Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 2:00 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 a unanimous 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, District 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd, and District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Board member absent: None. Also present: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, County Auditor Linda Libal, County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.
MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 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 Historical Society representatives Dave Johnson, Sam Gangi, and Ellen Lynch appeared before the Lake County Board of Commissioners to request financial support. Historical Society representatives discussed lower than usual cash flow and needing funds to get through the winter. They discussed challenges in hiring and retaining staff members and how this affected the number of days per week they were able to keep their properties open. They are requesting early disbursement of the 2024 first-half allocation from Lake County. The first half amount would be $30,000. The historical society is also requesting $15,000 to help cover their insurance costs. The Lake County Board discussed various ways in which they could help the historical society with its challenges. The County Board settled on providing the full 2024 budgeted $60,000 in support early. If the historical society continued to have challenges with cash flow, the County Board would review additional support and/or options at that time. MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 02 – Advance the full 2024 annual allocation of $60,000 to the Lake County Historical Society. Absent: None County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business. County Auditor Linda Libal provided an update for her department. County Sheriff Nathan Stadler introduced Deputy Sheriff Pierce Risdon.
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 03 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented: 1. Approve the Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes for January 9, 2024. 2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts: a. Region III Payments $111,843.50 b. Special Payments $228,064.22 3. Approve Lake County Attorney to pay the invoice for Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative (MNCCC) in the amount of $8,650.00. 4. Authorize payment in the amount of $9,088.00 to the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC Invoice No. 67550) 5. Approve the change of appointment of Beth Hippert (District 3) to Board of Adjustment (BOA) Member from Alternate through the rest of her term ending December 31, 2025, and reappoint Ron Brodigan (District 2) to Alternate BOA Member for three years through December 31, 2026. 6. Authorize payment to Finland Fire and Rescue in the amount of $8,000.00 for the 2024 rent of Finland Rescue Hall (Invoice Number 130). 7. Authorize payment in the amount of $11,609.00 to the National Association of Counties (NACo) for Invoice No. 202327559, for the National Center for Public Lands Counties (PLC) assessment fees. 8. Authorize payment of $16,182.35 to Duluth Lawn & Sport (Sales Order Dated 4/8/2023) for the purchase of a 2024 Ski-Doo Expedition LE 900 Ace snowmobile for the Lake County Rescue Squad. This quote includes a government discount. 9. Approve the Resolution adopting the 2024 Lake County Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Funding Priority List and authorize the Highway Department to seek federal and state funding for construction at these structures within the next five years. 10. Authorize the Highway Engineer and Board Chair to sign a Federal Sub-Award and State of Minnesota Grant Contract Agreement with the State of Minnesota for receipt of $18,300.00 through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program and provided by Coastal Zone Management funding administered by the Office of Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. 11. Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign the Lease Agreement for the Mary MacDonald Center for a period of one year commencing on the 1st day of January 2024, and expiring at Midnight on the 31st day of December, 2024. 12. Accept the quote and authorize payment of $54,133.92 to Motorola Solutions for the purchase of nine mobile radios to replace outdated squad radios. (Quote #2482074). Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 04 – Approve the trial appointment of Julianne Pearson, Administrative Assistant in Assessor’s department, to Administrative Assistant in Recorder’s Office at the 2024 Step 5 rate of $24.12 per hour effective February 5, 2024. Absent: None MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 05 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Administrative Assistant in Assessor’s Department. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 06 – Approve the change in employment status of David Boden, Highway Maintenance Worker, due to completion of probation effective January 27, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 07 – Approve the probationary appointment of Amy Overby to part-time Administrative Clerk at the Step 3 wage of $19.14 per hour effective February 7, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 08 – Approve the probationary appointment of Andrew Morris to Highway Maintenance Supervisor at the Step 4 wage of $34.21 per hour effective February 5, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 09 – Approve the Highway Maintenance Superintendent change to the classification structure. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 10 – Approve the change in pay for Neil Udenberg, Highway Maintenance Superintendent, to the Step 7 wage of $43.88 per hour effective February 5, 2024. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 11 – Approve the following appointments as election judges for Unorganized Territory #2: Precinct #1: Jo Ann Rossetter, Carol Jackson, Delores Jackson Precinct #2: Raymond Hermanson, Bonita Bieniek, Julie Anderson, Marlys Wisch, Susan Connor Precinct #3 & 4: Jan Swanson, John Bonk, Vicki Stroozas, Gerry Graden Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 12 – Approve the following appointments to the Absentee Ballot Board: Marlys Wisch, Bonita Bieniek, John Bathke. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 13 – Adjourn the Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:15 p.m. Absent: None
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota: – County Board Work Session at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 – Agenda meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2024 – Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 ATTEST: Laurel D. Buchanan Clerk of the Board Rich Sve, Board Chairperson Lake County Board of Commissioners
