KITTSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JULY 19, 2022

KITTSON COUNTY BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS
JULY 19, 2022

The Kittson County Board of Commissioners met, pursuant to adjournment on July 19, 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 Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve the agenda with additions of Ditch 19 & 90 discussion, NWRDC 2023 Levy request, Highway approval of asphalt sealant bid, Highway paying for crop damages on CD 26 to clean up flood damages
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the Board minutes from July 5, 2022.
Andrea Weleski, County Engineer presented:
• A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously carried to accept the crack sealant bid from Brock White in the amount of $37,000.00 because of the extended shelf life of product.
• CSAH 7 continues to be closed due to the sluffing and erosion of the western shoulder. Anticipate bids to fix will be submitted soon.
• Discussion held on paying for crop damages for approximately 2 acres of planted soybeans due to the cleaning out of flood debris in CD 26. Estimated cost to be near $2,000.00. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve payment for anticipated damages.
• Discussion held on road project CSAH 1. Slowed briefly but has an anticipated completion date mid-September.
• Discussion on Lancaster bridge on CSAH 6 stated that the bridge should be open near the end of July.
Weleski and Scot Olson participated in the discussion of CD 19. FEMA funds from the 2020 are available for this ditch which has had sluffing on the slope near the road and its back slope. The cleaning out of the silt in the CD19 is a closed expense through FEMA. The correction of the slopes to a 3 to 1 or a 4 to 1 slope would be considered a modification. Discussion included purchasing land/easement with landowner, are there utilities or pump buried close to the back slope. Ditch has not been surveyed, however continues to use established grading. Recommendation is to have the township fix the sluffing using the FEMA funding of approximately $18,000.00 towards this project. Olson did share that the federal declaration was approved and that the follow-up meeting should be set up soon to meet with local entities.
Kathy Johnson, Social Services Director requested from the Commissioners permission to post for three supervisor positions for her department. As part of the succession plan for her department, the positions would be “working” supervisors who would share supervision duties and carry a caseload or continue to do job duties with added responsibilities. After meeting with the personnel committee, Administrator Buhmann presented the job descriptions to Robert Bjorklund for classification rating. The three positions would be a fiscal supervisor, eligibility supervisor and a child support supervisor. The child support supervisor would be contracted to perform duties with Marshall County who had approached the county asking for this needed service. The three positions will be posted with Board approval. Johnson will bring back to the Board in August the recommendation to fill the positions. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Olson and passed unanimously to approve the job postings.
Administrator Buhmann presented a candidate to fill the open part-time custodial position at 27 hours per work week. The recommendation is that Beau Bakken be offered the position at Grade A-12-2, Step 1 a rate of $17.53/hr. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Gillie and approved unanimously to hire the candidate.
Jamie Osowski-Kittson Soil and Water Director presented a request to have her position named as the signing agent for the AG BMP Loan Program. This is a low interest loan which the Soil and Water Division administers to qualifying landowners in Kittson County. Commissioner Gillie made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and passed unanimously to approve naming the Kittson County Soil and Water Director as the authorized signer for the AG BMP Loan program.
Joe Wilebski Kittson Soil and Water Board member shared his experience in working with the State Agriculture Commissioner on the feedlot grant. A video conference meeting has been scheduled for July 27 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the challenges that the Soil and Water organization has had with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in regard to the feedlot program and he invited the commissioners to join the meeting if they could.
Administrator Buhmann presented a summary of the Purchasing Committee’s recent meeting held to discuss an option to set a budget for the purchasing a vehicle for the transportation of deceased person. Committee recommendation was to set a budget of up to $22,500.00. Administrator Buhmann then shared that there may be a potential option of securing an ambulance for the performing this service. Discussion was held to bring back more information with potentially better options. No action was taken.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Gillie and passed unanimously to approve the bills and meal reimbursements as submitted.
Commissioners July 19 $140,448.85
Auditors July 11 $1,646,672.60
Auditors July 8 $63,462.18
Meal reimbursements $155.48
A motion made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and passed unanimously to approve the Per Diems and expense sheets as submitted.
Administrator Buhmann provided the following updates:
• State Primary elections are to be held August 9th.
• The public testing of the election equipment is scheduled for August 1 at 2 p.m. in the Taxpayer Services office.
• John Kolb from Rinke Noonan has opened a new file on Joint Ditch 90, pertaining to the airport project in Karlstad, MN and the drainage of lands into Joint Ditch 90 which may need to be added to the benefitted area.
• Northwest Regional Development Commission has set its 2023 ad valorem tax levy for the seven counties. For Kittson County this will amount to $31,067.00. Total levy for 2023 is set at $325,546.00.
• Employee work accommodation for a health reason was discussed
• Discussion on the Association of Minnesota Counties researching the recent passage of the edible cannabis legislation which pass the licensure responsibilities to the local authorities.
Committee reports- Commissioner Gillie stated that she attended the Quin Counties meeting for Public Health. Jeanna Kujava is conducting a community needs assessment via a post card survey. Discussion of how the public health budget is shared between the counties served by Quin County was being explored. Commissioner Olson share that he attended the purchasing committee and Markit Committee. Looking to update the weigh scale and deck at Markit. Commissioner Kraulik attended the purchasing committee, Commissioner Johnson had no report but did share about a petition for CD 13.
Tom Lanctot spoke to the Board voicing his regarding concerns he’s had with the City of Hallock, vandalism and theft of property from his home.
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Olson to adjourn the meeting at 10:58 a.m.
Loren Younggren,
Kittson County Board Chair
ATTEST: Brian E. Buhmann,
Kittson County Administrator
(August 10, 2022)
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