Kittson County Board Proceedings September 20, 2022
Kittson County Board Proceedings
September 20, 2022
The Kittson County Board of Commissioners met, pursuant to adjournment on September 20, 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 the addition of the Deputy sheriff hire, Karlstad Airport Zoning Board request and the memorandum of understanding with Kittson HealthCare.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve the Board minutes from September 6, 2022.
Heather Bruley, County Assessor brought a recommendation to the board to hire Danielle Weleski as an Assessor Trainee starting on Grade B-22-1 at $20.96 per hour with a start date of October 3, 2022. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson seconded by Commissioner Gillie, and unanimously carried to approve the hiring of Danielle Weleski.
Chief Deputy Matt Vig presented to the Commissioners a candidate for the open deputy position, Jason Douville. Currently he is the Police Chief in the city of Twin Valley. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson seconded by Commissioner Gillie, and unanimously carried to approve the hiring of Jason Douville at grade C-43-4, Step 6, $30.00 per hour.
Andrea Weleski, County Engineer tabled from the last Board meeting was the bids for motor grader. Weleski’s recommendation is the Ziegler CAT quote:
2023 CAT 150 Tandem Drive per specs $377,620.00
Trade CAT 140M2 Serial#: R9M00441 $118,535.00
$259,085.00
Commissioner Johnson lead a discussion with Commissioner Kraulik joining in suggesting that the John Deere motor grader from RDO would be $44,000.00 cheaper if the current equipment could be moved to the new motor grader. Additional discussion was held on access software to diagnosis the vehicle which Ziegler CAT allows. RDO representative Jared Harshman added to the discussion that access to the proprietary software was available by John Deere and could be included in the purchase price. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson seconded by Commissioner Kraulik, and unanimously carried to approve the motor grader bid from RDO for:
2023 John Deere 770G $340,094.00
Trade CAT 140M2 Serial#: R9M00441 $125,000.00
Total purchase price of $215,094.00
Discussion was held that with a $38,000.00 saving and with state bids expected to increase 15% by October, a motion was made by Commissioner Gillie seconded by Commissioner Olson, and unanimously carried to approve purchasing from RDO from the state bids a packer for the John Deere motor grader at a cost of $35,00.00. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie seconded by Commissioner Johnson, and unanimously carried to approve Weleski to seek a state quote for a used MNDOT tractor currently being offered by MNDOT.
Weleski announced the beginning of the overlay on CSAH # 1 will be September 23, 2022, weather permitting. She has reached out to sugar beet producers about the possibility of 30-minute delays if they travel on to CSAH #1 to haul their sugar beets. Crews will be using pilot vehicles to route traffic through the worksite. She asked that the public be made aware of this as well.
Brian Buhmann, County Administrator presented to the Board a request to hold a North Red River Township meeting to discuss the North Red River Dike. As an unorganized township, the County Board has the authority body to call such a meeting. Discussion included moving the November 1, 2022 Commissioner’s meeting to an afternoon meeting starting a 4 p.m. and recessing at 5 p.m. to open the North Red River Township meeting with property owners. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie seconded by Commissioner Johnson, and unanimously carried to set the November 1st Commissioner’s meeting to a 4 p.m. start and begin the township meeting at 5 p.m.
Administrator Buhmann presented the 2023 Group Medicare Renewal rates to the Commissioners asking for their approval. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson seconded by Commissioner Younggren, and unanimously carried to approve the renewal rates.
Buhmann presented a service agreement with InterTech to develop an interface for the Social Services Information System (SSIS) and our Tyler financial software. Cost to develop will is quoted for $9,000.00. Any additional expense would be brought back to the Commissioners for approval. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie seconded by Commissioner Kraulik, and unanimously carried to approve the service agreement.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson seconded by Commissioner Johnson, and unanimously carried to approve bills and meal reimbursement.
Commissioners $80,842.15
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie seconded by Commissioner Johnson, and unanimously carried to approve the Per Diems and Expense Sheets.
Kathy Johnson, Social Services Director presented to the Commissioners a contract with Marshall County to share a Child Support Supervisor, splitting the cost between the two counties. A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie seconded by Commissioner Johnson, and unanimously carried to approve the contract with Marshall County.
Johnson presented to the Commissioners an option for succession planning for her department and three supervisor positions to be effective with the October 2, 2022 payroll:
Child Support Supervisor-Carrie Gjerde Grade C-41-2 Step 12 $33.56/hr
Eligibility services Supervisor- Beth Seed, Grade C-41-1 Step 1 $26.38/hr
Fiscal Supervisor- Mary Olson, Grade C-41-1 Step 7 $30.13/hr
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the promotion for employees into supervisor positions.
Buhmann shared that the election ballots for the general election should be going out September 23, 2022.
Buhmann mention that the budget committee will be meeting as soon as we receive the health insurance rates. They are expected to be known by the end of September.
Buhmann shared an update on the courthouse elevator repairs had started but is delayed as a new well for the elevator cylinder needs to be drilled out for the new elevator. Repairs are expected to begin again in early October.
Under correspondence:
• Kittson HealthCare memorandum of understanding (MOU)- A motion was made
by Commissioner Younggren seconded by Commissioner Gillie, and unanimously
carried to approve the MOU with Kittson Memorial Hospital Association.
• Karlstad Airport Zoning Board request to join- A motion was made by
Commissioner Johnson seconded by Commissioner Kraulik, and unanimously
carried to waive the invitation to join the Joint Airport Zoning Board (JAZB).
Committee reports- Commissioner Gillie reported concerns from the Dancing Sky Committee meeting for the Senior Nutrition Services Program. The Senior Nutrition Program is expected to have a million-dollar shortfall for 2024 unless the Minnesota State legislature infuses additional funding. Shawn Anderson has reached out to several Commissioners asking for a county vehicle that could be unitized by volunteer drives to transport citizens to appointments. Commissioner Gillie attended the Minnesota Rural Counties (MRC) meeting. Dan Larson is stepping down as the CEO of MRC and so a search for replacing him is starting. Priorities were set for the next legislative session- land survey, solid waste and clear air. There was a mention of a lack of large animal veterinarians across the state. Commissioner Olson attended the MarKit meeting, reported the purchasing of an $800,000 caterpillar. Commissioner Younggren discussed ongoing meetings with a client who has worked with the local Economic Development Agency (EDA). Commissioner Johnson mentioned being contacted by Shawn Anderson regarding a county vehicle being made available to drivers to transport persons to appointments. No committee report from Commissioner Kraulik.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Johnson to recess the meeting until 11:45 a.m. to be reconvened to begin the highway shop tour.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Olson to re-open the meeting at 12:05 p.m. at the Humboldt highway shop and the tour began.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gillie, seconded by Commissioner Younggren to adjourn the meeting at 2:15 p.m. from the Hallock Highway Shop.
Loren Younggren, Kittson County Board Chair
ATTEST: Brian E. Buhmann, Kittson County Administrator
(October 12, 2022)
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