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PROCEEDINGS OF

THE BIG STONE

COUNTY BOARD

October 21, 2008

The Big Stone County Board of

Commissioners met in the Commissioner’s

Room at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, October 21,

2008. Chairman Janssen called the

meeting to order with Commissioners

Athey , Sandberg and Olson present.

Commissioner Tomschin was absent. Also

present were Elsie Perrine, Mike Swenson

of the Ortonville Independent and County

Auditor Michelle Knutson. The Pledge of

Allegiance followed.

Motion by Sandberg, seconded by

Athey and carried to approve the minutes

of the October 7th regular meeting.

Motion by Olson, seconded by

Sandberg and carried to approve the

agenda.

Committee reports were presented.

Attorney Bill Watson and County Engineer

Nick Anderson arrived at the meeting.

Motion by Olson, seconded by

Sandberg and carried to authorize per

diem and related expenses be paid to

Commissioner Athey for attending Board

Leadership Academy training.

Attorney Watson reported that the final

certificate has been filed regarding the

condemnation on the County Road #63

project.

Engineer Anderson reported that he had

received a Public Waters Cease and

Desist Order on County Ditch #2. A brief

history of the ditch and what has been

done was provided. Motion by Olson,

seconded by Athey and carried to begin

the process of appealing the order.

Attorney Watson and Engineer

Anderson left the meeting.

Ortonville Councilman Bob Meyer and

Sheriff John Haukos were present for a

continued discussion on the space needs

of both the City and County. The various

options, as well as bonding, were

discussed.

Discussion was held on the installation

of a keyless entry security system. Motion

by Olson, seconded by Sandberg and

carried to authorize installing the system

for law enforcement and the courthouse as

presented by Sheriff Haukos.

Countryside Public Health Administrator

Liz Auch presented their 2009 budget and

updated the Board on her agency’s

activities.

Following a break, Carolyn

Engebretson, representing the Red River

Basin Commission (RRBC) was present to

request a resolution of support and update

the Board on the RRBC activities. Motion

by Athey, seconded by Olson and carried

to adopt the following resolution:

2008-25

WHEREAS, we recognize that our actions

today impact the legacy we leave the next

generation; and

WHEREAS, we realize that working

together allows us to develop and

implement creative solutions to problems

that work toward the betterment of the

whole basin; and

WHEREAS, the Red River Basin

Commission (RRBC) is a unique

organization that facilitates a cooperative

approach within the basin as a well

established forum for identifying,

developing and implementing solutions to

cross boundary issues; and

WHEREAS, the RRBC has developed the

Red River Basin Natural Resource

Framework Plan (RRB-NRFP) through indepth

basin-wide consultation as a

guideline to help unite the basin in

achieving a collaborative and cooperative

approach to land and water management

within the basin.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Big

Stone County hereby declares support for

the RRB-NRFP in principle as a guideline

for moving forward with a shared vision for

the future.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Big

Stone County will do our part by

implementing projects, programs, and

actions in our area as we are able that will

contribute to this shared vision.

Motion by Sandberg, seconded by

Olson and carried to authorize payment of

the following claims as presented by

Auditor Knutson:

General $39,699.05

Highway 39,018.13

Ditch 102.68

Taxes and Penalties 127.20

State 30.00

Total $78,977.06

Motion by Olson, seconded by Athey

and carried to authorize the following

internal transactions:

General to Highway $5,730.23

Ditch to Highway $2,102.24

CD #2 $124.70

CD #4 $130.51

JD #4 $474.40

JD #7 $ 76.35

CD#10/11 $551.10

CD #12 $ 90.35

CD #13 $592.48

CD #16 $ 62.35

Auditor Knutson reported that Bob

Johnson is willing to also do the snow

removal at the Courthouse and will be

getting back to the County with a price.

Motion by Sandberg, seconded by

Olson and carried to amend the 2001 Joint

Powers Agreement with Pioneerland

Library System as recommended by MCIT.

Due to the annual AMC conference, the

December board meeting dates were set

for December 16th and December 30th.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Athey

and carried to adopt the following

resolution:

2008-26

WHEREAS, the Big Stone County Board of

Commissioners recognizes the importance

of maintaining aggregate resources for the

general economy of the County; and

WHEREAS, the County Board recognizes

that property taxes are an important

consideration as to the viability of the

aggregate industries located in the County;

and

WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota has an

ad valorem property tax system based on

the full market value of real estate or

personal property; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of Minn. Stat. §.

273.1115, Aggregate Resource

Preservation Property Tax Law, grants

special and unique treatment to owners of

land containing aggregate deposits, in

comparison with other property in the

County, therefore shifting the tax burden

on these properties to other taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of Minn. Stat. §

273.1115, Aggregate Resource

Preservation Property Tax Law, allow a

county to terminate application of this law;

and

WHEREAS, a county may reauthorize

application of this law by a resolution of the

County Board revoking the termination;

and

WHEREAS, the County Board is required

to hold a public hearing as part of the

process to terminate application of this law;

and

WHEREAS, said public hearing has been

scheduled for December 16, 2008.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,

that the Big Stone County Board of

Commissioners hereby elects to begin the

process of terminating participation in the

Aggregate Resource Preservation Property

Tax Law in Big Stone County.

County Engineer Nick Anderson

reported that MCIT is no longer handling

drug testing for the counties. Motion by

Sandberg, seconded by Olson and carried

to approve the agreement to perform drug

testing on county employees with the

current provider, First Lab, contingent upon

Attorney Watson’s review.

Motion by Athey, seconded by

Sandberg and carried to authorize

Engineer Anderson to contact Bill Hartman

to remove the garage that is on the trail

right-of-way.

Discussion was held on the possible

redetermination of benefits for Joint Ditch

#4 as a result of a tile permit request from

the Big Stone Hutterian Bretheran. It

appears that an outlet fee will need to be

assessed as some of the parcels affected

are not benefitted into the ditch.

Commissioner Sandberg left the

meeting to meet with representatives from

USDA regarding the Family Services

Building.

Discussion was held on Branch 3 of

County Ditch #13. Board members were

reminded that the petition for improvement

is under the jurisdiction of the Watershed.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Athey

and carried to authorize renting a brush

mower and tractor for ditch maintenance.

Motion by Athey, seconded by Olson

and carried to award the bid for project CP

06-663-06 to Final Touch Excavating of

East Bethel, MN.

Discussion was held on road ditch rightof-

way and buffer strips. Board consensus

was that the initial correspondence to

landowners should come from the

commissioners. Commissioner Olson will

bring a draft press release to the next

meeting.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Athey

and carried to allow part-time dispatchers

to work limited custodial hours at Grade 4

Step 1 as recommended by HR Director

Sue Schultz.

Board consensus was to support the

Department Heads in allowing a

reasonable amount of paid time off work

for employees to go to their local clinic for

flu shots at their own expense.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Athey

and carried to approve Blue Cross’

Alternative Option 2, at a cost of $122 per

month, as the Part D Medicare Drug

Coverage provided to County retirees.

Motion by Athey, seconded by Olson

and carried to approve the 3% contract

increase for preventative system

maintenance with G&R Controls.

Chairman Janssen adjourned the

meeting at 11:25 PM.

Michelle R. Knutson,

Auditor

Howard Janssen,

Chairman

SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING

October 27, 2008

The Big Stone County Board of

Commissioners met in the Commissioner’s

Room at 1:00 PM on Monday, October 27,

2008. The purpose of the meeting is to

discuss and act on the cost plus contract

for the work to be done at the Family

Services building. Chairman Janssen

called the meeting to order with

Commissioners Tomschin, Athey,

Sandberg and Olson present. Also

present were Attorney Bill Watson and

Auditor Michelle Knutson. The Pledge of

Allegiance followed.

Steve Grong of Carlson Construction

updated the Board on the work that will

need to be done at the Family Services

building and presented a contract for the

same. Mr. Grong explained the cost plus

contract as this is something new for the

County. With the understanding that

contracts for purchase or repairs may

be made without advertising for bids in

emergency situations as per MS

375.21, motion by Sandberg and

seconded by Olson to approve the contract

contingent upon Attorney Watson’s

approval. Following discussion, motion

carried.

Chairman Janssen declared the meeting

adjourned at 1:35 PM.

Michelle R. Knutson,

Auditor

Howard Janssen,

Chairman