PROCEEDINGS OF THE MARTIN COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AUGUST 1, 2000
@ 9:00 A.M.
Chairman Pierce called the meeting
to order at 9:00 a.m. Those present were Commissioners Steve Donnelly, Leighton
Hugoson, Howard Elliott and Jean Burkhardt. Also present were Steve Mangan,
Auditor/Treasurer, Scott Higgins, County Coordinator, Terry Viesselman, County
Attorney, Robert Witty, County Engineer, Harry Jenness, environmental service
Director and Becky Schlorf Van Holdt, the new Environmental Technician Water
Planner/Feedlot Inspector.
Harry Jenness, Environmental Service
Director, introduced Becky Schlorf Van Holdt, the new Environmental Technician,
to the Board. The Board welcomed Becky to her new position.
Terry Viesselman, County Attorney,
presented items for discussion regarding the time against the Minnesota
Counties Insurance Trust for Attorneys fees that the Board incurred in defense
of the Amberfield case and to seek cash settlement payment from the Minnesota
Counties Insurance Trust with regard to the Amberfield case.
The County Attorney presented the
Chain of Lakes Juvenile Resource Center Detention Facility Use Agreement
Contract, stating that the Board of Commissioners had previously approved the
contract in 1996 but it was an incomplete contract because the Department of
Corrections had not signed the Contract.
Viesselman stated that the County
had received a grant in the amount of $40,000 and contributed it to the Chain
of Lakes Juvenile Resource Center for detention beds at the secure facility. In
order to clean up the title of the Juvenile Resource Center facility the Board
needed to re-ratify this agreement.
Commissioner Hugoson presented a
concern with payment to a septic contractor in the amount of $5,000 and that
there were questions regarding loan documents that were signed by the owner.
Harry Jenness, Environmental Service Director, stated that the loan documents
were not signed by the owner of the property and that the County had no
obligation in paying the septic contractor in this case. After much discussion,
the Environmental Service Director was to take the matter to the Sheriffs
department to proceed on this case.
Robert Witty, Highway Engineer,
presented the CY2001 budget proposal to the Board, as well as the budget from
July 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000. Witty stated that the highway Department is
asking for an increase levy of 2%. This is the first increase in 12 years for
CY2001. The proposed expenditures for the highway budget for 2001 is
$5,094,000.
Witty stated that three box culverts
were being put in on Highway #26 instead of a bridge and gave an update on the
Sanitary Sewer System being installed in Dunnell, MN.
Witty presented a resolution for
Bridge Grant Monies. Witty stated that Martin County has applied with the
Commissioner of Transportation for a grant from the MN State Transportation
Fund for the construction of S.A.P. 46-644-11 Bridge #46569 over Cedar Lake and
that the application has been reviewed by Region Nine Regional Development
Commission and the amount of the grant is determined to be $156,102.50.
Witty gave an update to the Board on
the Park Committee that had reviewed the electric service to the shelter in
Wolter Park and recommended that it be done.
Commissioner Burkhardt stated that
there has been a request from Doug Scholl to apply dust control on County Road
#103. Stating that the dust being stirred up from the trucks on the Tenaska
project are a detriment to his crops. Burkhardt stated that the County would provide
dust control for the roads along the construction site only and that Tenaska
would be paying for this dust control.
Commissioner Pierce requested that
the Martin County Survey Office give an update to the Board regarding the
GIS/GPS Countywide project. Witty stated that in the beginning Bolton and Menk
Engineering had done 202 points for Martin County and then the Martin County
Surveyor, Madsen took over the project. Witty stated that he would bring Madsen
into the next Board meeting to update the Board on the GPS Project.
Commissioner Elliott stated that
there was paving machines parked on Highway #28 and leaving asphalt and other
debris on the road. Witty stated that he would make sure that the contractor
cleans up the area.
The Auditor/Treasurer and Coordinator
presented the preliminary Budget Reports for CY2001 to the Board. Mangan stated
that the HACA had not been calculated and he had not received a budget request
from Faribault/Martin County Human Services. The Coordinator stated that before
the end of the year a five-year capital improvement plan would be formulated.
The Board set August 7, and August 22, at 8:30 a.m. for half-day sessions for
budget workshops.
The Coordinator presented a request
to finish the Courthouse Signage project, which was not completed when the
elevator addition was put on to the Courthouse. There will be three directories
built and that in the directories would be two inch by ten-inch nameplates of
the offices and their locations.
The Coordinator presented the MCIT
Health care rates for 2001. The Board asked that the Coordinator and
Auditor/Treasurer research options regarding the increases in healthcare costs
to the employees for budgetary purposes and to come to the Board with
recommendations.
The Coordinator reminded the Board
of the Farewell reception of Linda Sandberg, Court administrator, Sandberg has
taken another position in the private sector.
The Coordinator reminded the Board
that the Victim Witness Program of Martin County has a grant available to hire
part-time assistance to the Victim Witness Coordinator and that hiring would be
done in the next two weeks.
The Coordinator gave the Board an
update regarding the Security Building West Wall. The project was complete.
There was a $5,000 contingency that was not spent. The cost of the project was
$47,735.00.
Commissioner Burkhardt reminded the
Board that there will be a walk through at Cedar Hanson Park, Saturday August
5, 2000 at 9:30 a.m. and the Board and public are welcomed to review the
Management Plan for Cedar Hanson Park.
Commissioner Elliott stated that the
Fox Lake Improvement District is going forward little by little establishing a
wastewater collection facility and is still waiting for the County attorneys
opinion on the FLID status regarding the Rural Development Grant.
The Coordinator presented
documentation regarding auto liability coverage for the University of MN
Extension employees. On June 9, 2000 the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust
Board of directors took action to add language expanding auto liability
coverage to employees, officials, and volunteers of other public entities when
working with or in conjunction with the County. It is recommended that members
of MCIT have on record drivers license information for any employee of any
public entity that will have access to the Countys vehicles.
The Coordinator informed the Board
that the County has received its summary of the loss control property survey
conducted in Martin County on June 27, 2000. It was recommended that
appropriate County department is notified of MCITs recommendation and to
implement the procedures as recommended.
On motions duly made and adopted the
following actions were taken:
To approve the agenda and its
additions.
To approve the minutes of the July
18th Board of Commissioners Proceedings as written.
To proceed with the claim against
the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust.
To authorize and approve the
Juvenile Resource Detention Facility Use Agreement Contract.
To approve Leach Consultants in
moving forward on the test wells on the cleanup project.
To purchase the backhoe trailer in
the amount of $14,500 for the Highway Shop.
To approve the project regarding a
replacement of a 50x33 foot cement slab in front of the Dunnell Highway Shop in
the amount of approximately $7,000.
To approve and authorize the
submission of the Bridge Grant and that Martin County does hereby affirm that
any cost of the bridge in excess of the grant will be appropriated from the
funds available to the County of Martin. Any grant monies appropriated for the
bridge but not required, based on the final estimate, shall be returned to the
MN State Transportation Fund.
To approve the electric service to
the Shelter in Wolter Park.
To approve the appointment of
Marianne Holtz to the Library Board.
To approve the Grievance Settlement
Agreement regarding Sue Austin and authorize the Chair to sign the agreement.
To approve and authorize the
Courthouse Signage Project not to exceed $1,200.00
The Board reviewed their calendars.
There was no further business and no public input.
The meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
dated this 1st day of August 2000.
BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS
MARTIN
COUNTY, MN
THE COMPLETE MINUTES OF THESE
PROCEEDINGS ARE ON FILE IN THE COORDINATORS OFFICE AT 201 LAKE AVENUE, ROOM
100, FAIRMONT, MN.
SCOTT
HIGGINS,
COUNTY
COORDINATOR