WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MARCH 6, 2018 The Wadena County Board of Commissioners Meeting was held on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in the Small Courtroom, Wadena County Courthouse, 415 South Jefferson Street, Wadena, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order at 9:10 am by Commissioner Monson and all present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Commissioners: William Stearns, Dave Hillukka, Jim Hofer and Chuck Horsager, Auditor/Treasurer Judy Taves, County Engineer Ryan Odden, Zoning Administrator Deana Malone, Interim Solid Waste Director Zach Fjestad, Chief Deputy Joe Schoon, Human Resource employees Janet Kern and Kim Schroeder, Administrative Accountant Stacy Smagacz, Solid Waste Supervisor Tammy Ehrmantraut, Human Service employee Kayla Ellenson, Wadena Pioneer Journal reporter, Brian Hansel, Sebeka/Menahga Review Messenger reporter, Matthew B. Johnson. Amend/Approve Day s Agenda: Chairperson Monson requested removing regular item M: Commissioner Technology and replacing it with the March 5, 2018 Snow Day Compensation. A request to discuss a letter about land acquisition was added to Commissioner Reports. A request to have an update on how it s going in the A/T office. Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Horsager to make requested changes to the agenda. Recognition of Interested Citizens: none present today. CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Commissioner Horsager, seconded by Commissioner Stearns to amend the following Consent Agenda item Approval of Minutes 3-20-18 by taking out the second Item K from the acceptance of the day s agenda on those minutes. Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Stearns the following consent agenda items: Approve the purchase of $10,000.00 postage. Approve the renewal of the Liquor License for the Vintage Golf Course at Staples. Approve the Lawful Gambling Permit for England Prairie Pioneer Club, Inc. Present 2017 Wadena County Employee Recognition: Payroll/Benefit Coordinator Janet Kern recognized the three county nominated employees: Human Services Sarah Weyer, Administrative Accountant Stacy Smagacz and Human Resources Generalist Kim Schroeder. Sarah Weyer has been selected as the 2017 Wadena County Outstanding Employee of the year. Participation in Committee Update: Ryan Odden was present to make a request that he be allowed to serve on the NJPA City, County and other Government Association Advisory Committee. Moved by Commissioner Horsager, seconded by Commissioner Hofer to allow Ryan Odden to serve on the CCOGA Advisory Committee for NJPA. 3-06-18 PAGE 1
Discussion was held by the Commissioners about what committees outside of the county that the department heads are currently serving on. It was brought up that a review of all county department heads should be held annually. These items should be brought up to the management committee and personnel committee. Highway Department Purchase of Pull Type Mulcher: Ryan Odden was present to make the request for this purchase. Moved by Commissioner Horsager, seconded by Commissioner Hofer to approve the purchase of a pull type mulcher from Swanston Equipment for $47,700.00 from highway funds. Motion carried unanimously. Highway Department Purchase of Excavator Mulcher: Ryan Odden was present to make the request for this purchase. A lower bid was received from Roughwater Industries LTD. out of Canada, but there were concerns about getting parts for this equipment. Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Horsager to purchase from ABRA Equipment Supply an Excavator Mulcher for $34,120.00. Highway Department Purchase of Hot Mix Trailer: Ryan Odden was present to make the request for this purchase. Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Stearns to purchase a Hot Mix Trailer from Lauren Asphalt for $37,037.00. Highway Department Purchase of Disc Mower: Ryan Odden was present to make the request for this purchase. Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Horsager to purchase a Vermeer M5040 Disk Mower from Aldrich Tractor for $8,189.00. Highway Department Purchase of Skid Steer Trailer: Ryan Odden was present to make the request for this purchase. Moved by Commissioner Hillukka, seconded by Commissioner Horsager to purchase a skid steer trailer from Swanston Equipment for $14,911.60. Judicial Ditch 5 Assessment: Ryan Odden was present to bring information on the Judicial Ditch 5 Assessment. Todd County did some maintenance on this ditch as the ditch authority. Wadena County paid Todd County for this maintenance. The plan is to assess the Wadena County land owners that are part of the Judicial Ditch 5 for their portion of the maintenance. Support for Corridors of Commerce Project: Ryan Odden was present to ask for support of the Corridors of Commerce Project. Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Hillukka to pass the following resolution: RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR CORRIDORS OF COMMERCE PROJECT OF THE EXPANSION OF TRUNK HIGHWAY 10 FROM TWO LANES TO FOUR LANES WHEREAS: the Minnesota Department of Transportation received a recommendation from Wadena County Engineer Ryan Odden for the expansion of Truck Highway 10 from two lanes to four lanes. From the end of the four lane near 620 th Ave. to the four lane near Oink Joint Road excluding 3 rd Ave. Northwest to CSAH 4 in Wadena to be considered for its 2018 Corridors of Commerce program; and WHEREAS: the project would be located in Otter Tail County, City of Wadena and Wadena County and the project needs support from all jurisdictions to receive full points Community Consensus category; and 3-06-18 PAGE 2
WHEREAS: Truck Highway 10 is a vital economic link to the area and the current two-lane design is a safety concern, as this is the only segment of the entire Truck Highway 10 from two lanes to four lanes. Certification I, Judy Taves, County Auditor-Treasurer of the County of Wadena, State of Minnesota, do hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Wadena County Board of Commissioners at a meeting held on the 6 th day March 2018. Witness my hand and seal. Judy Taves, Auditor-Treasurer Wadena County, Minnesota A break was taken at 10:13 am. The meeting reconvened at 10:22 am. Determine 2018 Board of Equalization Meeting Date and Location: Auditor/Treasurer Taves brought the request for the time of the 2018 Board of Equalization meeting. Moved by Commissioner Hillukka, seconded by Commissioner Stearns to hold the Board of Equalization meeting Monday, June 11, 2018 with the time to be determined. Proposed Tax Increment Financing District 3-2 in City of Sebeka: Auditor/Treasurer Taves presented information of the hearing to be held on the proposed tax increment Financing District 3-2 in Sebeka on March 20, 2018 in Sebeka at 6:00 pm in the City hall. Opportunity Zones: Zoning Administrator Deana Malone was present to explain the Opportunity Zones within the county. Moved by Commissioner Hillukka, seconded by Commissioner Horsager to pass the following resolution: A Resolution Establishing Support for Creating Opportunity Zones within Wadena County. WHEREAS, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 contains new tax incentives for certain investments by private investors into distressed areas of each state; and WHEREAS, the Treasury Department of the United States government has tasked the Governors of each state with identifying and nominating census tracts in their respective state as Opportunity Zones; and WHEREAS, Opportunity Zones are recognized as a census tract having a below average median household income, a higher than average rate of unemployment, and having a below poverty rate of 20% or greater; and WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of MN has tasked the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) with assisting to identify the census tracts which would notice the most benefit from an Opportunity Zone; and 3-06-18 PAGE 3
WHEREAS, the DEED office has asked the Counties of the State of Minnesota to prioritize the census tracts within each of their respective jurisdictions which they have identified as meeting all of the criteria; and, WHEREAS, the County of Wadena has one census tract (21759480300) meeting all of the criteria and is identified in the top 250 census tracts in Minnesota for Opportunity Zones, and the County also has two census tract meeting most of the criteria, one which has been identified in the top 491 census tracts (21759480100), and one which is adjacent to the census tract identified in the top 250; and, WHEREAS, letters of support to have an Opportunity Zone classification have been received from most of the Cities or their Economic Development Authorities lying within each of the named census tracts who are actively pursuing economic development and housing opportunities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Wadena County recognizes and supports an application to the Department of Employment and Economic Development for consideration of an Opportunity Zone for each of the three census tracts: 21759480300, 21759480200, and 21759480100 to be recommended to the Governor of the State of Minnesota for favorable inclusion. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF THE WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS has caused this resolution to be adopted this 6th day of March, 2018. ATTEST: Judy Taves Auditor/Treasurer WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BY Sheldon Monson, Chairperson Emergency Closure of the Courthouse Offices: Ryan Odden and Janet Kern recommendations regarding the closure of the courthouse due to the winter storm. A Board resolution dated June 19, 2008 does not allow for the closure of the building. Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Hillukka to affirm the decision made by the County Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Sheriff and Highway Engineer decision to close all non-essential county offices from 12:00 pm 4:30 pm on 3-5-18 due to severe weather. This is a onetime, non-precedent setting event. The employees will receive their normal pay and up to an additional 4 hours of compensation for the closure. Motion carried unanimously. Solid Waste Capital Purchases Committed Funds: Zach Fjestad and Judy Taves presented on the Capitol Purchases Committed Funds. Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Hillukka to amend the 12-13-16 motion: Moved by Commissioner Hillukka, seconded by Commissioner Bounds, to allow the Solid Waste Department to put $50,000.00 of their current fund balance into a restricted account for capital purchases, motion carried unanimously; the Board of Commissioners amends it with the following wording: to allow the Solid Waste Department to put $50,000.00 of their current fund balance, annually, beginning in 2016, into a committed account for Capital Purchases, specifically for the replacement of a hook truck, pay loader, skid steer, live bottom trailers, and/or a baler; additionally for the expansion and construction of demolition landfill capacity. 3-06-18 PAGE 4
Prairie Lakes Finance Agreement Amendment: Zach Fjestad presented a request for Wadena County to sign Amendment A for the PLMSWA financial agreement. A $1.1 million cost will be bonded for the purchase of a Superheater. Motion by Commissioner Hillukka, seconded by Commissioner Stearns to sign the amendment to the financing agreement with Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority Joint Powers Financing Agreement. Commissioners Reports: Commissioner Hillukka: 2/27-March 1 met with Senator Gazelka, Senator Utke and Representative Posten at AMC Legislative Meeting, 3/5 Solid Waste meeting, 3/6 Board Meeting. Commissioner Hofer: 2/20 ALICE Training, 2-20 Champ Youth Asset Advisory Committee, 2/21 Kitchigami Library meeting, 2/21 DDA re Coordinator, 2/27 AMC Conference, meet with Legislators, 2/28 AMC Conference, meet with Legislators, 3/1 AMC Committee, 3/6 Board Meeting. Commissioner Monson: 2/22 Region V Meeting, 2/27-3/1 AMC Conference, meet with Legislators, 3/6 Board Meeting. Commissioner Stearns: 2/22-2/23 AMC County Futures meetings, 2/26 Liaison with Ryan Odden, 2/27-3/1 AMC Conference, meet with Legislators, 3/5 Solid Waste Committee, 3/6 Meeting. Commissioner Horsager: 2/20 Economic Opportunity with Deana Malone, 2/20 ALICE training, 2/20 Hilltop Regional Kitchen, 2/23 MAHUBE-OTWA, 2/27-3/1 AMC Conference, meet with Legislators Moved by Commissioner Hillukka, seconded by Commissioner Horsager to adjourn the meeting at 11:38 am. Judy Taves, Wadena County Auditor/Treasurer Sheldon Monson, Chairperson Wadena County Commissioners 3-06-18 PAGE 5