Kittson County Board of Commissioners July 5, 2022

Kittson County Board of Commissioners
July 5, 2022

The Kittson County Board of Commissioners met, pursuant to adjournment on July 5, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Younggren. The pledge to the flag was given.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the agenda with additions of minutes from the Board of Appeals and Equalization.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve the Board of Appeal and Equalization minutes from June 21, 2022.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve the Board minutes from June 21, 2022 with corrections.
Lynell Simonson-Popowski-Regional Transportation Coordinator discussed meetings she has attended with Commissioner Johnson and Social Services Director Kathy Johnson on the need to develop a local volunteer driver program for Kittson County. There was discussion on the Local Human Services Transit Coordination Plan (LCP) being developed locally with Social Services to meet the need for client transportation. A brief discussion on the electronic vehicle EV, charging stations in our region. There will be continued meetings and discussions on addressing this local need.
Janelle Wald Kovar introduced herself to the Board as the new Director of the Northwest Private Industry Council. Kovar presented a renewal of the joint power agreement for the workforce service area that includes Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve the renewal of the joint powers agreement effective July 1, 2022 and running until June 30, 2024.
Andrea Weleski, County Engineer presented:
• Drainage Guidelines- Tabled from May 3, 2022 to first meeting in August.
• Legal Ditch Policy -Tabled from May 3, 2022 to first meeting in August.
• Discussion held on increasing the equipment rental rates by 20%. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve an increase to the equipment rental by 20%. These rates have not been increased since 2014 and would have increased to follow inflation over the past nine years. Effective for 2023.
• Discussion held on stabilizing the contracted services with townships who seek county highway services. Currently there is no language asking for a year or more commitment for services which is difficult for budgeting and human resource deployment. With the three-year commitment from the townships, it will ease the budget and personnel resources for the county highway department. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve having townships sign a three-year agreement with the county highway department for blading and snow plowing.
• Weleski shared the permit fee structure for closing a road for special events. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Younggren and unanimously carried to approve the setting of permit fees beginning in 2023.
• Keith Klegstad shared a schedule of fees that could be charged to townships for the different types of bridges that require inspection. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve fee schedule presented for charging townships for bridge inspections effective 2023.
• Weleski led discussion on difficulties of renewing certification of RT Vision software to complete employee payroll currently working on this for the last three weeks.
Administrator Buhmann presented the Personnel Committee’s recommendation for the compensation package for the highway engineer’s four-year contract:
Personnel committee recommends the following:
Current salary is $115,000.00
2022 Cost of living adjustment ($1,560.00) and no step increase
2 023 Cost of living adjustment ($1,560.00) and $4,000.00
2024 Cost of living adjustment (TBD) and $4,000.00
2025 Cost of living adjustment (TBD) and $4,000.00
Negotiation of compensation to begin at contract renewal.
Effective with the first payroll in July 2022.
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to approve the compensation package recommendation as presented.
Administrator Buhmann presented a maintenance service agreement with Cummins, Inc. for three-year service contract for $3,867.15 to conduct annual inspection and full servicing and battery replacement of the courthouse generator.
Commissioner Gillie discussed the Dancing Sky resolution to support legislation to appropriate $5 million dollars in critical funding to the state senior meal program for FY 2023.A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve Resolution #22-25.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve bills and meal reimbursements.
Commissioner’s
Warrants $134,389.67
Per Diems $360.00
Meal Reimbursements $82.60
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve per diems and expense sheets.
Administrator Buhmann presented a summary of the Purchasing Committee’s recent meeting held to discuss an option to purchase a different snowplow truck that was available. Buhmann shared that a refundable deposit was put down with the dealer to hold the vehicle until the Purchasing Committee could discuss the prospect of pursuing its purchase. After discussion with the highway engineer, the Purchasing Committee’s recommendation was not to purchase said vehicle. Reason provided included cost to break current state contract for vehicle purchased, removal of current equipment and install of preferred equipment on vehicle, and vehicle being 2 years older than the contracted vehicle. No action was taken.
Administrator Buhmann presented a summary of a meeting with Scot Olson, County Emergency Management Service, Commissioners Gillie and Younggren and himself pertaining to financial needs of some townships due to the length of this year’s flooding situation and the rising cost associated with the debris clean-up. Recommendation coming from this meeting was to write to our federal legislators and ask them to expedite the release of FEMA funds needed by our townships. Jurisdictional concerns were raised if the county were to financial assist the townships at this time.
Committee reports- Commissioner Gillie stated that a quorum of participants was not reached for the Alluma committee and so did not meet. No other reports were given.
Correspondence-Red River Basin Commissioner sent letter request joint power member fee from Kittson County. Administrator Buhmann noted that the fee was based on the county’s population from FY2000 and that he would reach out to the organization and ask for an adjusted fee payment. A motion made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously approved paying the adjusted membership fee.
Marshall & Polk Rural Water System, forwarded a copy of their 2021 Audit for the Commissioners to review.
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Gillie to adjourn the meeting at 10:37 a.m.
Loren Younggren,
Kittson County Board Chair
ATTEST: Brian E. Buhmann,
Kittson County Administrator
(July 27, 2022)
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