Tuesday, May 28, 2024. 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 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, and District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Board members absent: District 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd. Also present: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, County Attorney Russ Conrow, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, GIS Analyst Amy Lewis, Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: Hurd
Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. Several members of the public were present. No public comments were provided.
Lake County Attorney Russ Conrow is attending today’s meeting as his last county board meeting as County Attorney, before his resignation takes effect and he returns as Assistant County Attorney, working remotely. County Attorney Conrow provided an annual report on behalf of the Office of County Attorney. He reviewed current personnel positions in the office. He discussed the various caseload types: criminal, child protection, mental health, child support, tax appeals, estate recovery, civil injunctions, and real estate. He also discussed the case management file system, the change from physical to electronic files, systems that we have used in the past, the system we are currently using, and a recommendation for a change to a different system. Mr. Conrow provided updates on some open projects.
Lake County Land Commissioner Nate Eide provided an update on Moose Habitat planning efforts.
The Moose Habitat Planning Project is a collaborative planning project funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America the Beautiful Challenge program. The grant was awarded to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) Division of Fish and Wildlife with in-kind contributions from the 1854 Treaty Authority, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and MN DNR. The project is bringing together tribal, federal, state, county, and non-governmental organizations to identify and address challenges hampering large-scale moose habitat restoration in northeastern Minnesota and then developing an implementation plan to enhance moose habitat over the next 5-10 years in three 10,000-to-50,000- acre areas. These project areas will provide an opportunity to apply strategies identified in collaborative workshops. The learnings from the implementation and monitoring of planned treatments will be used to inform future coordination and habitat work.
The project was initiated in June 2023 with the MN DNR hiring a project manager entirely funded by the grant. The primary activities of the project include a series of five facilitated workshops with participants from 17 partnering organizations. This Midpoint Project Update provides a review of the activities and findings from the three workshops that have been held to date. Treatments and tools used to enhance moose habitat benefit Minnesota’s moose population and provide other benefits such as forest diversity for sustainability and climate resiliency, revenue production, fuels reduction, other species’ habitat, and ecosystem management. Several challenges include coordination, economics/operations, research, public, political and organizational support, and environmental. Mr. Eide showed discussed project areas and the next steps for the project area working groups.
Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business. GIS Analyst Amy Lewis was present for any questions on her request for board action for the County Board to authorize her to be our license coordinator for the Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS) Licensing system through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR).
Land Commissioner Nate Eide advised that his department looks at NHIS data on the Northern Long-Eared Bat when we are setting up timber sales. This was an example of how this data is used. Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy provided brief updates for her department.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of May 14, 2024.
2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts:
a. Administrative Payments $ 5,243.14
b. Region III Payments $751,848.43
c. Special Payments $ 5,057.36
3. Approve and authorize the Lake County Information Technology Department to allow GIS Analyst Amy Lewis to sign the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) LA 2023-002 Amendment on behalf of Lake County, for the purpose of acquiring Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS) licensing and NHIS data. Per the agreement, the DNR is the Licensor, Lake County is the Licensee, and GIS Analyst Amy Lewis is the License Coordinator. Further resolved, Lake County authorizes GIS Analyst Amy Lewis to sign MN DNR documents as the license executor. NHIS data provides information on Minnesota’s rare plants, animals, native plant communities, and other rare features.
4. Approve County Board Chair and Land Commissioner to sign Cooperative Agreement for ATV Trail System Master Planning, Route Planning, and Land Acquisition with St. Louis County acting as fiscal agent and contract administrator for Northeast Regional ATV Trail Joint Powers Board.
5. Authorize the County Board Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperative Frequency Use between Lake County and the USDA, Forest Service Superior National Forest.
6. Approve resolution designating Lake County Human Services Director, Lisa Hanson, to sign on Probate Account for Lake County as Personal Representative of the Estate of Charles Brian Stromquist, and to perform the duties of Personal Representative, including but not limited to deposit, withdraw and sign on the account as Estate Personal Representative of the Estate.
7. Authorize payment to Stantec Consulting Services Inc. for Invoice #2215329 in the amount of $9,250.00 for the landfill expansion bid document preparation consulting services.
8. Authorize payment of $15,827.34 to TheGPSStore.com for the purchase of 16 Handheld GPSes and accessories. (Invoice No. 1740606A) This will be purchased with the Operation Stone Garden fiscal year 2021 grant.
9. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Special Event Permit for Grandma’s Marathon scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 2024 and located on Scenic Highway 61.
10. Authorize Highway Department payment to St. Louis County Public Works Department at a cost not to exceed $95,000.00 for Project SAP 038-030-012, 2024 State Aid Pavement Marking Maintenance.
11. Authorize Highway Department final payment to St. Louis County Public Works Department at a cost not to exceed $40,000.00 for Project CP 910-024-001, 2024 County Road Pavement Marking Maintenance.
12. Authorize Highway Department final payment to St. Louis County Public Works Department at a cost not to exceed $31,671.40 for Project CP 910-023-001, 2023 County Road Pavement Marking Maintenance.
13. Authorize Highway Department payment to St. Louis County Public Works Department at a cost not to exceed $60,000.00 for Projects SAP 038-630-002, SAP 038-635-003, and SAP 038-638-001, 2024 Pavement Maintenance – Seal Coat Project.
14. Authorize Highway Department purchase of winter road salt from Morton Salt, Inc. through State CPV Contract 230570 (Contract Release S-763(5)) in the amount of $70.90 per ton delivered to the Two Harbors highway shop and $78.46 per ton delivered to the Finland highway shop, payable upon delivery through May 31, 2025, for a maximum estimated purchase total of $114,700.00.
15. Authorize the Highway Department to advertise for bids on project CP 105-022-001, 8th Street Resurfacing and Odegard Trail upon final State Aid Plan approval and completion of plans, specs, and bid proposal. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 03 – Approve the probationary appointment of Andrew DeBeltz to Highway Maintenance Worker at the Step 2 rate of $23.59 per hour effective May 29, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 04 – Approve the 67-day temporary appointment of Daniel Martinez, Engineering Intern for Highway Department, at $18.00 per hour effective June 3, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Approve the appointment of Russell Conrow to Assistant County Attorney at the Step 11 rate of $48.96 per hour effective June 3, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 06 – Approve the interim appointment of Lara Nygaard, Assistant County Attorney, to County Attorney at the annual salary of $119,000 effective June 3, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 07 – Approve the retirement of Timothy Johnson, Deputy Sheriff, effective June 25, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 08 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Deputy Sheriff. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 09 – Approve the Lake County Elected Officials First Amended and Restated Health Care Savings Plan Policy. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 10 – Approve and authorize the County Auditor to transfer $99,218.42 of Lake County’s Affordable Housing Aid to the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) on Phase 1 of the county-owned Lakeview Apartments rehabilitation project. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 11 – Adopt the findings by the Planning Commission (PCR-24-006) and deny the Interim Use Permit (Interim Use Application I-24-006i) for Taylor and Charissa Hall at 960 Deerview Lane, Two Harbors MN 55616. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 12 – Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-24-009r, and approve the Interim Use Pemit for Mavrik Joos at 770 Larsmont Road, Two Harbors MN 55616. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 13 – Authorize the Board Chair to send a letter of appreciation to St. Louis County (SLC) Commissioner Paul McDonald and SLC Land and Minerals Director Julie Marinucci for their advocacy on behalf of Minnesota counties for Tax Forfeiture Settlement Legislation, HF5246/ SF4936, related to the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Tyler v. Hennepin, and their advocacy for legislation HF4822/ SF4985 (policy bill) to change the state tax-forfeiture law to a constitutional process. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 14 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:05 p.m. Absent: Hurd
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.
– Agenda meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2024
– Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024
ATTEST:
Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
