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KITTSON COUNTY BOARD PROCEEDINGS – November 2, 2020 and November 17, 2020

KITTSON COUNTY BOARD PROCEEDINGS
NOVEMBER 2, 2020
The Kittson County Board of Commissioners met pursuant to adjournment on Tuesday, November 2, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. The following members were present; Commissioners Gillie, Johnson, Wikstrom and Younggren. Absent; Commissioner Olson.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Gillie. The pledge to the flag was given.
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, and seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the agenda as amended.
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to approve the minutes from the October 20, 2020 County Board meeting as written.
Meeting with the County Board were District Court Judge Tamara Yon, Court Administrator Pam Shaw and Assistant County Attorney Jeff Hane, Also present was Heather Bruley, County Assessor.
The Judge informed the Board of the interest in establishing a Kiosk in the Law Library to provide legal services for individuals who qualify. Also discussed was purchasing new chairs with Cares Act Funds through the 9th Judicial District for the courtroom that can be easily cleaned; security cameras in the courtroom and Court Administrator’s Office and relocating the Court Administrator’s Office. A floor plan was presented showing current office locations as well as the square footage. The Assessor’s Office occupies approximately 1,018 square feet and the Court Administrator’s Office occupies approximately 689 square feet which would not allow for swapping office space. Other options will be looked at with regard to the space where the Law Library is located.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wikstrom, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to approve the per diems and expense sheets for the month of October.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wikstrom, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the payment of the following amounts, with a detailed listing kept on file in the finance office.
Auditor’s Warrants
September 16, 2020    $    1,576.24
September 23, 2020    $    3,156.95
October 14, 2020    $  93,166.96
October 20, 2020    $  12,268.39
October 23, 2020    $  64,743.86
October 28, 2020    $  72,771.21
October 28, 2020    $300,370.51
October 30, 2020    $  67,244.56
Commmissioner’s Warrants
November 6, 2020    $100,348.97
Committee Reports were given.
Meeting with the County Board were Keith Klegstad, Assistant County Engineer and Lon Aune, Marshall County Engineer. A discussion was held on the County Engineer position and funding eligibility for county roads. The road in question is on the quarter section line located in section twenty-six (26) of Deerwood Township entering Wagon Wheel Ridge.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wikstrom, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the purchase of two laptops and webcams for a total of $1,235.16 for Driver License Exams; additional equipment in the amount of $538.42 to allow the Assessor’s Office to work from and a television with Ethernet connection in the amount of $1,059 for the County Board room to allow for tele conferencing. All funds to be paid with Cares Act Funds.
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to authorize Kathy Johnson, Social Services Director to attest to the compliance program oversight activities by UCARE.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wikstrom, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the Purchas of Services Agreement with Northwestern Mental Health Center Inc for the 2021 calendar year.
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Wikstrom and unanimously carried to approve the Interagency Agreement between Kittson County and the Department of Human Services for Child Care Background Checks.
Meeting with the County Board was Scot Olson, Emergency Management Director, to request purchasing Personal Protective Equipment for Lake Bronson, Hallock, Kennedy and Karlstad Fire Departments and four sanitizers for total of $71,200 purchases to be paid with Cares Act Funding.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wikstrom, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the purchases.
A discussion was held on the condition of the front entrances of the Courthouse. The aluminum framing which holds the glass windows and panels has deteriorated and does not hold the panels and glass in place. The Administrative Coordinator was instructed to obtain quotes for the repairs.
A discussion was held on the possibility of sharing a County Engineer with Roseau County. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Wikstrom and unanimously carried to approve looking into a joint agreement to share an Engineer. A joint meeting will be scheduled in the near future to discuss the details of such an arrangement.
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Wikstrom and unanimously carried to set the following ditch levies and budgets for property taxes payable in 2021. #20-38
2021 DITCH LEVIES
BE IT RESOLVED that the Kittson County Board of Commissioners has set the budget and levies for 2021 for the ditches in Kittson County as follows:
2021 DITCH LEVIES
BE IT RESOLVED that the Kittson County Board of Commissioners has set the budget and levies for 2021 for the ditches in Kittson County as follows:
County    2021    2021    County    2021    2021
Ditch #    Levy    Expenses    Ditch #    Levy    Expense
#1    -0-    1,500    #28    3,000    5,000
#4    5,500    3,000    #29    -0-    1,000
#8    5,000    8,000    #30    1,000    1,000
#9    8,000    8,000    #31    5,000    3,000
#11    0    500    #33    1,500    -0-
#12    5,000    -0-
#13    7,500    7,500    State    2021    2021
#14    2,000    1,000    Ditch #    Levy    Expenses
#15    -0-    2,000    #1    6,000    4,000
#16    -0-    2,000    #48    1,000    500
#17    -0-    1,000    #84    20,000    10,000
#18    -0-    5,000    #85    -0-    6,000
#19    17,500    1,500
#20    3,500    -0-
#22    2,500    2,500    Judicial    2021    2021
#23    5,000    5,000    Ditch#    Levy    Expenses
#25    2,500    1,500    #31    11,500    1,000
#26    -0-    1,000    #32    -0-    -0-
#27    4,500    1,500

Set by Joint Ditch Boards        Joint    2021    2021
Ditch #    Levy    Expenses
#33    -0-    -0-
#50    -0-    1,500
#72    3,000    3,000
#90    20,000    10,000
#95    -0-    -0-
Voting in favor: Commissioners Gillie, Johnson, Wikstrom and Younggren.
Voting against: None.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wikstrom, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting.
The Board adjourned to November 17, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
Theresia Gillie, CHAIRPERSON
ATTEST: Marilyn Gustafson, Administrative Coordinator
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KITTSON COUNTY BOARD PROCEEDINGS
November 17, 2020
The Kittson County Board of Commissioners met, pursuant to adjournment on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Commissioner Wikstrom was absent.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Gillie. The pledge to the flag was given.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the agenda with the omission of Item 4 and addition of Item 15 regarding a pending request for digital preservation of County birth and death records.
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve the payment of the following amounts, with a detailed listing kept on file in the Finance Office:
Auditor’s Warrants
November 6, 2020    $ 2,396,609.22
Commissioner’s Warrants
November 17, 2020    $  221,377.64
Meal Reimbursements:    $41.07
The County Board reviewed a quote from Thief River Glass to replace the existing glass, doors, and insulated panels on the two northern entrances to the courthouse. After some discussion this item was tabled until a second quote could be procured.
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve the 2021 National Association of Counties membership and payment of associated dues.
Meeting with the County Board was Scot Olson, Kittson County Emergency Manager. Olson provided a summary of requests from his department to purchase personal protective equipment and other items to reduce the spread of COVID-19 utilizing funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, totaling $65,000. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the requests as presented. County Administrator Dillon Hayes provided an update on CARES Act purchases authorized to-date and the remaining available balance. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to authorize Administrator Hayes to spend the remaining balance.
Committee Reports were given.
The County Board discussed a request from Trish Short Lewis regarding the digitization of Kittson County birth and death records; no action was taken.
Meeting with the County Board was Keith Klegstad, Kittson County Assistant Engineer. Klegstad provided an update on the status of 2020 engineering projects, annual bridge inspections, ongoing survey work, the Hallock dam, FEMA funding, and the 2019 five-year plan. Klegstad also updated the County Board on the status of the search for a new County Engineer. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to approve the low quote from C.L. Linfoot for HVAC system updates, with an AC update to follow in 2021. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the purchase of five new engineering computers from CDW-G for engineering staff. A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve final payment to Taggart Contracting for project SAP 035-599-121.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson and seconded by Commissioner Younggren to adopt the following resolution:         #20-39
bridge priority
WHEREAS, Kittson County has determined that the following deficient bridges on the CSAH, County Road and Township systems are a high priority and require replacement or rehabilitation within the next five (5) years, and
Preliminary Estimated
Proposed     Project No.    Bridge No.     Road No.    Project Cost
2022    SAP 035-598-012    6181    Co. Rd. 55        250,000
WHEREAS, local roads play an essential role in the overall state transportation network and local bridges are the critical component of the local road systems, and
WHEREAS, State support for the replacement or rehabilitation of local bridges continues to be crucial to maintaining the integrity of the local road systems and is necessary for the County and the townships to proceed with the replacement or rehabilitation of the high priority deficient bridges described above, and
WHEREAS, Kittson County intends to proceed with replacement or rehabilitation of these bridges as soon as possible when State Transportation Bond Funds are available,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Kittson County commits that it will proceed with the design and contract documents for these bridges immediately after being notified that funds are available in order to permit construction to take place within one year of notification.
Voting in favor: Commissioners Gillie, Johnson, Olson, and Younggren.
Voting against: None
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Gillie and unanimously carried to approve soliciting quotes for the removal of a farm crossing and 72” culvert on County Ditch 8. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to approve executing a new agreement with Marshall County for the services of an interim county engineer, beginning in December and continuing into perpetuity until terminated by Kittson County.
Meeting with the County Board was Pat Klegstad, Deputy Sheriff. Klegstad provided an update on the status of the 2019 and 2020 Operation Stonegarden grants. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the 2019 Operation Stonegarden grant agreement. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to authorize Deputy Klegstad to continue work on the 2020 grant agreement.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting.
The Board adjourned to December 1, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
Theresia Gillie, Kittson County Board Chair
ATTEST: Dillon Hayes, Kittson County Administrator
(December 9, 2020)
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