WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' MEETING AUGUST 22, 2017 The Wadena County Board of Commissioners Meeting was held on Tuesday, August 22, 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, Chuck Horsager, Jim Hofer, Auditor/Treasurer Judy Taves, County Engineer Ryan Odden, Chief Deputy Sheriff Joe Schoon, West Central Economic Development Director Mark Hanson, Darren Newville and Tom Schultz from Soil and Water Conservation District, Judy Scheunemann and Ken Salonek and Wadena Pioneer Journal Reporter Brian Hansel. Amendments to the Agenda/Approval of Agenda: Moved by Commissioner Monson, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to approve the agenda of the August 22, 2017 regular County Board Meeting as presented, motion carried unanimously. Approval of Minutes: Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to approve the Board of Commissioner's Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2017, motion carried unanimously. Recognition of Interested Citizens: None present. CONSENT AGENDA: Item C-Replacement of Assistant County Attorney I was pulled from the Consent Agenda and moved to the Regular Agenda. Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Stearns, to approve Consent Agenda items as follows: payment of the Auditor Warrants in the amount of $964,935.41 approval of the following Resolution: RESOLUTION OF WADENA COUNTY BE IT RESOLVED by Wadena County that the County enter into the attached Grant Contract with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) to conduct the following Program: County Veterans Service Office Operational Enhancement Grant Program. The grant must be used to provide outreach to the county's veterans; to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society; to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans; to reduce homelessness among veterans; and to enhance the operations of the County Veterans Service Office, as specified in Minnesota Laws 2013 Chapter 142 Article 4. This Grant should not be used to supplant or replace other funding. 8-22-17 page 1
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Wadena that David A Anderson, the Counties Veteran Service Officer, be authorized to execute the attached Grant Contract for the above-mentioned Program on behalf of the County. WHEREUPON the above resolution was adopted at Regular Meeting of the Wadena County Board of Commissioners this 22 day of August 2017. Dave Hillukka Chairperson Wadena County Board of Commissars Date STATE OF MINNESOTA WADENA COUNTY I, Judy Taves, do hereby certify that I am the custodian of the minutes of all proceedings had and held by the County Board of said Wadena County, that I have compared the above resolution with the original passed and adopted by the County Board of said Wadena County at a regular meeting thereof held on the Twenty Second day of August at 09:00 am, that the above constitutes a true and correct copy thereof, that the same has not been amended or rescinded and is in full force and effect. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto placed my hand and signature this Twenty Second day of August 2017, and have hereunto affixed the seal of the County. Judy Taves Wadena County Auditor/Treasurer (SEAL) Motion carried unanimously. REGULAR AGENDA: Replacement of Assistant County Attorney I: County Attorney Kyra Ladd requested approval to hire a replacement Assistant County Attorney I. The prior Assistant County Attorney I, Joe Glasrud, resigned to become the Big Stone County Attorney on May 12, 2017. The County Board approved his replacement, the Personnel Committee has vetted this and approved replacement and the County Board has approved the updated job description for Assistant County Attorney I and II. Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Monson, to approve the hiring of Christopher Wateland as Assistant County Attorney I, Full-Time Exempt at Grade 57, Step 5, ($31.74 per hour) with a start date of September 27, 2017, motion carried unanimously. Tax-Forfeited House in Sebeka-Request to Demolish: Auditor/Treasurer Judy Taves obtained an estimate for the asbestos inspection on a tax-forfeited house in Sebeka which is in need of demolition. The estimate starts at $200.00 and, depending on how many borings they have to do, it goes up $10.00 per boring. She requested approval to move forward with the inspection. The Board capped the cost at $500.00. 8-22-17 page 2
Moved by Commissioner Stearns, seconded by Commissioner Horsager, for approval to allow up to $500.00 for asbestos inspection for the tax forfeited property at 11 Clifford Avenue South in Sebeka, MN, motion carried unanimously. Possible Meeting with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner, Tom Landwehr: Chairperson, Dave Hillukka, stated DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr will be in the area on September 6, 2017 and would be available to meet from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to discuss any natural resource issues in Wadena County. Chairperson Hillukka, Auditor/Treasurer, Judy Taves and Planning and Zoning Director, Deana Malone, will attend the meeting. It is unsure if the other Commissioners will be available to attend. If any of the Commissioners have any questions for Mr. Landwehr, they are to submit them to Ms. Taves or Ms. Malone. Ms. Taves is to find a location to have the meeting. Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Budget Proposal Requests: District Manager of Soil and Water Conservation District Darren Newville requested to come before the Board to discuss the 2018 County budget allocations. Mr. Newville requested that the Board consider adding $30,000.00 as part of the 2018 allocation which would serve as matching funds so that the SWCD could receive an additional $37,500.00 from the State of Minnesota for the Board of Water and Soil Resources. Last year, SWCD teamed up with County Engineer Ryan Odden to hire a drainage technician to do a culvert survey, but there have been issues in finding someone for this position. However, that money is still available to be used until the end of 2018. This new allocation would utilized for a cost share program for special projects that need funding, such as erosion work, irrigation projects, wellhead protection, culverts or water quality. The Board was given assurance that there would be a place to use the money. The Board will take this request into consideration at the time of their budget discussions. This will be left as placeholder in the budget for now. Update from West Central Economic Development Association: West Central Economic Development Director Mark Hanson gave his monthly report. Inadequate area child care resources is part of their strategic plan. Mr. Hanson provided a handout showing the results of a feasibility study conducted on child care in the area. The key areas of study were the need for child care in the Wadena area, what is offered for child care in the Wadena area and the gap amount of child care slots within the County. The summary sheet indicates there is an extreme need for child care in the area. Mr. Hanson reported he talked with various owners of buildings in Wadena that could possibly be utilized for a child care facility. On the Gateway to the North website, every licensed child care facility within Wadena County is listed. Mr. Hanson explained there are three types of child care he is learning about: (1) family in your home-licensed up to 12; (2) a new program called Rule 2 which allows you to operate child family care outside of your home; (3) child care center. The child care center is not being pursued. Operating family child care Rule 2 outside your home is the type being pursued. Mahube Otwa is the entity that would lease the property and work with the family child care entities under their direction. Mr. Hanson reported there are five commercial buildings on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Wadena County. There are also other commercial properties, not listed on MLS, which are for sale. He is working on finding a way to assist in selling those properties. Mr. Hanson received a request for a feasibility study from a developer in Wadena who is interested in creating an event center in the County. WCEDA applied for a grant to pay for the feasibility study. 8-22-17 page 3
The Board recessed at 9:58 a.m. and reconvened at 10:10 a.m. Commissioners' Reports: Commissioner Monson: 8/8-Fairgrounds MCIT walk-through; 8/15-not present at County Board Meeting; 8/22-attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Hofer: 8/15-Attended Negotiations Committee Meeting; 8/15-Liaison Meeting with Auditor/Treasurer regarding budget; 8/15-Attended Budget Committee Meeting; 8/18-Meeting with Old Wadena Society, Deana Malone and Glen Mosko regarding Old Wadena site covered structure; 8/21-Attended Budget Meeting with Auditor/Treasurer; 8/21-Met with Tanya Leskey and Amie Gendron regarding Human Services budget; 8/22-Attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Hillukka: 8/15-Attended Negotiations Committee Meeting; 8/17-Liaison Meeting with Tanya Leskey at Human Services; 8/18-Liaison Meeting with Ryan Odden; 8/21-Liaison Meeting with Curt Kreklau, Jr.; 8/22-Attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Stearns: 8/15-Attended Bell Hill Meeting; 8/16-Attended South Country Health Alliance Meeting at MCIT Building (Visioning Meeting) in St. Paul; 8/22-Attended County Board Meeting. Commissioner Horsager: 8/15-Liaison Meeting with Auditor/Treasurer; 8/15-Attended Budget Committee Meeting at Human Services; 8/15-Attended Meeting with Historical Society on Good Life in Wadena; 8/17-Attended Meeting in Fergus Falls-Succession Planning and Leadership Development in County Government; 8/17-Attended Planning Commission Meeting; 8/18-Attended Meeting with Old Wadena Rendezvous regarding covered structure; 8/21-Attended Budget Meeting with Auditor/Treasurer and Commissioner Hofer; 8/21-Attended Budget Meeting with Tanya Leskey and Amie Gendron; 8/21-Met with Curt Kreklau, Jr.; 8/21-Attended Soil and Water Board Meeting; 8/22-Attended County Board Meeting. Judy Taves announced the meeting with DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr will be held in the Small Courtroom on September 6, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. She will post the meeting as a Special Board of Commissioners Meeting. Application for Conditional Use Permit Huntersville Store to Sell Small Convenience Items and Tobacco: Planning and Zoning Director Deana Malone explained they received an application for a Conditional Use Permit from Judy Scheunemann and Ken Salonek to allow the operation of a small store, in an existing building on their property located in Section 8 of Huntersville Township, in which to sell small convenience items and tobacco. The recommendation of the Planning Commission was to approve the Conditional Use Permit. They received correspondence in support of the application and there were some individuals in the audience that were opposed to it. No correspondence has been received since the Planning and Commission Meeting on this application. Chairperson Hillukka asked those at the Board Meeting if there was anyone for or against the Conditional Use Permit. There was no response. Moved by Commissioner Hofer, seconded by Commissioner Stearns, to adopt the following Resolution: 8-22-17 page 4
Wadena County Board of Commissioners A Resolution Establishing a Conditional Use WHEREAS, Judy A. Scheunemann and Kenneth A. Salonek have made an application for Conditional Use to operate a store from an existing building on their property to sell small convenience and grocery items and tobacco. The property is located in Section 8, Township 138 North, Range 33 West, Huntersville Township, described as part of the Southwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter lying south of County Highway 18, located in an A-2 Mixed Agriculture/Forestry District. WHEREAS, this use may be allowed in the specified Zoning District as a Conditional Use according to Section 7., C. of the Wadena County Zoning Ordinance #1; and WHEREAS, fully noticed Public Hearing was held on the application on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the Wadena County Courthouse at 7:00 p.m., and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did due diligence in hearing the application and have made a recommendation to the Wadena County Board of Commissioners to approve the application with the following Findings of Fact: 1. The requested use will be compatible with the surrounding area and not significantly depreciate nearby properties; because there are businesses in the area with business traffic and it won t significantly depreciate anyone s property. 2. The establishment of the requested use will not impede the normal orderly development and improvement of surrounding vacant property for uses predominant in the area because it will not change any development of vacant property in the area. 3. There are not adequate utilities, access roads, drainage and other necessary facilities because it is a hard place to find and has a small access road, it may need to make improvements. 4. Adequate measures have been taken to provide off-street parking and loading/unloading space to serve the proposed use because very little vehicle traffic and would be very few vehicles at any one time. 5. Adequate measures are in place to prevent or control offensive odor, fumes, dust, noise, and vibration so as not to constitute a nuisance, and measures are taken or in place to control lighted signs or other lights in such a manner that no disturbance to neighboring properties will result because there is plenty of screening around the property and the noise and odor would not be applicable. 6. The requested use is not consistent with the Wadena County Land Use Control because it is on the banks of the Crow Wing River and if you add more traffic to that area and could possibly at some point have a landing in that spot it doesn t agree with the Land Use Control and our commitment is to protect the river. 7. The requested use is not in conflict with the Wadena County Comprehensive Plan because we encourage expanding our recreation use in the county. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Wadena County Board of Commissioners approve the recommendation of the Planning Commission for issuance of the Conditional Use Permit for Judy A. Scheunemann and Kenneth A. Salonek to operate a store from an existing building on their property to sell small convenience and grocery items and tobacco. THE WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 8-22-17 page 5
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF THE WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS has caused this resolution to be adopted this 22nd day of August, 2017. ATTEST: Wadena County Auditor/Treasurer WADENA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BY David W. Hillukka, Chairperson Motion carried unanimously. Moved by Commissioner Horsager, seconded by Commissioner Hofer, to adjourn the Board of Commissioner's Meeting at 10:37 a.m., motion carried unanimously. Judy Taves Wadena County Auditor/Treasurer Dave Hillukka, Chairperson Wadena County Board of Commissioners 8-22-17 page 6