OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Tuesday, September 9, 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. Chair 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. Also present: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Interim County Attorney Lara Nygaard, Interim Auditor/Treasurer Ronni Radle, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: None

Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made. County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business. Administrator Huddleston advised that a cartway petition was received on August 29, 2025, by petitioner Ronald Lanthier. County Attorney Lara Nygaard was present at the County Board meeting to discuss a proposed resolution requiring a bond or other security on a cartway proceeding.

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 02 – Approve resolution requiring a bond or other security on a cartway proceeding, as follows:

WHEREAS, the County Board received a Petition from Ronald Lanthier requesting the establishment of a Cartway pursuant to Minn. Stat. § § 164.07 and164.08 to provide access to property identified as Lake County Tax Parcel No. 25-5311- 03370;

WHEREAS, Petitioner is required to pay all damages, which includes all costs associated with establishment of a Cartway including, but not limited to, compensation to be paid to the owners whose property is made subject to the Cartway, the County’s attorney fees, hearing costs, administrative costs, recording costs, surveying fees, appraisal fees, and such other professional fees/ costs as deemed necessary by the County Board for the establishment of a Cartway;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat.§ 164.08, subd.2 the County Board may, by resolution, require the Petitioner to post a bond or other security acceptable to the Board for the total estimated damages before the Board takes action on the Petition;

WHEREAS, the Board, considering such potential costs such as compensation to be paid to the owners whose property is subject to the Cartway, the County’s attorney fees, hearing costs, administrative costs, recording costs, surveying fees, appraisal fees, and such other professional fees/costs hereby determines that initial estimated costs and damages for the establishment of the Cartway is $7,500.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Petitioner Ronald Lanthier must deposit with the Lake County Auditor the amount of $7,500 or post a bond or other security acceptable to the Board, in advance of the September 23, 2025 Board Meeting in order for the Board to consider making an order describing the proposed Cartway and fixing a time and place where it will meet and act upon the Petition. Absent: None

MOTION HURD, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 03 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented:

1. Approve County Board of mmissioners’ regular meeting minutes of August 26, 2025.
2. Approve Health and Human Services ABHI Region 3 claims payments totaling $28,440.00.
3. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between Lake County and Lake View Hospital for Medical Consulting Services for the period of September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $6,000.00 per year.
4. Authorize the Board Chair, Highway Engineer, Auditor and Attorney to sign a Cooperative Agreement with St. Louis County for a joint project to perform pavement marking maintenance on Lake County State Aid Highways; St. Louis County will bid, award, and contract for the work and Lake County will make payment to St. Louis County of $1,000.00 for administration fees plus the value of the contract for work on Lake County highways.
5. Authorize Highway Department payment to Minnesota Department of Transportation at a cost not to exceed $9,439.19 for construction material testing for Project SAP 038-602-036 (Highway 2 conditioning).
6. Authorize the Highway Department to advertise for bids for a construction contract for Project SAP 038-592-001, Sunset Road Realignment, in accordance with the executed Joint Powers Agreement with Fall Lake Township for this project.
7. Authorize the Highway Engineer to request approval from the Federal Highway administration (FHWA) for inclusion of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on two federally funded projects scheduled for construction in 2026: SP 038-602-035, highway 2 Resurfacing, CSAH 2 (Reeves Road to Wales Road) SP 038-634-001, Bridge 38535 Rehabilitation, CSAH 34 (New Tomahawk Road over Stony River)
8. Authorize payment not to exceed the amount of $10,000 to NuSpire, LLC (Invoice #INV76143877, dated 8/18/2025) for Managed Gateway Services – Firewall annual maintenance and support renewal. The quote extends the renewal date to August 18, 2026.
9. Authorize payment not to exceed the amount of $28,400 to Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI Invoice # 900075607, dated 8/12/2025) for the renewal of our Lake County Small Govt licenses.
10. Approve Lodging Tax disbursement to Lovin Lake County in the amount of $274,769.05.
11. Adopt resolution accepting Commercial Redevelopment and Public Works program grants from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) on behalf of Veterans on the Lake. Absent: None

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 04 – Approve the resignation of Marci Lundgren, Human Services Professional, effective January 2, 2026. Absent: None

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 05 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Human Services Professional. Absent: None

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 06 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Engineering Supervisor. Absent: None

MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 07 – Adopt the preliminary 2026 Net Property Tax Levy of $13,429,822. Absent: None

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 08 – Adopt the preliminary 2026 Net Property Tax Levy for the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (LCHRA) in the amount of $635,497. Absent: None

The Board of Commissioners meeting was recessed at 2:44 PM, followed by a closed session pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.03 for labor negotiations strategy.

The Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 3:57 PM.

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 09 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:58 p.m. Absent: None

The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings:

• Committee of the Whole, at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the Little Marais Community Center, Little Marais, Minnesota.
• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota.

ATTEST:

Laurel D. Buchanan

Clerk of the Board

Rich Sve, Board Chairperson

Lake County Board of Commissioners