Kittson County Board proceedings September 21, 2021

Kittson County Board Proceedings
September 21, 2021

The Kittson County Board of Commissioners met, pursuant to adjournment, on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 9 a.m. The following members were present; Commissioners Gillie, Younggren, Kraulik, Olson, Johnson and County Administrator Brian Buhmann.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Gillie, the pledge to the flag was given.
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to approve the agenda with noted changes.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve the meeting minutes from September 7, 2021.
Sheriff Mark Wilwant met with the Board in regards to offering benefits to a Part-time employee in his depart who is a floater between Dispatching and being a Deputy. The hours worked by the employee make them eligible for full-time employee benefits. Cost to cover benefits for the rest of 2021 is approximately $3,400 and the costs of the benefits have been budgeted in the proposed 2022 budget. Offering these benefits was a recommendation from the Personnel Committee. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and carried unanimously to approve the benefits.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve meal reimbursements and payment of the following amounts with a detailed listing maintained on file in the Finance Office.
Auditor’s Warrants
September 7, 2021 $ 1, 121.19 September 8, 2021 $ 215,940.67
September 9, 2021 $ 968.58
September 10, 2021 $ 2,313,290.70
September 17, 2021 $ 660,045.77
Commissioner’s Warrants
September 24, 2021 $ 353,065.59
Meal Reimb $ 127.58 Jamie Osowski, Soil and Water Conservation District Manager met with the County Board to discuss program updates and projects worked on in 2021. Planning for the 2022 Budget, a request was made to have Osowski outline and show how the funding is spent through the projects being offered at Soil and water.
Administrator Buhmann met with the Board and presented two options in regards to the County email licensing and provided a recommendation of doing a one year renewal with Daston Corporation for $5,875.00. A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and passed unanimously to approve the renewal of licenses with Daston Corporation.
Kathy Johnson, Social Services Director presented for Board approval of the biennial Minnesota Families Investment Plan (MFIP). Johnson shared the number of clients serviced through this service and of the agency high success rate of 87%. A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve the biennial MFIP Plan.
Meeting with the County Board was County Engineer Andrea Weleski and Assistant County Engineer Keith Klegstad who discussed a revised Kittson County Policy on Culvert Maintenance. The revised Culvert Maintenance Policy will state that the Highway Department will pay for half of the pipe up to $1,200.00. This will save the Department funding and will create equal participation from requesters. Discussion held in regard to pipe size and a requester ordering a larger than needed pipe diameter. County Engineer Andrea Weleski shared the pipe size is determined by the Watershed District and their recommend is followed.
The following quotes were presented by County Engineer Andrea Weleski for fuel:
Cenex $3.159/gallon
Johnson Oil $2.76/ gallon
Discussion held on making sure that seasonal blends are being included in the quote. A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and passed unanimously to approve the quote from Johnson Oil.
Engineer Andrea Weleski presented an application for approval of an application to relocate utilities submitted by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to relocate a water level monitoring station currently located at the northwest corner of bridge # 35536 crossing the North Branch of Two Rivers. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve application to relocate the utility.
Discussion held with Engineer Andrea Weleski on using budget reserves to purchase a new garage heater, shop doors and the replacement of a pickup. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to allow Weleski to pursue quotes on items mentioned to be brought back to the Board for final approval.
Updates provided by Weleski included the posting of an advertisement for an opening for a motor grader operator to be placed in the newspaper, research on fees associated with drone camera services, 17 bridge inspections and the new bridge project starting this week west of the city of Lancaster on CSAH 6.
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve the renewal of the Group Medicare Insurance Plan.
A motion made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to renew the agreement with Kittson Memorial Hospital Association for Public Health Services.
Board Committee reports were given.
Administrator Buhmann passed out tax-forfeiture packets to the Commissioners to review properties located within their District and set a valuation for the properties.
Administrator Buhmann announced openings in the Two Rivers Watershed District for Board of Managers, and that the Northwest Regional Development Commission was also seeking to fill openings in their Commission.
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Olson and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:27 a.m.
Theresia Gillie,
Kittson County Board Chair
ATTEST: Brian E. Buhmann,
Kittson County Administrator
(October 13, 2021)
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