Monthly items on January 18 Board of Commissioners meeting
Tue, 01/25/2022 - 9:04am
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By Darin Steindl
All commissioners were present for the January 18 meeting. There was a slight change in seating arrangements for this meeting as Commissioner Mark Titera moved to the chairman seat, replacing Commissioner Mark Larson as Board Chairman.
First on the agenda was Dan Sauvé, County Engineer. Sauvé asked for approval to pay Highway Department bills totaling $9,549.38. A motion was made by Commissioner John Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Dean Newland. Motion passed.
Sauvé then asked for approval to hire Brycen Friborg as an Engineering Technician. There was some discussion about Friborg being a local resident and the hope that having ties to the local community might help with retaining him on staff longer than some previous employees. Commissioner Nelson made a motion to hire Friborg, seconded by Commissioner Larson. Motion passed.
Stuart Lien, Director of Information Technology reported on annual IT needs. Commissioner Newland made a motion to authorize the purchase of 2022 computer replacements and technology upgrades for general government not to exceed $59,329.32. Seconded by Commissioner Larson. Motion passed. Commissioner Neal Illies made a motion to authorize the purchase of the 2022 General Government computer & software maintenance, upgrades, and support agreements not to exceed $97,090. Seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Motion passed.
Sanford Health representative Stephanie McKnight shared with the board the progress that is being made on the Group Therapy Renovation project at the hospital. The project will be utilizing space in the facility that will have its own entryway. Commissioner Larson made a motion to pledge $62,000 towards the project with payment from the Medical Facilities Funds. Seconded by Commissioner Illies. Motion passed.
Next on the agenda was Al Paulson, County Auditor-Treasurer. Paulson reviewed financial statements and asked for authorization to make payments for submitted invoices totaling $464,350.66 from the County Revenue Fund and $31,920.40 from the Nursing Service Fund. Commissioner Titera made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Newland, and the motion passed.
Paulson then asked for the approval to appoint Glen Trembath for a 3-year term and Steph Ramsrud for a 1-year term on the County Extension Committee. Both were approved.
Paulson went on to explain that they had interviewed a candidate to fill a vacant Assessor Clerk position. The board approved the hiring of Abbie Anderson to fill the position effective January 24, 2022.
Paulson presented three union agreements that needed board approval. The first one was a 3-year agreement between the county, the Sheriff Department and Teamsters Local 346. The second was a 3-year agreement between the county, Sheriff Department and Teamsters Local 320 Communications/Correctional Officers union. The third one was a 3-year agreement between the county and Teamsters Local 320 Courthouse Employee union. All three agreements were approved.
Paulson’s final business item was regarding a resolution to set the minimum salaries for elected officials in 2023 as follows: Auditor-Treasurer, $77,875.20; Recorder, $61,651.20; Sheriff, $77,875.20; and Attorney $94,724.80. A motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Larson. Motion passed.
Veterans Service Officer Logan LeClair gave an update regarding a program to help veterans get medical opinions from private practice physicians which would then assist them in getting health care coverage from the VA. Commissioner Illies made a motion to enter into a price agreement with Sanford Occupational Medicine for Veterans Medical Opinions to aid veterans in their VA claim Process. The motion also included the authorization to create a separate account for donations to be accepted to help with funding this program. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Newland. Motion passed.
The final business item was presented by Sheriff Darin Halverson. He asked for authorization to hire Brent Weems as a full-time Deputy Sheriff pending successful completion of the preemployment screening a background check process. The board approved his request.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:47 am with the next scheduled meeting set for February 8 at 9 am.