County Commissioners meet March 18Law Library 8:30 A.M.Rock County Courthouse March 18, 2003Chair Boyenga called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve the March 18, 2003 County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to approve the March 4, 2003 County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote. Tom Houselog, County Assessor, presented a 2003 assessment update regarding all lands in the county. He informed the County Board that they will be sending out the assessment notices in the near future and that some property owners may see an increase in the assessment value in certain classifications due to increased sales. The County Board took no action. Mr. Houselog also presented a tax court update stating that negotiations still continue and that a tax court hearing for Gold’n Plump is set for June 17, 2003. Land Management Office Director Eric Hartman and Assistant Director Doug Bos presented an Ag Inspector’s Program review. Following the review, motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to approve the Ag Inspector’s Report, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Hoime, to authorize Commissioner Boyenga to represent the county and set the priorities for the Resource Conservation District Cotue de Prairie, declared carried on a voice vote. University of Minnesota Extension Educator Holli Arp and Extension District Director Dave Warner presented a number of budget issues at the state and local level. Mr. Warner informed the County Board that $185 million is expected to be the University’s state reduction with $2.5 million coming from Extension; this reduction does not reflect any county reduction. The County Board took no action, however, directed that Mr. Warner and Ms. Arp present this information back to the Extension Committee for further direction. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented a contract with Computer Professionals Unlimited for assistance/training with GASB 34 implementation for $6,400 plus mileage/lodging; motion by Wildung, seconded Jarchow, to authorize the contract, declared carried on a voice vote. The Auditor/Treasurer presented (2) solid waste abatements for $42.00 on the following properties: parcel #05-0124-000 located in the NE 1/4 of 04-101-44 and parcel #07-0079-000 located in the SE 1/4 of 26-102-44. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to approve both solid waste abatements, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve the claims, declared carried on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of claims is available at the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.General $ 36,057.96LEC 1,746.51Road & Bridge 22,197.48Welfare 63,158.72Landfill 6,322.31TOTAL $129,482.98The County Board directed the County Administrator to draft a letter of response to Senator Vickerman and Representative Magnus expressing the county’s concerns regarding a report published by State Auditor Patricia Awada entitled "Revenues, Expenditures of Minnesota Counties Year Ended December 31, 2001."Randy Ehlers, Family Services Director and Don Klosterbuer, County Attorney, presented an update regarding re-basing. They informed the County Board of a federal injunction filed against the State of Minnesota, which placed all re-basing activities and contract revisions on hold. The County Board directed the FSA Director to send a letter to all MR/RC clients in Rock County explaining the action by the federal courts and what the impact will be in their particular case. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the following consent items (#1 - #3 of proposed consent agenda), declared carried on a voice vote. 1. Day Care licensing – Heather Roberts2. Day Relicensing – Audrey Aanenson, Betty Mulder, Glenda Groen3. Resolution No. 14-03, requesting special legislation to appoint the County Recorder position in Rock County.Dan Cook, Rock County Rural Water manager and Don Klosterbuer, County Attorney, presented an update on the rural water system and the Lewis and Clark project; no action was taken at this time. Dave Smith, Luverne Chamber of Commerce Director, introduced Cally Eckles, a representative from U.S. Senator Gutknecht’s office, to the County Board. She stated that she would be the southwest Minnesota contact and that her office would be located in Fairmont. Mark Sehr, Engineer, presented the following bids for a diesel track loader for use at the Transfer Station: oRDO Equipment Co. 2003 Deere 755C 11 $203,300 w/1989 Fiat trade & MaintenanceoZiegler, Inc. 2003 CAT 963C $200,633 w/1989 Fiat trade & MaintenanceFollowing a presentation by the bidders, there was a motion by Hoime, seconded by Jarchow, to accept the low bid from RDO of $203,300; a roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Jarchow and Hoime voting aye, and Boyenga, Wildung and Bakken voting nay. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to accept the Engineer’s recommendation, the bid from Ziegler, Inc. for $220,633, with $100,000 taken from the Landfill Contingency Fund and the remainder to be financed over a period of five years; a roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Jarchow, Wildung and Boyenga voting aye and Commissioners Hoime and Bakken voting nay. Motion was declared and carried. The Engineer requested to bid let a bituminous overlay project on CSAH 3, CSAH 8 and CSAH 17; motion by Hoime, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize the bid letting process, declared carried on a voice vote.The Engineer requested approval of Resolution No. 12-03, authorizing the Administrator and Engineer to enter into an updated agreement with MNDOT for the administration of federal aid projects completed in the county; motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to approve Resolution No. 12-03, declared carried on a voice vote.The Engineer presented the following bids for preliminary survey and report for the petition for improvements in Judicial Ditch #3: oDakota Land Survey $ 8,500 oDGR $ 9,500 oBolten & Menk, Inc $23,950Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Wildung, to accept the Engineer’s recommendation and award the bid to DGR for $9,500.00, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to approve the Five Year Road and Bridge Construction Plan and present at the Annual Township Road & Bridge Hearing, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board was in receipt of a petition from a number of residents regarding the eastbound rest area stop on I-90 just inside of Nobles County; no action was taken. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to approve Resolution No. 13-03, authorizing temporary economic retirement incentives to Rock County employees qualifying for a state funded pension, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Boyenga, to execute an agreement with Luverne Farm Store for a lawn care program for the Courthouse and Human Services properties, but to negotiate the rate, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board was invited to the Southwestern Mental Health Center Annual Meeting, April 9th, 6:00 P.M. at the Kinbrae Supper Club.The County Board received a video from the Association of Minnesota Counties to review; the video pertains to Corrections funding, Law Enforcement funding, and County Attorney’s funding as a result to the state budget. Commissioner Boyenga informed the County Board that the Budget Committee had conducted a review of the Land Management Office budget history. Commissioner Boyenga brought from the table the replacement of a Regional Extension Educator vacated by Fraser Norton. Following discussion, it was the consensus of the County Board to wait on filling that position until additional information was available regarding the state budget. Commissioner Jarchow stated that he had attended the new Regional Development Commission board meeting and that they discussed the possible sale of the Prairie Expo building. Commissioner Hoime stated that he attended a meeting in Pipestone regarding the status of the Senior Dining Program; no action was taken at that meeting. With no further business come before the County Board, the meeting was declared adjourned. Ron Boyenga, Chair of the BoardATTEST: Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(4-10)
