Commissioners hear updates for Clearwater Housing Authority
Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on March 8, 2016, with Cheryl Grover first on the agenda to discuss the Clearwater Housing Authority (HA).
"On March 1, the Clearwater Housing Authority (HA) rentals transferred to the Bemidji Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA). But as of Jan. 31 the HA closed and Parkview where the office was located doesn't want to store the boxes of files that are there," she said.
Also, there is a matter of debt owed by the Clearwater HA that is not being absorbed by the Bemidji HRA.
"I understand that Clearwater Board doesn't claim any culpability for this debt. In 1994 I was appointed by the Board then, and thought it was a good fit, as I worked in the Assessor's office and knew the properties. I did not ask for the position," she stated. She now spends time voluntarily in order to assist in seeing that the housing programs under HUD management continue in Clearwater County.
Commissioner Neal Illies stated that by State Resolution the County has to appoint someone to the Housing Board, which they did, but beyond that, there are no County responsibilities to the HUD managed program.
She stated that there are about 30 more boxes of files at Park View, besides 12 boxes she has stored at her garage. The Fair will possibly store some. She would like a solution for that.
Commissioner Dan Sten-seng asked if the HRA has a retention schedule. They concluded it is six to seven years, so discussed throwing those out that are past retention.
However, Ms. Grover stated there are two properties with revolving loans and that have liens on them, possibly over 20 years old. Those records are somewhere in the many boxes of files. It is uncertain where the records of these liens are located and recorded.
When the properties are sold there would be money coming back.
Commissioner John Nelson said the money would most likely go to the HRA. It could then be used for maintenance on properties, and inspections, and they could hire the HRA to oversee these.
"It is a benefit to Clearwater County in the future," he said. "But the HRA must make arrangements with the RDC."
While the Commissioners said they are sympathetic with Ms. Grover's frustration, they cannot assist any further. Commissioner Nelson will try to help by talking with the HRA.
Environmental Services Director, Dan Hecht brought 2015 Year-End Summary, which he does annually, for the Board's review (See related summary.)
Groundwater monitoring contracts were brought for approval related to monitoring at the landfill. The agreement with Terracon is for one year, and one with SampleTech Environmental & Industrial Water Sampling Services is for two years. Terracon Consultants, Inc. is from St. Paul. Their contract is in the amount of $2,500 for engineering consulting services.
Both contracts reflect price increases, with $900 per year for the SampleTech contract. Total per year for 2016 and 2017 will be $3,800. This is due to new requirements by MPCA for improved sample analysis methods which go more in detail. The State then requires the new standards available. Both contracts were passed by the Commissioners.
A contract for authorizing services for weed task force specialist Blake Peterson with the County for 2016 calendar year was also approved.
Hecht said there is not much use of the landfill from outside the county.
Sheriff Deputy Ryan Solee received authorization for the Sheriff to move Rodney Felt voluntarily from permanent to part-time and work over 1,040 hours per year.
County Engineer, Dan Sauvé received authorization to pay the Highway Department bills in the amount of $37,033.
County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson received authorization to pay the submitted invoices of $145,059 from the County Revenue Fund, and $15,390 from Nursing Service. He also received Board approval to purchase a new Dell Latitude laptop computer for Emily McDougall, Board Coordinator, to make her job more efficient at a cost of $1251.
Township Meetings were held last Tuesday. Most did not request attendance by the commissioners.
Commissioners present at the meeting were Daniel Stenseng, Dean Newland, John Nelson, Neal Illies and Arlen Syverson.
2015 Year End
Summary & Highlights
Shoreland Ordinance, Septic Systems, Wetlands, Subdivisions Controls:
•16 Land Use Permits processed, 3 grading and filling permits, 4 variances processed
•45 Septic Systems permitted, inspected, records processed (36 non-shoreline, 9 shoreline)
•182 individual Wetlands Conservation Act contacts and assistances rendered
•48 subdivisions processed
•Revenue generated from fees: $2,100
Demolition Landfill
•3,903 individual users admitted at gate during regular hours
•2,876 compacted cubic yards demolition waste (17 years remaining in fill area at this rate)
•29 tons of tires, 83 tons scrap metal, 443 appliances shipped for recycling (other materials accepted incl. Yard waste, oil filters, MSW bypass, electronics waste, mercury-containing light bulbs, capacitors, ballast, transformers, HHW
•Approximately $24,111 collected in gate fees, sale of scrap metal and commercial gate fees
Solid Waste Collection/
Disposal/Recycling
•4,309 tons of trash shipped to Fosston in 2015. Total tonnage has increased about 10% over the past 3 years. Collection and disposal of trash (not incl. Recycling, landfill or any salaries) is about 57% of entire department budget
•Canister site improvements – none in 2015. Eddy will be rebuilt in 2016
•96 tons of recyclables collected at drop-offs in Bagley and Clearbrook
County Ag
•County roadsides sprayed in 2015 were 129 miles in northern part of county, inslopes and backslopes on separate contracts for the first time. Gravel pit approval program and leafy spurge inventory ongoing projects