WATONWAN COUNTY BOARD DECEMBER 18, :00 A.M

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1 WATONWAN COUNTY BOARD DECEMBER 18, :00 A.M The Watonwan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on December 18, 2012 at 9:00 A.M. in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the Courthouse, City of St. James. The following Board members were present: John Baerg, Bill Berg, Raymond Gustafson, Mark Rentz and Scott Sanders. Berg moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the Agenda as amended. Berg moved, Baerg seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the minutes of the December 4 regular meeting. Rentz moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve payment of bills as audited and filed in the County Auditor's Office as follows by fund: General Fund $117,391.01; Solid Waste Fund $2,534.84; Ditch Fund $20,348.03; Forfeited Land Fund $1,201.26; and the Road and Bridge Fund $32, Veterans Service Officer Deb Grote was present with Transit Director Marge Smith to review a grant made available through the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, MnDOT, Department of Veterans Affairs and other partners. Participation in the program will entitle the VSO and TMT Offices free computers and software to allow them to send secure data electronically. This will connect them to the existing statewide one-call/one-click center for information about public, non-profit, and private transportation alternatives for veterans, military families, people with disabilities and older adults. Berg moved, Baerg seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the Letter of Intent to join the MinnesotaHelp Network and receive the free hardware and software for participation for up to three years at no cost. Smith reported that the siding needs replacement on the Household Hazardous Waste Garage where hazardous items are collected. The following quotes were received for new tin siding and a new door: VENDOR AMOUNT Bolin Lumber $2, Overson Lumber $2, Baerg moved, Berg seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to accept the quote of Bolin Lumber in the amount of $2, for siding and a new door for the HHW Garage. Emergency Management Director Julie Peterson was present to review proposed updates to the Emergency Operations Plan.

2 Berg moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the updated Emergency Operations Plan and to authorize the Chairman s signing of the Certification of Plan Approval. At the last meeting a Letter of Commitment of Funds was passed for which the funding amount needed to be corrected to $8, Sanders moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the Chairman s signing of the Letter of Commitment of Funds as a potential sub-grantee of the All Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program. If approved by FEMA the County will be responsible for matching funds of a minimum of 25% of project costs in the amount of $8, Sanders moved, Berg seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to designate the St. James Plaindealer and Madelia Times-Messenger the as the first and second legal newspapers respectively for Rentz moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to authorize County Auditor Don Kuhlman to pay year-end bills. Baerg moved, Sanders seconded and the motion unanimously, to designate the following as official depositories for County funds for 2013: Alliance Bank of Madelia Citizens Bank of New Ulm LaSalle Branch Farmers State Bank of Madelia Lewisville Office Farmers State Bank - Madelia First National Bank - St. James Magic Fund Odin State Bank Odin Ormsby State Bank Ormsby Pioneer Bank St. James St. James Federal Savings & Loan Triumph State Bank Butterfield Office Triumph State Bank - Darfur Berg moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve payment of the credit card in the amount of $ Baerg moved, Berg seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to adopt the following: RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL DEPUTY REGISTRAR MAINTENANCE OF LOCAL DRIVER LICENSE AND STATE I.D. SERVICES WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota has long established a public/private deputy registrar system to provide citizens convenient locations to conduct local driver license and title registration services for motor vehicles and DNR recreational vehicles; and,

3 WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota in 1949 established a user service fee on motor vehicle related transactions to be retained by the deputy registrar to cover the costs of providing the local service; and, WHEREAS, a deputy registrar office is not subsidized by the State of Minnesota and relies solely on this user service fee revenue to maintain their office operation including all salaries, rent, equipment, utilities, and associated office costs; and, WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota has shifted increased costs and responsibilities for driver license transactions onto the deputy registrar such as regular replacement schedules of computers and associated electronic equipment, printing of previously supplied state forms, and expanded auditing tasks such as identification triple check and commercial driver medical forms which require additional time and carry additional risks and potential liability for agents that was previously the responsibility of the State; and, WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota requires a 15 year retention schedule of all driver license transaction documents in a secure storage facility at cost to the deputy; and, WHEREAS, Minnesota statute subdivision 4 (b) specifically states that the filing fee for driver license transactions by the deputy agent shall cover all expenses involved in receiving, accepting, or forwarding to the department the applications and fees required ; and, WHEREAS, the user service fee that should fully support the cost for providing driver license transactions no longer covers the operational costs to maintain deputy registrar offices. Public deputy registrars must use property tax levy proceeds to subsidize this service. Rural areas with lower volumes are in jeopardy of losing this service; and, WHEREAS, the last user fee increase for driver license agents was enacted in 2005; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the County of Watonwan supports the State Legislature in authorizing a user service fee increase in the year 2013 to maintain local driver license and state identification card service to the citizens of Minnesota. Public Works Director Roger Risser was present with Roger Anderson regarding Anderson s request for a Drainage Tile/County Road Crossing Agreement to place tile under County Road 101 in sections 19 and 30 of South Branch Township, requiring an open cut on the gravel road. Baerg moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the Drainage Tile/County Road Crossing Agreement of Roger Anderson as requested. The Board questioned Risser about a fuel delivery issue where fuel was not available at the County pumps. Risser would research the issue further and the timeline for ordering.

4 Commissioner Gustafson was appointed to attend a meeting with I&S, on Thursday, December 20 at 9:00 A.M. regarding the J.D. #13 Improvement Project. Sanders moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to adopt the following: RESOLUTION SETTING PRELIMARY HEARING FOR J.D. #13 IMPROVEMENT WHEREAS, a petition for the improvement to Judicial Ditch #13 has been filed with the drainage authority in the office of the Watonwan County Auditor; and WHEREAS, the drainage authority has determined that the petition is facially adequate; and, WHEREAS, the drainage authority has appointed a project engineer and such engineer has filed the preliminary survey report required by law; and WHEREAS, a copy of said preliminary survey report has been mailed by the county auditor to the director, Division of Waters, Department of Natural Resources, NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a hearing shall be held upon the aforementioned petition on the 8 th Day of January, 2013, at 1:00 P.M in the Human Services Building Meeting Room, City of St. James for the purpose of considering the adequacy of the petition, examining the engineer s preliminary survey report, and hearing the advisory report of the commissioner of natural resources. RESOLVED FURTHER that the auditor shall mail notice to the petitioners and to the owners of all property within the watershed likely to be assessed and to all political subdivisions likely to be affected. County Auditor Donald Kuhlman reviewed the November financial reports and the GASB 54 Policy, which he revised it to meet requirements. Sanders moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the updated GASB #54 policy with changes as presented and on file in the County Auditor s office and to approve the following resolution affecting the presentation of the Library as a Special revenue Fund: RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the County Auditor has requested the County Board to commit revenues of the Library in order to properly present the Library Fund as a Special Revenue Fund. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Board commits all revenues of the Watonwan County Library, including the real and personal property taxes levied for the purpose of operating the County Library system.

5 Baerg moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously to adopt the following: RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Chapter 375 of the Laws of Minnesota provides that the County Board of Commissioners must, by resolution, set their salary and per diem payments for their service on committees, boards and commissions, and provide for payment of their expenses. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the annual salary for Watonwan County Commissioners for 2013 shall be set at a base of $18, In addition, the Chairman of the County Board shall receive an additional $ and commissioners electing to waive health insurance coverage will receive a stipend of $2, annually. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that each member of the Board of County Commissioners shall receive per diem payment of $50.00 for four hours or less, including travel, $75.00 for over four hours, including travel or two meetings in a day, and $ for Human Services Board per diems, and that each member shall be allowed mileage and expense reimbursement in accordance with County Policies in connection with service on the Board and on the following committees or commissions: Extension Committee Human Services Board Library Board Rural Energy Region Nine Committees Minnesota Valley Action Council and Committees Department Head Committees Union Negotiating Committee County Personnel Committee Truth In Taxation Hearing Joint/County Ditch Authority Meetings Water Plan Lake Hanska Lake Association Human Services Building Committee Madelia Area Redevelopment Corporation Star City Planning and Zoning Regional Radio Board MRCI County Representative Fair Board Ex Officio Solid Waste JTPA Joint Powers Board County Purchasing Committee County Safety Committee AMC Meetings Special Board Meetings Transportation Alliance SWCD Representative Library Building Committee SouthCentral Multi-county HRA Services provided relating to departmental appointments, road and ditch inspections within the Commissioner's district and other duly authorized committees established after the date of this resolution. Baerg moved, Sanders seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to increase the non-union salary schedule for 2013 by 1%, provide step movement on applicable anniversary, and to set the 2013 salaries of elected and appointed officials as follows:

6 Effective 12/16/12 Carol Johnson $55, (C43-12) Don Kuhlman $79, (D63-13) Stephen Lindee $75, (D62-13) Gary Menssen $72, (D63(2)-9 Joy Sing $51, (C43-9) Cheryl Bjoin $63, (C52-12) Rich Collins $97, (E81-13) Deb Grote $44, (C41-8) Bruce Johnson $50, (C43(2)-8) Roger Risser $94, (E81-12) Mike Tatro $51, (C41-13) Gregory Walsh $67, (D61-11) Michael Wacker $52, (D61-2) Berg moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to maintain the recycling fee schedule at $5.75 per unit. Rentz moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to amend the training request form to include past training and proposed future trainings for the year. Baerg moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, To authorizeemployment and Training Notice of Funds Available. Berg moved, Sanders seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve a one step pay increase for Deb Grote. Sanders moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to authorize Kristofer Thompson to decrease to part-time Dispatcher and to advertise for a full-time Dispatcher. County Auditor Kuhlman reviewed information related to the proposed budget and levy for Rentz moved, Gustafson seconded and the motion passed unanimously to adopt the 2013 budget and to set the 2013 Property Net Tax Levy at $7,494,316 a 5% increase, as follows by fund: FUND EXPENDITURES REVENUES General Fund $6,040,918 $5,736,115 Solid Waste 222, ,513 Road & Bridge 5,189,052 5,089,052 Library 591, ,791 Human Services 4,778,163 4,678,163 Building/Equipment 27,000 27,000 Debt Service 285, ,180 Capital Projects

7 FUND NET LEVY General Fund $3,747,700 Solid Waste 13,084 Road and Bridge 915,327 Library 540,834 Human Services 2,010,133 Debt Service Fund 267,238 Gustafson moved, Sanders seconded and the motion passed unanimously to set the 2013 HRA Levy at $88,188. Baerg moved, Sanders seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve the disbursements listing. Sanders moved, Rentz seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to close the meeting at 11:20 pursuant to MS 13D.05, Subd. 3(b) for attorney-client privilege related to pending litigation concerning the Human Services Building. Gustafson moved, Berg seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to go back into open session at 12:00 noon. Berg moved, Sanders seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to approve payment of the Library credit card in the amount of $ This being their final meeting, Commissioners Berg and Baerg were thanked for their years of service to the County while serving on the Board. Berg moved, Baerg seconded and the motion passed unanimously, to adjourn at 12:05. Scott Sanders, Chairman Watonwan County Board Lisa Schumann, Deputy Clerk Watonwan County Board ATTEST: Donald Kuhlman Watonwan County Auditor