WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' MEETING MAY 9, 2017

Transcription

1 WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' MEETING MAY 9, 2017 The Wadena County Board of Commissioners Meeting was held on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in the Small Courtroom, Wadena County Courthouse, 415 South Jefferson Street, Wadena Minnesota. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairperson Hillukka and all present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present: Commissioners William Stearns, Sheldon Monson, Jim Hofer, and Chuck Horsager, Auditor/Treasurer Judy Taves, County Attorney Kyra Ladd, Planning and Zoning Director Deana Malone, Highway Engineer Ryan Odden, Veteran's Services Officer David Anderson, Sheriff Mike Carr, Chief Deputy Joe Schoon, Jail Administrator Bryan Savaloja, HR/IT Director Curtis Kreklau, Jr., County Assessor Lee Brekke, Elections Coordinator Joy Weyer, Elections Coordinator Rosalie Miller, MCIT Risk Management Consultant Jane Hennagir, VFW Representatives Jimmy White and David Ludovissie, Toby Pierce, Craig Folkestad, Sebeka/Menahga Review Messenger Reporter Matthew B. Johnson and Wadena Pioneer Journal Reporter Heather Bullock. Amendments to the Agenda: Moved by Commissioner Monson, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to approve the agenda of the May 9, 2017 regular County Board Meeting, motion carried Amend/Approve Minutes: Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Horsager, to approve the Board of Commissioner's Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2017, motion carried Recognition of Interested Citizens: There were none present who are not on the agenda. Approval of Minutes: Moved by Commissioner Monson, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to approve the Board of Commissioner's Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2017, motion carried Veterans David Ludovissie and Jimmy White Veteran's monument relocation to Veteran's Park: David Ludovissie, Chairman of the Veteran's Park Board and Jimmy White, Adjutant of the local VFW Post, came before the Board to discuss the Veteran's monument that was previously located north of the Courthouse. The monument will be relocated at the Veteran's Park. They asked that the county provide a sidewalk to the monument. It was suggested that STS may be able to help with the concrete work. It had previously been discussed by the Board that the County would pay the costs to prepare a cement foundation and to have the monument moved to the desired location. Ryan Odden will check with the Fergus Falls Monument Company regarding the size of the footings. Moved by Commissioner Monson, seconded by Commissioner Stearns, for approval that Wadena County pay for materials for concrete work regarding the relocation of the Veteran's Monument, STS to provide the concrete work labor and Highway Engineer Ryan Odden will coordinate with Fergus Falls Monument Company to move the Veteran's Monument to the desired location, motion carried Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) Risk Management Consultant Jane Hennagir Bi-Annual Report: Jane Hennagir presented the bi-annual MCIT report. She provided a hand-out. MCIT is not an insurance company; it is a joint powers entity made up of counties and associated public entities that pool resources to provide property, casualty and workers' compensation 5/9/17 Page 1

2 coverage to members, along with risk management and loss control services. Ms. Hennagir pointed out some of the benefits of pooling dollars rather than buying insurance and highlighted important developments. MCIT also monitors legislation on what is going on in the counties and what the exposures are. Auto related claims are the number one in claim frequencies. The most expensive claim incurred is the public employee liability. Under workers' compensation claims, sheriff/jail operations are the highest number for frequency and severity, followed by Highway. The number of significant workers' compensation claims arise out of slip and falls. Training injuries are the second most expensive type of claim and are almost exclusively for law enforcement. Workers' compensation coverage is the only coverage in the trust that is experience rated. That means counties that have claims pay more for their coverage than other counties. Other topics Ms. Hennagir talked about were reinsurance rates, dividends, consultation services, PATROL (Peace Officer Accredited Training Online), Employee Assistance Program, Defensive Driving Training, and training seminars. On September 6, 2017, a seminar co-sponsored with the Association of Minnesota Counties, will be held at the MCIT Building in St. Paul and is specifically developed for elected officials to enhance their knowledge and skills to serve the public. There was a discussion on the coverages of the buildings. A property schedule for Wadena County was provided showing the coverages on the buildings and contents. With the new addition to the courthouse, coverage will need to be increased. MCIT provides appraisals every five years. Mid-term appraisals are done at the county's expense. Ms. Hennagir said Wadena County could have an appraiser come out now and give a confirmed estimate or continue coverage at $7 million and MCIT would come out in 2018 and do an appraisal at no cost. The list needs to be reviewed so that coverage is accurate and complete. Some of the buildings noted were the Solid Waste Building, a house on Leaf River Road (Location #16) and the Transit Office. Ms. Hennagir offered to come back and go over the schedule. She said there is a property presentation to go over with department heads on a location by location basis. This will be turned over to the Building Committee to schedule a meeting with the department heads and have the presentation at that meeting. There was also a suggestion to bring the map of the buildings at the Fairgrounds and go through it with the Wadena Ag Society and the Commissioners to make sure one or the other has each building insured. Lee Brekke Proposed Resolution Public Utilities Tax Court Petitions: County Assessor, Lee Brekke, presented a document from the Minnesota Department of Revenue-Property Tax Division regarding an update on the Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation Litigation. A proposed Resolution was presented for review and discussion. County Attorney Kyra Ladd will review it and this will be placed on the agenda for next week. The Board recessed at 9:58 a.m. and reconvened at 10:07 a.m. Ryan Odden Fairgrounds Schoolhouse Roof: Highway Engineer, Ryan Odden, presented various quotes on replacing the roof on the old schoolhouse roof at the Fairgrounds. The quotes included replacing the old cedar shakes with new cedar shakes or a steel roof or asphalt shingles. The Commissioners had a lengthy discussion and would like to know what the end costs are going to be. Mr. Odden will get revised quotes to provide more detail. 5/9/17 Page 2

3 Ryan Odden Modifications to existing site plan Annex: The first topic discussed was the drainage issue. (a) The sidewalk connector link on the Jefferson side. The pine tree is 1/2 to 2 feet higher than the sidewalk. A retaining wall (1 ½ ft. tall) would better protect the root system rather than using skid steer or dozer to slope down to the sidewalk, which would harm the root system. Removing the tree is another possibility. Ryan will price out a retaining wall. (b) The area between sidewalks and building: if the area is less than four feet, grass won't establish. Options were wood chips or 3/4 river rock. After discussion, river rock was the preference. (c) The connector link sidewalk to Jefferson sidewalk: There is very minimal fall. Elevation gain can be dropped if a handicap accessible ramp was put in off the connector link sidewalk to Jefferson. The curb and gutter on Jefferson could be cut out and put a handicap ramp in. That would gain about 3 of elevation difference. The impact on the Jefferson sidewalk would be about 10 feet, then curb and gutter about 10 feet. Some of the sidewalk would be replaced in front of the County Attorney's office, the sidewalk on Jefferson would get a 2% slope, and then 8% ramp to the County Attorney's office. Moved by Commissioner Monson, seconded by Commissioner Horsager, to accept the Highway Engineer's recommendation for sidewalk entrance replacing the existing sidewalk and curb to accommodate handicap access, motion carried (d) Dayton side (north side) of building: The sidewalk should all be demoed and pushed to the back of the curb and a new sidewalk poured. It would look more consistent around the building. Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Horsager, to allow County Engineer to seek cost estimate and proceed with recommended sidewalk modifications, motion carried (e) Piping for new boiler for sidewalk: The estimate for pipe for both sides up to Jefferson all the way out to parking lot is $6, A boiler would have to be purchased in the future for the use of heated sidewalks. Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to allow Highway Engineer to proceed with the bid to install pipes for the purpose of possible future use of heated sidewalks, motion carried Ryan Odden Redesign of Courthouse Space Proposal: Ryan Odden requested the motion made on April 24, 2017 regarding Commissioner's meeting room be rescinded and have a new motion made to obtain proposals from architectural firms. Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to rescind the motion made on April 24, 2017 by Commissioner Stearns and seconded by Commissioner Hofer to reestablish a Board of Commissioners' meeting room with space for a small conference room, a Commissioner's work area and a mini-kitchen and to allow Ryan Odden up to $5, to work with BHH Partners, Perham, regarding design and adherence to codes, motion carried 5/9/17 Page 3

4 Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to allow Wadena County Engineer, Ryan Odden, a budget of $5, to use for redesign of the courthouse and that the Engineer will request proposals from architectural firms, motion carried The Open Meeting closed at 10:56 a.m. and the Closed Meeting opened at 10:58 a.m. Ryan Odden Closed Meeting for Negotiation Strategy: The purpose of the meeting will be to meet in Closed Session, permitted under Minnesota State Statute 13D.05, subd. 1 to discuss negotiations strategy for labor contracts. The Closed Meeting closed at 11:05 a.m. and the Open Meeting re-opened at 11:06 a.m. Ryan Odden Labor Contract with Local 49'ers Operating Engineers: Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Stearns, to approve the Labor Contract with the Local 49'ers Operating Engineers, motion carried Committee Reports/Commissioner Updates: Commissioner Hofer: 5/3-Attended Mediation session with 49'ers; 5/4-went with Human Services employees to Morris for collaborative safety training; 5/8-Attended Environmental scan meeting with Human Resources, attended Extension Committee Meeting and Todd-Wadena Executive Board Meeting; 5/9-Attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Monson: 5/3-Attended Management Team Meeting; 5/8-Attended Todd-Wadena Community Corrections Executive Board Meeting; 5/8-went to Fairgrounds with Commissioner Stearns, Ryan Odden and Lee (STS) to discuss drainage issues; 5/9-Attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Hillukka: 5/3-Attended Mediation session with 49'ers; 5/3-drove to Owatonna; 5/4- Attended South Country Health Alliance Meeting; 5/8-Attended Environmental Scan Meeting at Human Resources; 5/8-Attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Stearns: 5/8-Went to Fairgrounds with Commissioner Monson, Ryan Odden and Lee (STS); 5/9-Attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Horsager: 5/4-went to University of Minnesota at Morris with Human Services employees for collaborative safety training; 5/8-Attended Extension Committee Meeting; 5/8-Attended Fair Board Meeting (next meeting is May 22); discussed race track proposal to modify the grandstand. Moved by Commissioner Monson, seconded by Commissioner Hofer to adjourn the Board of Commissioner's Meeting at 11:44 a.m. Judy Taves Wadena County Auditor-Treasurer Dave Hillukka, Chairperson Wadena County Board of Commissioners 5/9/17 Page 4

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