Illies, Larson and Coulter appointed to positions
Tue, 01/14/2020 - 4:37pm
admin
By:
Karen Edelbach
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on January 7 for the first meeting of 2020. Commissioner Neal Illies was nominated by his peers to be the Board Chairman for 2020, and Mark Larson was nominated to be the Vice-Chairman. Both were unanimously approved by the Board. Chairman Illies replaces Commissioner John Nelson who served as the Board Chair during 2019.
Sheriff Darin Halverson brought a motion to appoint Candace Coulter as Emergency Management Director effective Jan. 7, 2020. Ten percent of her salary will come from the Emergency Management budget.
County Veterans Service Officer, Lindsey Lamwers, brought a motion to partition the Veteran Service Office with a proper seating area in order to accommodate Veterans and their families while waiting for the VSO. It will include a door and a window.
Two motions which entailed use of grant funds were brought for the Board to consider. These are for purchase of polo shirts, jackets, and furniture - a new office desk, storage components, new office chair, and four new guest chairs appropriate for Veterans to use in the waiting area and during office meetings. The apparel purchase is for the purpose of promoting the office during outreach events, meetings. parades and other events.
Some concern was expressed by commissioners about using up the grant money and then having a possible shortfall for Veterans transportation.
"There were many years the transportation money was gone before the end of the year," Commissioner John Nelson reflected.
"This is the reason why people started making donations," Commissioners Neal Illies and Nelson concurred.
Ms. Lamwers explained the importance of the clothing is so they can be used for outreach events, fairs, and CVSO meetings to represent the County.
"Part of what we use grant funds for is advertising," she stated. "Transportation will continue with donations still coming in, plus the DAV program making it better. Previously, the DAV was not allowed in this county but now it's being utilized, and is free transportation," she added.
"The number one priority is for Veterans to get to their appointments."
She will still plan to do the fundraiser, and the new grant cycle of $7,500 starts again in July. Funds from the grant must be used by the end of June.
"Since we are six months into the (fiscal) year, and so much of the VSO is outreach, I see no problem with using the grant funds for the clothing," said Commissioner Mark Larson. Since many don't know her, Commissioner Mark Titera thought this would be a good thing.
After the discussion, all requests were approved, with some slight changes, Commissioner Dean Newland confirming this would be a one time expense, and the grant money will be used.
Chester Powell and Briel Prokosch, Program Technicians from Soil and Water Conservation District received approval to accept the terms of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Delegation Agreement for Aquatic Invasive Species prevention inspection of water-related equipment. This agreement will cover 2020, 2021, and 2022, set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022.
Commissioner Titera commented on the possibility brought up by some that birds are carriers of the AIS.
Chester said the work they are doing is slowing down the spread of the AIS, and they are working hard to develop a plan to keep it out of the retention pond. If it got in that, it would eventually spread to the Clearwater River and beyond.
"It is more of a concern when the temperature is above 50 degrees, in the summer months," he said.
Commissioner Dean Newland said he had received word that the Fish and Wildlife Department wanted to continue to work in Clearwater County.
The Commissioners will determine whether to set a limit on the number of wetlands they would approve per year, and how many.
County Engineer, Dan Sauve` said it is time to start advertising for the 2020 highway construction projects which begin in the spring. Expected work includes countywide pavement markings, regraveling in the south half of the county, grading and culvert replacements.
He received approval for payment of the Clearwater County Highway Department bills as presented in the amount of $35,745.
MIS Technical Director, Stuart Lien was authorized to purchase 2020 computer replacements and technology upgrades for general government not to exceed $80,000; and 2020 general government computer and software maintenance, upgrades and support agreements not to exceed $82,000. He brought a 2020 IT Department scheduled expenditures list explaining the individual items.
County Auditor Allen Paulson received approval of the quote from Vern's Carpet in Fertile in the amount of $12,314 for carpeting and removal of old flooring in the Sheriff's Department and stairway in dispatch. This will come from the Buildings and Grounds account.
He was authorized to pay the submitted invoices of $328,323 for the County Revenue Fund.
General motions were approved to re-adopt the 3-day notice requirement, re-adopt Roberts Rules of Order as a guideline for facilitating County Board Meetings, approval of General Agenda, dates for regular Board Meetings and Department Head Meetings, approval of legal paper (Richards Publishing), and approval of Boards & Committees appointments.
Most of the Boards & Committees appointments remained the same.
All commissioners were present at the meeting: Neal Illies, Mark Larson Dean Newland, John Nelson, and Mark Titera.