Cost of LARL to the County is increasing

 

The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on May 29, 2018. They discussed the next course of remonumentation in the County which will involve Sinclair, Leon, and Pine Lake Townships. 

LARL: Commissioner John Nelson informed the Board of an increase for Lake Agassiz Regional Library system in the amount of $1,940 for Clearwater County. 

“That makes it over $103,000 now,” he said.

Prime West: Commissioner John Nelson is on the Prime West Board. The State requires that all the Board members of Prime West be educated, the Commissioner said. Then they are tested. 

Environmental Services Director, Dan Hecht brought several motions to be considered by the Board. The annual contract for Weed Task Force Specialist duties was approved. It will be between the County and Blake Peterson for the 2018 calendar year. The duties in the contract have been reduced to only newspaper columns and duties related to the approved pit list. 

“The pits on the list are inspected. If no more work is being done for two inspections, I want to take them off of the list,” Mr. Hecht stated. 

Roadside spraying inspection duties have been removed and the number of hours is reduced accordingly. 

He said the public notice for the Solid Waste Management Plan ended on May 21 and no comments were received. A resolution for adoption of the plan was approved by the Commissioners, with Dean Newland making the motion, which was seconded by Neal Illies. 

The Board approved a pay rate increase for part-time employee Al Spring from $13.50 up to $14.00 per hour, effective immediately. 

A concrete crusher may be available to crush concrete from the area projects. If it is a reasonable price then the ES Director would like to pursue this. 

SWCD: Jamin Carlson, Water Plan Coordinator, and Chester Powell, Program Technician of the Soil & Water Conservation District had a spot on the meeting agenda. Chester gave an AIS update, saying there are 11 inspectors working at various county lakes, and another two at Itasca Park. 

“Pine Lake froze out last year, and dead fish were found along the shore,” Chester said. “Only three inspections were done there on the opener, where there should be 20-30. It was reported that they are not catching anything, and lake use is way down. I think there is a greatly reduced population. 

“I have cut back the number of inspectors at Pine Lake and placed them at Long Lake and Clearwater Lake.” 

Jamin talked about the Mississippi Watershed plan. This involves five counties working to manage the watershed, or Clearwater County can manage their own. Chester asked if the Commissioners are for, against, or neutral to the Mississippi Watershed.

Several Commissioners mentioned the difficulties that occur when it is a joint effort, and that the focus goes to a particular problem, then the rest are ignored.

Commissioner Newland said, “I don’t like it that the other areas get forgotten when the focus is on one problem.” 

Commissioner Illies said, “I am concerned about us giving up more power. We need more information.” 

Chester replied that  managing of power is of concern. 

”The County still has time in the future to decide where we want to go with a plan,” Jamin said. “It doesn’t need changing right now as it is solid.” 

They reported that the tree sales are now done. 

Maintenance Supervisor Steve Faldet reported on the potential repair or replacement of the front door of the Court House. One contractor he talked with said the door is too old to repair. He will be talking with another this week. 

Striping of the Courthouse parking lot was approved, an amount of approximately $445.00. The parking lots for the Nursing Service and the Human Service lots were discussed, but will not be done at this time. 

Land Commissioner Bruce Cox confirmed that there is an area at Long Lost Lake they want better access to and want to memorialize. The request for half of the cost of placement and maintenance of a portable bathroom will be pursued with DNR, and the remaining half of the cost will be paid by Long Lost Lake Association.

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