OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly sched­uled meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Lake County Board Acting Chair­person Derrick Goutermont. Acting Chair Goutermont 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 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd. Board member absent: District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Also present: County Adminis­trator Matthew Huddleston, County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Emergency Manager Matt Pollmann, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza, Envi­ronmental Services Director Christine Mc­Carthy, County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Brad Anderson, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.

MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: Sve

Lake County Board Acting Chairperson Derrick Goutermont opened the floor for public comments. Members of the public were present. No public comments were provided.

County Sheriff Nathan Stadler provided an annual update for the Lake County Sher­iff’s Office. Main topics included staffing update, training, Jail and 911 Dispatch Center, Work Crew (Sentencing to Service (STS) Program / 911 Field Technician, and Lake County Search and Rescue.

Lake County Administrator Matthew Hud­dleston provided an update on several items of county business. Land Commis­sioner Nate Eide advised about the re­quest from Fall Lake for Lake County to convey a parcel of tax forfeited property. Lake County Sheriff uses Fall Lake’s ga­rage. There was a brief discussion on fu­ture planning for facility needs.

The Local Emergency Declaration for Lake County was requested by Emergency Manager Matt Pollmann, due to losses and damages incurred as a result of severe weather and flooding. Emergency Manag­er Matt Pollmann provided an overview of an emergency declaration and thresholds. The initial damage assessment is due by Friday. Lake County has sustained losses brought on by flooding as a result of severe weather. These conditions began on June 18, 2024, and are continuing. The follow­ing conditions exist in Lake County as a result of a natural disaster: road washouts, culvert damage, and other property dam­age. Townships have also been affected. Lake County has expended resources and state and Federal assistance is needed. Mr. Pollmann also advised that the Sullivan dam was washed away and Sullivan Lake drained into the Cloquet River.

Land Commissioner Nate Eide spoke regarding eight to ten Forest Roads that have been impacted by high water. Land Commissioner Eide also spoke about damages to trails. Highway Engineer Ja­son DiPiazza updated the County Board on road conditions due to flood damage. The only closure still in place is Wales Road. Additionally, there was lack of ac­cess to the pits to get gravel.

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND HURD: 02 – The Lake County Board of Commission­ers, acting on behalf of and for the people of Lake County, declares that a state of local emergency exists within Lake Coun­ty, due to a natural disaster, with all the power and responsibilities attending there­to as provided by Chapter 12, Minnesota Statute, and Lake County resolution titled “Local Emergency Declaration, Resolution No. 24062502,” dated June 25, 2024. Ab­sent: Sve

MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 03 – Approve Consent Agenda as follows:

1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of June 11, 2024.

2. Approve Health and Human Ser­vices claims payments in the fol­lowing amounts:

a. Administrative Payments $ 7,650.00

b. Region III Payments $ 7,500.00

c. Special Payments $ 5,658.10

3. Approve Land Commissioner to sign Agreement for Professional Services with Short Elliot Hendrick­son (SEH) for ATV Trail Connection to Two Harbors in the amount of $50,000. $25,000 of this will be funded with a grant from IRRRB.

4. Authorize funding a document scanning project with a budget not exceeding $24,000, for the Lake County Veterans Service Office. This initiative, to be carried out by EO Johnson Business Technol­ogies, aims to digitize all paper documents (Veterans records) into secure digital files. EO Johnson will oversee every phase of the project, including secure transport, scan­ning, storage, transfer, and docu­ment destruction. Further resolved, authorize Lake County Veterans Service Officer, Brad Anderson, to sign the EO Johnson agreements for this project.

5. Authorize payment to St. Louis County (Invoice IN-00001140) in the amount of $35,000.00 per the signed Agreement for Technical Services.

6. Approve Minnesota Lawful Gam­bling Premise Permit application of Isabella Community Council to conduct lawful gambling at Knotted Pine located at 9702 Hwy 1 Isabel­la, MN 55607.

7. Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the agreement from Bolton & Menk, Inc. to fulfill the require­ments of MN PLSS Grant applica­tion (2024-038-01) on Townships 52 North and 53 North, Range 11 West. 185 Section Corners (Lake County Public Land Survey Sys­tem)

8. Approve and authorize the Coun­ty Board Chair to sign the School Counselor Purchase of Service Agreement with ISD #381 for the period of August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025.

9. Approve the Agreement for Dis­bursement of Grant Proceeds for the Rainy Headwaters-Vermillion (RH-V) Comprehensive Water­shed Management Plan (1W1P) with North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District (NSLSWCD). Lake County will receive $70,000 from the awarded FY 2024 Water­shed Based Implementation Fund­ing Agreement to conduct a survey of septic systems in the watershed and determine locations of potential failing systems based on priority ar­eas.

10. Authorize Highway Engineer to sign the Special Event Permit for Northshore Inline Marathon sched­uled for September 14, 2024 and located on Scenic 61, Two Har­bors, MN.

11. Authorize the Board Chair to sign the safety consultant proposal sub­mitted by Taylor Dickinson of IEA, Inc. for 2024 Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) Management Services to complete phase 3 of the Lake County Safety Audit at a cost not to exceed $40,000. Billing will occur monthly through the North­east Service Cooperative (NESC).

12. Approve payment in the amount of $8,163.75 to Election Systems & Software for maintenance ser­vices and firmware license fees on the polling place precinct counters. This invoice covers the service dates 8/1/2024 to 7/31/2025. In­voice CD2093255.

13. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for In­terim Use Application I-24-011r, submitted by Jay and Nancy Diley at 4267 Hwy 61, Two Harbors MN 55616.

14. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Inter­im Use Application I-24-012r, sub­mitted by Kevin Wilkinson at 1696 Hwy 61, Two Harbors MN 55616.

15. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Inter­im Use Application I-24-013i, sub­mitted by Kartheek Koneru at 2839 Hwy 61, Two Harbors MN 55616.

16. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for In­terim Use Application I-24-010i, submitted by Joel Weber at 2009 Hwy 61, Two Harbors MN 55616. Absent: Sve

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BAL­TICH: 04 – Approve the change in em­ployee status of Brianna DeLong, Human Services Professional, due to completion of probation period effective June 21, 2024. Absent: Sve

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Approve the probationary appointment of Karen Jussila to Human Services Profes­sional at the Step 4 rate of $34.21 per hour effective June 26, 2024.

Absent: Sve

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 06 – Approve the 67-day temporary ap­pointment of William Bohnen, Truck Driver for Highway Department, at $19.50 per hour including second year return incen­tive effective July 1, 2024. Absent: Sve

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 07 – Approve the Alternative Work Site Policy. Absent: Sve

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 08 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 2:43 p.m. Absent: Sve

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.

• Budget meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024

• Agenda meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024

• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2024

ATTEST:

Laurel D. Buchanan

Clerk of the Board

Derrick Goutermont, Acting Board Chairperson

Lake County Board of Commissioners