property Tax Levy for Unorganized Territory No. 1 in the amount of $32,000. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 06 – Adopt the preliminary 2024 Net Property Tax Levy for Unorganized Territory No. 2 in the amount of $410,589 (Revenue Fund in the amount of $100,589 and Road and Bridge Fund in the amount of $310,000). Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 07 – Adopt the preliminary 2024 Net Property Tax Levy for the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (LCHRA) in the amount of $375,000. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 08 – Adjourn Lake County Board of Commissioners’ meeting at 3:46 PM. Absent: None
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings at the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota:
– Agenda meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023
– Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2023
ATTEST:
Matthew J. Huddleston
Acting Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
