Tuesday, January 28, 2025. 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 unanimous yea vote. Lake County Board members present in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 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. Others absent: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston. Also present: County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Interim County Auditor/ Treasurer Ronni Radle, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza, Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy, Planning Commission member John Bathke, 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. Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) Executive Director Paul Peltier provided a presentation regarding RAMS’ core functions, legislative priorities, membership, and service area in the taconite assistance area. Lobbyists do work on behalf of the organization. Some topics include housing, energy, economic development, and health care. The organization exists for information sharing and increasing communication between and among intergovernmental units. RAMS is bound by statute for eligible membership.
Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler provided an update on the Silver Bay water main break, an update on Emergency Management working with Everbridge regarding alerts. The City of Silver Bay declared an emergency, as advised by City Administrator Lana Fralich. The alert included to reduce water use immediately. Sheriff Stadler advised that the link to sign up for emergency alerts is on the county web site. Lake County Interim Auditor / Treasurer Ronni Radle advised that the 2023 Audit is still in process, in the review stage, for both the County and for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). Auditor Radle advised that property tax mailing will be going out soon. Auditor Radle also provided a Fiscal Disparities update. Legislation may possibly be introduced in 2026 with respect to the taconite relief area of the fiscal disparity program. Lake County Land Commissioner Nate Eide provided an update with respect to the Association of Land Commissioners.
Lake County Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy was present for any questions on proposed action items and proposed fee schedule changes. Lake County Highway Engineer Jason DiPIazza review proposed agenda items on behalf of the Lake County Highway Department. Engineer DiPiazza advised that we are drafting policy on use of aggregate use resources, for example. The draft policy will address unauthorized uses of these finite resources. Engineer DiPiazza discussed providing transportation economically for the County. This may be a workshop topic for the near future, advised Lake County Commissioner Derrick Goutermont. Engineer DiPiazza provided clarification on a couple of the action items (consent agenda items five and six), regarding design and construction. There was a discussion that for the Senior Citizens Workshop & Art Center request, that the $10,000 would reduce the recreation funds for the City by $10,000, which changes that allocation from $36,400 to $26,400.
Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy left the meeting at 2:46 p.m., which was prior to the Fee Schedule discussion.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 02 – Approve an allocation in the amount of $10,000, for calendar year 2025, to Senior Citizens Workshop & Art Center located in Two Harbors, Minnesota, to be disbursed in February of 2025. Further resolved, the Lake County Board of Commissioners approves a corresponding decrease to the recreation budget allocation for the City of Harbors of the same amount. The changes approved in this resolution are for 2025 only. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND HOGENSON: 03 – Approve Consent Agenda as follows:
1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of January 14, 2025
2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts:
a. Administrative Payments $ 23,594.45
b. Special Payments $ 41,335.09
3. Approve and authorize the Environmental Services Director to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lake County (County of Lake) and Silver Creek Township (The Town of Silver Creek (TTOSC)) for the use of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Grant funded recycling trailer and carport building. It is anticipated that this MOU will be approved and signed by Silver Creek Township at the next Township meeting on January 21, 2025.
4. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign the Special Event Permit for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon scheduled for March 2, 2025, and located at the Alger Grade Pit and along the North Shore Snowmobile Trail. This event was originally scheduled for January 26, 2025, and the permit was approved on December 17, 2024, however, due to lack of snow and poor trail conditions, the marathon has been rescheduled.
5. Authorize the Highway Engineer to sign a contract amendment with MSA Professional Services in the amount of $9,390.00 for additional design and project management services to provide updates to plans, specs, and cost estimating on project SP 038-607-015 for a revised total contract value not to exceed $86,934.60.
6. Authorize the Highway Engineer and Board Chair to sign an Engineering Services Agreement with Erickson Engineering for an amount of $86,400.00 for construction engineering, staking, observation, and project management for the construction of project SP 038-607-015, Bridge 38J44, CSAH 7 (Cramer Road) over Ninemile Creek, in UT 1.
7. Authorize Highway Department payment to Ascendance Truck Service of Duluth at a cost not to exceed $15,000.00 for repairs to Highway Department Equipment Unit 3152, the heavy equipment maintenance field truck, a 2015 Ford F-650 custom built truck.
8. Authorize the Highway Engineer and Board Chair to sign an Engineering Services Agreement with LHB for an amount of $164,875.00 for construction engineering, staking, observation, and project management for the construction of project CP 102-024-001 (SAP 038- 598-009, Bridge 38538, Hawk Hill Road (CR 102) over Knife River, in UT 2.
9. Authorize the Highway Engineer and Board Chair to sign an Engineering Services Agreement with Bolton & Menk for an amount of $25,740.00 for hydraulic study and preliminary structure type selection and sizing reports for the replacement of Bridge L8089 (4th Street over Skunk Creek) and 92775 (Park Road over Skunk Creek) in the City of Two Harbors.
10. Authorize the Highway Engineer and Board Chair to sign an Engineering Services Agreement with WSB for an amount of $263,628.00 for construction engineering, staking, observation, and project management for the construction of project SAP 038-602-036, Highway 2 Reconditioning (CSAH 2), from White Pine Picnic Area to Greenwood Lake in Silver Creek and Stony River Townships. Absent: None
County Commissioner Derrick Goutermont made a motion regarding approving the 2025 Lake County Fee Schedule. The motion was supported by County Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd. During discussion, it was voiced that there are outstanding questions and concerns over some of the proposed fee schedule changes. County Commissioners discussed tabling the fee schedule until the next action meeting. County Commissioner Derrick Goutermont withdrew the motion, and County Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd withdrew support for the motion.
MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 04 – Motion to table the 2025 Lake County Fee Schedule until the next action meeting on February 11, 2025. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Set the County Sheriff 2025 Salary at $127,000 and Health Care Savings Plan contribution at $2,000. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 06 – Set the County Recorder 2025 Salary at $92,500 and Health Care Savings Plan contribution at $2,000. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 07 – Approve the trial appointment of Seth Kroll, Highway Maintenance Worker, to Highway Maintenance Supervisor at the Step 1 rate of $31.89 per hour effective February 1, 2025. Absent: None.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 08 – Approve and authorize the Board Chair and/or the County Administrator to enter into an agreement with Consolidated Telephone Company, doing business as CTC. CTC is a local to Minnesota business and was involved in the original deployment of the Lake County Fiber project. This agreement is a four-year agreement allowing CTC to become the sole provider for Internet Transport services for Lake County at a monthly cost of $5,013.00 and a one-time cost of $25,000. Further resolved, this resolution includes the information about Project Process, Project Cost, Billing, Locations, and Benefits to Lake County. Absent: None.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 09 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:19 p.m. Absent: None
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meeting to be held 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, February 4, 2025.
• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
ATTEST:
Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
