Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by 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 (SRRR), 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota: District 2 Commissioner Derrick “Rick” L. Goutermont, District 3 Commissioner Richard “Rick” C. Hogenson, and District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Board member absent: District 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd. Vacancy: First District. Also present in the SRRR: County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, Health and Human Services Director Lisa Hanson, Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy, Land Commissioner Nate Eide, County Attorney Russ Conrow, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: Hurd
Lake County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made. Lake County Attorney Russ Conrow provided an annual update for the County Attorney’s Office, including an overview of personnel and caseload categories. Mr. Conrow thanked the County Board for approving changes to the Victim-Witness Coordinator position and to an administrative assistant position to include Paralegal duties. These staffing changes have been instrumental. The County Attorney’s Office prosecutes crimes which occur in Lake County, such as felonies, gross misdemeanors, and misdemeanors. They also initiate Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) petitions to protect abused or neglected children in the county, and file involuntary commitment actions to provide necessary treatment for individuals who are mentally ill and/or chemically dependent. Mr. Conrow explained the Minnesota Rule 20 process, criminal competency determinations, and commitments for competency in Minnesota. Rule 20 of the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure governs competency proceedings in criminal court. Under these rules, a defendant is not competent if they cannot rationally consult with counsel, or understand the proceedings, or participate in their own defense. If the judge orders a Rule 20 evaluation, a court-appointed psychological or psychiatric examiner must evaluate the ability of the client to understand the proceedings and work with their attorney. The evaluation must take place within 60 days of the order. Statute does not charge any state agency with competency restoration programming. There is no infrastructure across the state that exists to support the needs for these services. Individuals are provisionally discharged to jails or communities and may not have access to any competency restoration programming. Competency restoration intersects with the mental health system, public safety, and public health.
Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) Risk Management Consultant Tom Suppes presented the 2023 MCIT Report to Lake County, titled Managing Risks Together. MCIT provides tailored coverage to members. As a risk sharing pool, MCIT provides specific lines of coverage and services to meet members’ unique risk exposures. MCIT works to protect the stability and longevity of the program for the benefit of all members. MCIT is not an insurance company. Rather, MCIT is a public joint powers entity dedicated to helping members manage their risks so they can carry out their public service mission to the citizens of Minnesota. Through MCIT, members pool resources to provide property, liability, auto, cyber and workers’ compensation coverage, and to provide programs and services to assist members in managing risks and controlling losses. As a public entity, MCIT understands the unique challenges facing local government and offers ways to address those risks.
The success of MCIT is built on each member’s willingness to support loss prevention and risk management strategies, take reasonable steps to mitigate claims, collaborate with MCIT when losses occur, and fulfill financial obligations to MCIT. Mr. Suppes discussed reinsurance, cyber coverage, and cost-containment measures. Mr. Suppes explained how dividends are based on past claims experience, reflecting actual expenses and the performance of MCIT’s investments. In 2023, the MCIT total dividend was $7 million and was for the Workers’ Compensation Division only. Lake County’s dividend was $62,673. Rates anticipate expenses and are based on projections for the following year. The historical cost of claims and expenses associated with MCIT operations are used to project the amount of contribution needed for the next year. Mr. Suppes reviewed aggregate claims by frequency and by severity, for Workers’ Compensation and Property/Casualty Claims. Workers’ Compensation claims affect County’s contribution. The frequency and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses affect each member’s experience modification (mod) factor. This unique factor is part of the formula used to determine a member’s annual workers’ compensation contribution. Other factors include the amount of payroll in each employee class code and the rate for each class. A mod of 1.0 reflects expected claim development. A factor greater than 1.0 can increase the contribution. A factor less than 1.0 can decrease it. Additionally, Mr. Suppes reviewed Lake County’s mod rate and cost difference. The county’s factor for 2023 is 1.174. The county’s difference from the base cost of coverage is $20,523. Mr. Suppes reviewed that training is available for officials and employees, such as seminars, workshops, on-site presentations, PATROL (Peace Officer Accredited Training Online), training videos, and defensive driving training. MCIT membership includes access to services through partner organizations: Employee Assistance Program, Minnesota Safety Council, and HSB boiler and pressure vessel inspections. Commissioners are encouraged to learn how coverage applies before making final decisions, have contracts reviewed for risk management before signing or approving them, support safety initiatives such as the safety committee and a program to return injured employees to work, support and encourage training and education for all employees, attend risk management training, promote safety at all levels, and engage MCIT.
Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston updated the Lake County Board of Commissioners regarding several items of county business and advised on several legislative updates following the end of the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session. The Minnesota Legislature’s 2023 session adjourned Monday night. Lake County Health and Human Services (LCHHS) Director Lisa Hanson advised regarding staffing needs. Two distinct LCHHS units are staffed with social workers: 1) Children and Family Services and 2) Adults and Development Disability Services. Lake County Environmental Services Director Christine McCarthy provided an update for the requests for board action with respect to the Greater Minnesota Recycling and Composting Grant and presented a change in the planned purchases of items for implementation of the Lake and Cook County and Grand Portage Composting and Recycling Waste to Resources Project. The cost of these items will be reimbursed by the Greater Minnesota Recycling and Composting Grant by June 30, 2023. This item was removed from the Consent Agenda for separate board action.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as amended:
1. Approve Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of May 9, 2023.
2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts:
a. Arrowhead Health Alliance Special Payments $ 5,301.48
b. Region III Payments $ 194,529.55
3. Authorize Highway Department payment to St. Louis County at a cost not to exceed $111,300.00 for SAP 038-030-011, 2023 State Aid Highway Pavement Marking Maintenance.
4. Authorize the Board Chair to sign a Joint Powers agreement with the City of Silver Bay for Reconstruction of East Lakeview Drive, project SAP 038-600-019 and SAP 038- 594-001.
5. Approve and authorize Lake County Health and Human Services to purchase the Essential Health Curriculum, published by Goodheart-Willcox, for students in the Lake Superior School District using opioid settlement funding in the amount of $17,678.30.
6. Approve and authorize the Lake County Environmental Services Director to sign the Program Agreement between the Regents of the University of Minnesota through its Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnership to provide programing for the Lake County, Cook County and Grand Portage Band Composting and Recycling Waste to Resources Project. The programming will include assisting in the pilot projects of recycling and composting and assist in the feasibility study in Lake County, Cook County and Grand Portage.
7. Award bids to Mesabi Bituminous, Inc. for Prospector ATV Aggregate Surfacing Projects for Prospector ATV Phase 1 Contract 7 in the following amounts: $153,235.00 (for Segments 3, 4, and 5) and $28,820.00 (for Segment 6). Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 03 – Authorize the purchase of the following items for implementation of the Lake and Cook County and Grand Portage Composting and Recycling Waste to Resources Project. The cost of these items will be reimbursed by the Greater Minnesota Recycling and Composting Grant by June 30, 2023.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 04 – Approve the appointment of Brock Ernest (District 1, Unorganized Territory No. 1) to serve as a regular member on the Planning Commission, for a term expiring on December 31, 2025. Absent Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 05 – Approve the appointment of Tyler Ellefson (District 2, Beaver Bay Township) to serve as a regular member on the Planning Commission, for a term expiring on December 31, 2025. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 06 – Approve the appointment of Joseph Ernest (District 1, Silver Bay) to serve as a regular member on the Planning Commission, for a term expiring on December 31, 2025. Absent Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 07 – Action to change the appointment of Scott Shelerud (District 5, Knife River) to serve as an alternate member on the Planning Commission, under his current term expiring December 31, 2024. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 08 – Approve the reappointment of Mike Hoops Sr. (District 5, Silver Creek) as a regular member of the Board of Adjustment for a new three-year term expiring on December 31, 2025. Absent Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 09 – Approve the appointment of Beth Hippert (District 3, Two Harbors) as alternate member of the Board of Adjustment for a three-year term expiring December 31, 2025. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 10 – Approve the 67-day temporary appointment of Terry Costello, Mower Operator for Highway Department, at $16.00 per hour including maximum return incentive effective June 12, 2023. Absent Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 11 – Approve the 67-day temporary appointment of Al Lampela, Mower Operator for Highway Department, at $16.00 per hour including maximum return incentive effective June 12, 2023. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 12 – Approve the 67-day temporary appointment of William Bohnen, Mower Operator for Highway Department, at $15.00 per hour including first year return incentive effective June 12, 2023. Absent Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 13 – Approve the Veterans Service Officer changes to the classification structure. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 14 – Approve the Assistant Veterans Service Officer addition to the classification structure. Absent Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 15 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Assistant Veterans Service Officer. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 16 – Approve the resignation of Gloria McCourtney, Human Services Professional, effective May 30, 2023. Absent Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 17 – Approve the probationary appointment of Janel Peer, Dispatcher/Jailer, to Jail Administrator/ PSAP Supervisor at the 2022 Step 2 rate of $28.98 per hour effective May 27, 2023. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 18 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time female Dispatcher/Jailer. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 19 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Appraiser. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 20 – Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the 2023-2025 Labor Agreement between Lake County and Teamsters Local 320 covering Courthouse employees. Absent: Hurd
MOTION GOUTERONT, SECOND HOGENSON: 21 – Approve the recruitment for one full-time Human Services Professional. Absent: Hurd
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 22 – Adjourn Lake County Board of Commissioners’ meeting at 3:20 PM. Absent: None
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:
• County Board Work Session at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
• Agenda meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023
• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2023
ATTEST:
Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioner
