Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 2:01 p.m. by Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve. 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 (SRRR), 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, and District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Board member absent: None. Also present: County Auditor Linda Libal, Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, IT Director Dan Lackore, Environmental Service Director Christine McCarthy, and County Administrator Matthew Huddleston.
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: None
Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments.
Kitty Mayo, Editor of the Lake County Press, spoke to the bid process and selection of the official newspaper that will be taking place at the upcoming organizational meeting on January 2, 2024. The Lake County Press has reached out to the North Shore Journal on the possibility of submitting joint bids. If a joint bid isn’t submitted, the Lake County Press would like the County Board to consider selecting the Lake County Press as the official newspaper for 2024 and possible rotation between the papers in the future. She stated that she supports having two papers in the county and that the only way two papers will be able to continue is if both are able to attain some revenue as the official newspaper.
Bernie Young, Lake County leaseholder, had questions on the annual cost of the lease. Additionally, he was seeking clarification on why leaseholders are no longer able to sell the lease to someone else. The County Board provided input on both of those items and took some information from Bernie to review some of his questions/concerns.
Public comments ended at 2:20 p.m.
Dan Lackore, Lake County IT Director, provided an update on 2023 projects and reviewed the upcoming 2024 projects.
Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business.
Linda Libal, Lake County Auditor, provided updates on year-end payroll processing, 2024 election preparation and the continued discussion regarding the Tyler vs Hennepin tax forfeit land Supreme Court case.
During Commissioner Correspondence Commissioner Goutermont discussed a request that Lake County received to support the application of St. Louis County Commissioner Mike Jugovich for the appointment to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Commissioner Baltich provided an update on the Ely Area Ambulance Service and their need to an advance on 2024 operations support in the amount of $6,400.
Commissioner Hurd left the meeting at 3:30 p.m.
MOTION HOGENSON, GOUTERMONT: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of November 28, 2023.
2. Authorize payment to ISC for 2024 Application Xtender in the amount of $23,264.00.
3. Accept invoice # 46555 (dated 11/16/2023) from Commercial Refrigeration Systems, Inc. furthermore; authorize payment to Commercial Refrigeration Systems, Inc. in the amount of $10,477.04.
4. Accept proposal # MW23073 (dated 11/13/2023) from Uhl Company, Inc. and authorize payment to Uhl Company, Inc (low bidder) in the amount not to exceed $30,530.00.00.
5. Accept proposal # 2023-110 (dated 11/22/2023) from Commercial Refrigeration Systems, Inc. and authorize payment to Commercial Refrigeration Systems, Inc. in the amount of $8,202.90.
6. Approve the Minnesota Lawful Gambling Premise Permit Application of Isabella Community Council to lease and conduct lawful gambling at the Happy Wanderer located at 10502 Hwy 1, Isabella, MN 55607 in Stony River Township.
7. Accept proposal # 50954 – 1.1 (dated 11/22/2023) from St. Germain’s Cabinet, Inc, and authorize payment to St. Germain’s Cabinet, Inc, (low bidder) and sub-contractors for plumbing and electrical work in the amount not to exceed $24,000.00.
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 the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $37,000.00.
9. 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, 2024, through December 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $25,584.00.
10. 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, 2024, through December 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $40,500.00.
11. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair, Lake County Attorney, Lake County Sheriff, and Lake County Health and Human Services Director to sign the following documents as they relate to the 2024-2025 IV-D Cooperative Agreements: 1) CY 2024-2025 State of Minnesota/County Child Support Program Interagency Cooperative Agreement; 2) Attachment A – CY 2024-2025 IV-D Child Support Cooperative Arrangement with Lake County Offices of Human Services, County Sheriff and County Attorney; and 3) Attachment B – Certification Regarding Lobbying.
12. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair and Lake County Health and Human Services Director to sign the Minnesota Department of Human Services County Grant Contract #GK304 (GRK237084) for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, for Children’s Mental Health Screenings. Further authorize the Board Chair and Health and Human Services Director to sign any subsequent amendments or grant award letters through the term of this grant.
13. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with Lake View Memorial Hospital to provide Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) program services for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025.
14. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with Lake View Hospital to provide foot care to Lake County residents age 60+ for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $10,500 per year.
15. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with Northshore Area Partners to provide footcare services to Lake County citizens age 60+ for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $4,500.00.
16. Approve and authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Amendment to Charter Agreement Governing Participation in a Seven-County Region 3 Human Service Redesign Project for Electronic Document Management of Income Maintenance Programs.
17. Authorize payment not to exceed the amount of $15,620 to Integris (quote 006735v1) for Windows Server licensing.
18. Accept request to re-appoint Lake County Extension Committee Member, Christine Althaus, 54 Adams Blvd., Silver Bay, MN 55614 from Commissioner District 1. This appointment would be Christine’s second term as a member of the committee and would be for a three-year term from January 1, 2024– December 31, 2026.
19. Approve the resolution adopting the 2024 Lake County Bridge Priority list and authorize application for federal and state funding for the rehabilitation or replacement of identified structures within the next five years.
20. Authorize the Highway Department to advertise for bids for a construction contract for the following highway improvement projects scheduled for delivery beginning in 2024:
– SAP 038-636-001 (5th St. Reconstruction, Two Harbors – 4th Ave. to 7th Ave. & Replacement of Bridge L8088 over Skunk Creek)
– SAP 038-635-002 (4th Ave. Reconstruction, Two Harbors – Waterfront Dr. to 4th Ave.
– CP 105-023-001 (4th Ave. Reconstruction, Two Harbors – 4th Ave. to 3rd Ave.
– City of Two Harbors 2024/2025 Street & Utility Improvements
21. Authorize payment to Saint Louis County for Anticipated 2024 Costs of ATV Joint Powers Board per Agreement in the amount of $9,450.00. Absent: HURD
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 03 – Approve the probationary appointment of Brianna DeLong to Human Services Professional at the 2023 Step 1 rate of $30.06 per hour effective December 21, 2023. Absent: HURD
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 04 – Approve the appointment of Rebecca Rigdon to Cook at the Step 4 rate of $19.19 per hour effective December 13, 2023. Absent: HURD
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 05 – Approve the resignation of Brandon Caltrider, Environmental Services Professional effective March 15, 2024. Absent: HURD
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 06 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Environmental Services Professional. Absent: HURD
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 07 – Approve payment of the Fall Lake invoice in the amount of $6,400 for the Ely Area Ambulance Joint Powers 2024 partial advance. Absent: HURD
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 08 – Approve sending a letter of support for the appointment of St. Louis County Commissioner Mike Jugovich to the Legislative-Citizen Committee on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Absent: HURD.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 09 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:46 p.m. Absent: HURD
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings:
– Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2023
– Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 26, 2023
ATTEST:
Matthew J Huddleston
Acting Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
