Commissioners hear remonumentation project and CVSO updates and pay raises

 

Surveyors Bob Murray and Jim Kramer came to the Clearwater County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 19, 2016 with an update about the remonumentation project being done for Sections 19 and 27. County department heads and others who were present for the update were Brenda Knable, Janet Fredrickson, Heather Vernland, Dan Hecht, Stuart Lien, and Dan Sauve`. 

Environmental Services Director, Dan Hecht brought a motion to amend the solid waste hauling contract with Listrom's Disposal to add an additional 10 yard container permanently to the Rice Township site at Zerkel. This site has needed extra capacity, and this will make the adjustment permanent. 

The Board approved the amendment for a capacity increase of one 10 cu. yard canister at the Rice Township collection site, for a new total of five such canisters, along with an increase of $1,456 per year in the contract payment amount, effective July 1, 2016.

Veterans Service Officer Harry Hutchens, III brought his quarterly CVSO and Safety Report to the Board for the period from April 1 to June 30, 2016. The report indicated over 400 calls, 51 office visits, and six home visits, along with 242 emails and other responses. He facilitated the Clearwater County Safety Committee Meeting for May 2016. Mr. Hutchens attended the 2016 Minnesota Safety Council Conference May 3-5 to receive the Basic Workplace Safety Certificate; the Quarterly meeting at Becker Courthouse June 21, an OSHA inspection presentation and discussion; and the 2016 OSHA/AWAIR update training May 18-19. 

He brought Census data for Clearwater County, Minnesota including data from 2010-2014 which indicated there were 886 Veterans living in Clearwater County at that time. A State report indicated that 118,244 Veterans received VA care in Minnesota during 2015, for a total cost of $1,096,917,852.

Clearwater County Veterans who received direct VA and non-VA care were 432, at a cost of $3,951,515. Veteran population in 2015 had declined to 784 in Clearwater County.   

Elected officials Richard Mollin, Darin Halverson, Brenda Knable and Allen Paulson, as well as non-union and department head employees receive a 2% increase starting Jan. 1, 2016 per Board approval. 

Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources informed the Commissioners per letter that the amended Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan was approved at its regular meeting on June 22, 2016. The Board moved to adopt and implement the amended plan, effective until May 26, 2020.  

County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson received authorization to pay the submitted invoices of $62,306 for the County Revenue Fund, and $25,747 for Nursing Service Fund.

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