Clearwater County approves 2.58% increase in 2017 Levy

The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on September 20, 2016. 

Departmental Budgets under Clearwater County Revenue Fund for Fiscal Year 2017 were approved by the Commissioners for Truth-In-Taxation purposes. Expenditures listed total $8,178,196; and Revenues total $8,573,575 for Total General Government.

“The County has $23,000 better than last year in the Revenue Fund,” Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson stated. 

The 2017 Levy for Truth-In-Taxation was approved unanimously by the Commissioners. The Net Levy Base in the amount of $6,846,207 will be 2.58% over last year. This can be adjusted by the end of the year, Paulson said. 

Letter to Governor Dayton: A letter addressed to Governor Mark Dayton regarding the extensive damages by the recent severe storms in Clearwater County was discussed by the Commissioners. The letter states that these storms caused extensive damages to the public infrastructure within the County and that a local emergency was declared on July 22, 2016 here due to this disaster. Board Chairman Neal Illies signed the letter to be sent to the Governor.

Clearwater County submitted a Damage and Impact Assessment Report to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). 

The indicated storm related damages are in excess of $289,000. As a result of these initial damage estimates, Clearwater County requested HSEM to conduct a State Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA), which was conducted on September 15. This revealed storm related costs and damages to our public infrastructure exceeding 50% of the County's federal damage indicator. 

Clearwater County is requesting state disaster assistance, which is a 75% reimbursement program.

Land Commissioner Bruce Cox received approval by the Commissioners for a resolution fixing terms and conditions for the 2016 Tax-Forfeited Land Sale. 

“Tax-forfeited land in the city is a liability,” Commissioner Cox stated. 

The list includes eight properties, one in Falk Township, four in the City of Bagley, and one in the City of Shevlin. The resolution states that the lands will be sold to the highest bidder at a public oral auction beginning at 10:00 a.m. On October 25, 2016 in the 3rd Floor Meeting Room in the County Courthouse. 

County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson received authorization to pay the submitted invoices of $105,386 from the County Revenue Fund, and $16,543 from Nursing Service. 

A number of Health Care Insurance plans were approved by the Commissioners and will go into effect on January 1, 2017. 

Commissioners present at the meeting were Daniel Stenseng, Dean Newland, John Nelson, Neal Illies and Arlen Syverson.