New Assistant County Attorney hire approved
Tue, 06/18/2019 - 11:33am
admin
By:
Karen Edelbach
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on June 11, 2019, began with Attorney Al Rogalla's encouragement for the Board members to approve the hiring of Matthew Jorud as the next Assistant County Attorney.
“Matt Jorud wants to be part of the community, and brings his family with seven children to the school district here,” he said. “This is an important consideration, since the County has been struggling with longevity. We are in competition with two other counties , and he has as much or more experience than our currant assistant.”
Commissioners who had met the candidate said he is personable and knowledgable.
The motion was approved to hire Mr. Jorud at a step 5 salary of $72,196, and will begin on August 1.
“I think we are very lucky to have him,” Attorney Rogalla stated.
Bob Abraham had the next spot on the agenda, with a question as to why the Board had approved the installation of a siren for weather warnings across from the Long Lake Park.
“There is no reason to have a siren out in the country,” he stated his opinion. “Everyone has a cell phone these days.”
“We did okay this as a safety feature there,” the Board Chairman John Nelson replied.
Dean Newland pointed out it had been at the direction of Emergency Management.
Neal Illies said, “The area has been hit three times with high wind in the last few years. When 60 mph winds and above, anything can be a hazard, including trees.”
Land Commissioner stated that the people at the park are directed to go to the bath house during storms.
“It is good for the Commissioners to know what our constituents and tax payers are feeling about things,” the Chairman said, and thanked them for coming.
Levorsen Sawmill: Jim Svobodny, Peter Hovde, and Dan Wilson represented the Levorsen Mill Project of the Long Lost Lake Area Association at the County Board meeting. In 2016-17 the Association voted to include the Levorsen Mill site historic marker and site development as a project. There have been continuing efforts to document the history of Long Lost Lake and the surrounding area to the present. Clean up of the site has been completed, and grass planted on the walking paths.
This year historic research has mostly been completed with significant contributions of photos and narrative from A. J. Levorsen's granddaughter who is the primary caretaker of family history. Fundraising for the final step of digital design, printing and mounting of two 4 foot by 8 foot panels including historic photos, site map and narrative by a local sign printer is being pursued with the Minnesota Legacy Fund and grants.
Their request to the County Board for assistance to the Long Lost Lake Area Association in sponsoring the grant application in the amount of $1,100 with no cost to the County, was approved, and Auditor-Treasurer Al Paulson was authorized to sign and be their contact person.
The Levorsen Sawmill was in operation from 1932 to 1956. The historic features in the area are the Scout project, Roundhouse, and Levorsen Sawmill.
Sheriff Darin Halverson was authorized by the Board to promote Meagan Thompson from part-time deputy to full-time deputy to fill the vacancy left by Shane Powell who resigned and moved from the area after some discussion about the position. Starting pay will be at her current rate, starting on June 13. She will go through a probationary period.
He was asked why he wanted to choose someone in the department instead of going through an advertising process to look for a candidate.
“It has been our practice in the past that if there are any within the department who are qualified for the position, they are the first to be considered,” stated Sheriff Halverson.
“This is a tough job,”, he added, “and I work hard to get everyone trained properly.”
Authorization was approved to purchase an ARMER Radio and remote control unit for the Clearwater County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), including needed antenna and accessories from Roger's Radio at a cost of $5,796 installed. Cost will come from the Emergency Management budget.
The Sheriff was authorized to sign the 2019 State of Minnesota Annual Boat and Water Safety Grant in the amount of $2,022.
Environmental Services Director, Dan Hecht was authorized for the expenses for canister site improvements due to garbage blowing onto nearby property, of up to $1,000 to improve the fencing at Leon Township solid waste collection site; and up to $1,500 to install new fencing at the Holst Township solid waste collection site, both for labor only. Materials for each site have been purchased separately.
The adding of a third container at three recycling collection sites in the County was discussed, and also the consideration for persons working at the waste sites/land fill to wear safety boots for prevention of injury. These issues will be considered further in the future.
Engineer Dan Sauvé brought the Annual Financial Report for 2018 for the Commissioners.
He received approval for payment of the Clearwater County Highway Department bills as presented in the amount of $41,031.
After the Board of Equalization meeting, SWCD Chester Powell, Program Technician updated the Commissioners about the Water Plan, specificly the Mississippi and Wild Rice.
“The plans are at different steps,” he said. “Five State Agencies will meet in Ada with an Advisory Committee that has been chosen. Some on the Committee are Dean Newland, Dan Hecht and Bruce Cox. Dan Stenseng may also be coming.”
He said a fly-over the Headwaters will be done, to the end of the watershed. Break outs to regions will be done.
Chester said he feels comfortable with this plan, which was reassuring to the Board.
IT Department: A motion was passed to authorize the purchase of Nessus Pro Scanner for the IT Department from Software House International at a cost of $1,998 plus tax.
County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson was authorized to pay the submitted invoices of $123,502 for the County Revenue Fund and $4,174 for the Nursing Service Fund.
All Commissioners were present at the meeting: John Nelson, Neal Illies, Dean Newland, Mark Titera, and Mark Larson.