KITTSON COUNTY BOARD PROCEEDINGS January 17, 2023
KITTSON COUNTY BOARD
PROCEEDINGS
January 17, 2023
The Kittson County Board of Commissioners met, pursuant to adjournment on January 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Commissioner Gillie absent.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Younggren. The pledge to the flag was given.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Swenson and unanimously carried to approve the agenda.
A motion was made by Commissioner Kraulik, seconded by Commissioner Swenson and unanimously carried to approve the Board minutes from the January 3, 2023 Board Meeting.
Beth Seed and Brittany Swenson presented two proposals:
• Allowing county employees to take on-call for our local ambulance service runs
• Training time to serve on the ambulance
The Commissioners reviewed the proposal submitted for the on-call policy and chose to table taking action on this policy at a future Board meeting. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson and seconded by Commissioner Swenson and passed unanimously to allow paid time off for staff to attend ambulance runs as part of their training requirements.
Keith Klegstad, assistant to the Highway Engineer presented the following:
• Approval to advertise bidding for maintenance contracts:
Equipment Rental
Mowing
Striping
Re-gravel
Aggregate Production
Crack Filling
Municipal Manhole Maintenance
A motion was made by Commissioner Swenson, seconded by Kraulik and passed unanimously to advertise the contracts as presented.
• Approve updated Snow and Ice Control Policy
A motion was made by Commissioner Kraulik, seconded by Commissioner Olson and unanimously passed to approve the Snow and Ice Control Policy.
• Approve tire quote- A follow-up quote from Pomp’s Tire -Thief River Falls for 6 all-terrain tires, no trade-in of current tires and no mounting of tires $10,751.26.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Swenson and pasted unanimously to approve the purchase.
Kathy Johnson, Social Services Director presented for approval the filling of the vacant eligibility worker position with Twyla Preble doing a lateral transfer into the position. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Swenson and passed unanimously to fill the position. Johnson will post internally the opening of the office receptionist position.
Administrator Buhmann presented the invoice of $500.00 to continue supporting the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to pay our membership.
Administrator Buhmann present a renewal contract with Government Management Group for five years to continue the preparation of the counties cost allocation for fiscal years 2022-2026 for $3,750.00/per year. A motion was made by Commissioner Kraulik, seconded by Commissioner Swenson and unanimously carried to approve the contract.
Administrator Buhmann provided the following updates:
• Participated in a meeting with Senator Klobuchar hosted at Mattracks in Karlstad, MN on January 11, 2023
• Request to move February 21 Board meeting to February 28, 2023
A motion was made by Commissioner Younggren, seconded by Commissioner Olson and approved unanimously to move the meeting date.
• Set Commissioner workshop-January 31, 2023 at 10 a.m. and February 14, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
• Requested the signing of Certificate of Tax Forfeited Lands documents by each Commissioner.
• Update on 2021 Audit currently being conducted.
• Reminder of County Government 101 January 25-27, 2023. Commissioner Swenson and Administrator Buhmann will be attending the training.
• Confirm North Red River Township meeting for March 21, 2023 at 11 a.m. (DNR staff will be in attendance)
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Swenson and passed unanimously to set the date as presented.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner
Swenson and unanimously carried to approve the Bills and Expense sheets.
Commissioner’s $128,887.33
Auditor’s
12/30 $232,149.29
12/31 $57,511.33
01/03 $4,836.23 Meal Reimbursement $50.02
A motion was made by Commissioner Swenson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and unanimously carried to approve the Per Diems.
Ken Peterson $360.00
Committee reports- MARKIT meeting-Commissioners Younggren, Olson and Kraulik shared that the new compacter should be received in April 2023.
Administrator Buhmann presented request for support from Wikstrom Telephone as they pursued a Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant. A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Kraulik and passed unanimously to support the their efforts to secure funding.
Chairperson Younggren recessed meeting at 10 a.m.
Chairperson Younggren reconvened meeting at 10:07 a.m.
Not on the Board agenda was the following discussion with representatives from the Kittson County Soil and Water Conservation District. An initial request of the County Board was made approximately four years ago requesting a need for additional office and storage space. Jami Osowski, Joe Wilebski and Jeremy Benson shared their frustration with the length of time it has taken Kittson County to find more available room for their needs. Administrator Buhmann shared that the Board is currently exploring capital improvement bonding projects of which one of the projects is the re-utilization of the former boiler room to be converted into useable office and meeting spaces. After the Board meeting a tour of the old boiler room was conducted by several Board members.
A motion was made by Commissioner Olson, seconded by Commissioner Swenson and unanimously carried to adjourn to January 17,2023 at 9:00 a.m.
Loren Younggren,
Kittson County Board Chair
ATTEST: Brian E. Buhmann,
Kittson County Administrator
(February 15, 2023)
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