Tuesday, January 2, 2024. 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 in person: 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 Auditor Linda Libal, County Sheriff Nate Stadler and Land Commissioner Nate Eide.
Acting Clerk of the Board/ County Administrator Matthew Huddleston called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Huddleston called for nominations for Board Chairperson for 2024.
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 01 – Elect County Commissioner Rich Sve as Lake County Board of Commissioners’ Chairperson for 2024. There were no additional nominations. Absent: None
Newly elected Board Chairperson Rich Sve called for nominations for Vice-Chair for 2024.
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 02 – Elect County Commissioner Rick L. Goutermont as Lake County Board of Commissioners’ Vice-Chair for 2024. There were no additional nominations. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 03 – Approval of the agenda with a change, moving commissioner committee assignments in front of the consent agenda. Absent: None
Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. Kitty Mayo, Editor of the Lake County Press, spoke to the Legal Newspaper selection and handed out a proposal to split legal newspaper items by topic.
County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items for the organizational meeting. County Auditor Linda Libal provided an update on the payroll updates that are taking place as we enter the first payroll for 2024. County Sheriff Nate Stadler noted a recent federal boat and water grant award to purchase a boat for the Fall Lake area. Land Commissioner Nate Eide stated that a contract is now in place regarding state bonding funds for the Prospector’s Trail and the county can now move forward with seeking reimbursement.
After Commissioner’s Correspondence, the County Board reviewed, amended and finalized the commissioner committee assignment list.
Board Chairperson Rich Sve called for a recess at 3:08 p.m.
Board Chairperson reconvened the meeting at 3:15 p.m.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND Baltich 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 2024 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: Linda K. Libal, 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.): Linda K. Libal and Ronelle L. Radle.
4. Approve the following signatories to be authorized signers on the Highway Department petty cash checking account at Park State Bank: Linda K. Libal, Ronelle L. Radle, Patricia (Trish) A. Liimatta, Jason T. DiPiazza, and Darbie Z. Eschenbacher.
5. Authorize payment in the amount of $271,031.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for Lake County’s property and casualty insurance 2024 premiums.
6. Authorize payment in the amount of $188,266.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for renewal for County Workers’ Compensation policy.
7. Authorize payment in the amount of $3,565.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) property and casualty insurance 2024 premiums.
8. Authorize payment in the amount of $6,809.00 to Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) for Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) for renewal for Workers’ Compensation policy. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 05 – Approve the County Board of Commissioners’ meeting schedule for 2024 as follows: Agenda meetings at 2:00 PM on the first Tuesday of the month in February and April through November. Agenda meeting at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, due to the Capitol Days schedule. Meetings of the Committee-of-the-Whole board on the third Tuesday of the month, from January through November. Times and locations may vary. Regular meetings at 2:00 PM on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, from January through November. No meeting on the second Tuesday in December 2024 due to the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) Annual Conference. Commissioners’ strategic planning sessions at 1:00 PM in the following months when there is a fifth Tuesday. In 2024, those dates are: January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 29. Three regular meetings in December 2024: 12/03; 12/17; 12/31. The last regular meeting of the year is Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 06 – Set date of Monday, June 17, 2024, at 5:00 pm, for the 2024 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
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 07 – Adopt the 2024 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Mileage Rate of 67 cents per mile effective January 1, 2024, applied as follows: 64 cents per mile if using a personal vehicle, or 67 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. 67 cents per mile if using a personal vehicle as a board or committee member. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD 08 – Approve 2024 meal allowance, subject to existing policy: Breakfast $12. Lunch $15. Dinner $20 Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 09 – Approve the Marriage Officiant filing fee increase to $25.00 in the Lake County Vital Records Department. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 10 – Set the per diem at $90, effective January 1, 2024, for the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 11 – 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 2024. Designate Lake County Press for the second publication of the financial statement for 2024. Ayes: Baltich, Goutermont, Hogenson, Sve. Nay: Hurd. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, 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, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 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, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 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, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND WALSH: 15 – Approve the appointment of Local ARMER System Administrator Steve Olson as representative on the Owner & Operators Committee (O&O) and County Sheriff Nathan Stadler as alternate, for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 16 – 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 HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 17 – 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 HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 18 – 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 2024: 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 GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 19 – Approve 2024 Lake County Board of Commissioners’ committee assignments. Absent: None
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 20 – Approve the Proclamation designating January 2024 as “Human Trafficking Awareness Month”. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 21 – Approve the Lake County Chairperson to send a letter of support for the Northeastern Regional ATV Joint Powers Board $25,000 grant request to the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Regional Trail Grant Program for work to be done on the Wild Country ATV Trail System in Lake County.
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 22 – Adjourn Organizational Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:28 p.m. Absent: None
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meeting.
– Regular meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
ATTEST:
Matthew Huddleston
Acting Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
