OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Lake County Board Acting Chairperson / Vice Chair 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, 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 absent: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston. Also present: Interim County Attorney Lara Nygaard, Interim County Auditor / Treasurer Ronni Radle, Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza, County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Director Matthew Johnson, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.

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

Lake County Acting Board Chairperson Derrick Goutermont opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made. Interim County Attorney Lara Nygaard, Interim County Auditor / Treasurer Ronni Radle, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, and Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza provided updates for their respective departments’ current requests for board action.

Interim County Attorney Lara Nygaard provided an update on the Ronald Lanthier cartway petition. County Board Resolution No. 25090902, Resolution Requiring a Bond or Other Security on a Cartway Proceeding was adopted by the Lake County Board of Commissioners on September 9, 2025. The petitioner plans to have the security bond ready in the near future. There is no board action on the cartway petition today. Lake County HRA Director Matt Johnson provided updates on several HRA projects.

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH:02 – Recess the Lake County Board of Commissioners’ meeting at 2:21 p.m. Absent: Sve

During the recess of the County Board meeting, a public hearing was convened at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comments on a proposed use change of land in Lake County, Minnesota, for Parcel # 27-5707-30790 and Parcel # 27-5707-30730. The proposed use for the Parcels is to be transferred to the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to lead to the development of affordable housing. There are separate meeting minutes for that public hearing. The public hearing was closed at 2:54 pm. The Lake County Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 3:00 p.m. with all members present, except for County Commissioner Rich Sve.

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

1. Approve County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of September 9, 2025.
2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts:
   a. Administrative Payments
   $ 23,889.02
   b. ABHI Region 3 Payments
   $ 50,938.40
   c. Special Payments
   $ 45,937.18
3. Accept bid and approve payment upon successful completion of the projects for the following:
   a. God’s Wilderness Road North: $5,790.00 to Silver Hill Land Improvements
   b. God’s Wilderness Road: $5,995.00 to Silver Hill Land Improvements
4. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Agreement for Professional Services between Lake County and Bolton & Menk, Inc. for 2025 Park System Inventory and Condition Assessment in the City of Two Harbors, in an amount not to exceed
   $12,000.00.
5. Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign the Communication Facility Lease / Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
   Contract Number: 1060881, Tower Name: Schroeder, AT&T Site: #MNL05494.
6. Authorize the 2025 Municipal Maintenance Distribution to the City of Two Harbors in the amount of $23,827.48.
7. Authorize the 2025 Municipal Maintenance Distribution to the City of Silver Bay in the amount of $23,362.76.
8. Authorize the Board Chair, Highway Engineer, Auditor and Attorney to sign a Cooperative Agreement with St. Louis County to bid, award, and contract for a joint project to
   perform pavement marking maintenance on Lake County non-State Aid roads and make payment to St.Louis County of $500 for administration fees plus the value of the contract for work on Lake County roads.
9. Approve the reappointment of Kay Sheils, 681 Valley Road, Two Harbors, MN 55616, from County Commissioner District 5 to the Lake County Extension Committee (CEC). This appointment to the Lake CEC is Sheils’ second term as a member of the committee and is
   for a three-year term from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028.
10. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-25-022r, submitted by Derk & Barbara Gibson at 1806 Hwy 12, Two Harbors, MN55616.
11. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-25-023r, submitted by Jared McGriff at 6803 Salveson Road, Finland, MN55603
    12. Approve and authorize the Lake County Board Chair to sign the Transportation Services Project Agreement between Lake County and Redbird Transportation for the period of October 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 for the term of this contract. Absent: Sve
        
        

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND BALTICH: 04 – Approve the change in employee status of Wendy Morlang, Accounting Manager, due to completion of trial period effective September 23, 2025. Absent: Sve

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Approve the resignation of Amy Overby,
Administrative Clerk, effective October 24, 2025 Absent: Sve

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND HOGENSON: 06 – Approve the recruitment for one part-time Administrative Clerk. Absent: Sve

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 07 – Adopt Resolution Changing Use of Land, for Parcel Numbers 27-5707-30730 and 27-5707-30790. These parcels are also identified in Lake County Board Resolution No. 24042307, adopted on April 23, 2024, for the development of affordable housing. Absent: Sve

MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 08 – Set the date and time for the 2026 Levy and Budget Public Hearing (Truth in Taxation meeting) as follows: 6:00 PM on December 2, 2025, at the Lake County Highway Department Headquarters, 1513 Highway 2, Two Harbors, Minnesota. Absent: Sve

MOTION BALTICH, SECOND HURD: 09 – Adopt the preliminary 2026 Net Property
Tax Levy for Unorganized Territory No. 1 in the amount of $25,000. Absent: Sve

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 10 – Adopt the preliminary 2026 Net Property Tax Levy for Unorganized Territory No. 2 in the amount of $431,250 (Revenue Fund in the amount of $106,250 and Road and Bridge Fund in the amount of $325,000). Absent: Sve

MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 11 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 3:04 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:
• Agenda meeting at 2:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

ATTEST:
Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Derrick Goutermont, Acting Board
Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners