New contract between County and Minnesota Teamsters Union approved
Thu, 11/14/2019 - 9:40am
admin
By:
Karen Edelbach
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on October 15, 2019.
First on the agenda was the approval of the contract between Clearwater County and the Minnesota Teamsters Public and Law Enforcement Employee's Union Local 320, which is effective Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2021. The Board Chairman, John Nelson was authorized to sign the contract.
Salary schedule increases are as follows: New scale and .50% increase for 2019; 2.5% increase for 2020 and for 2021.
SWCD Chester Powell and Briell Prokosch, Program Technicians, brought an updated Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Plan for the Board's review. The total budget for the plan for 2020 is $108,330, the comprehensive costs being for training, workshops, travel, 160 inspectors, performing lake and river sampling to identify presence of AIS, newspaper articles and advertising, staff and administrative costs.
Briell Prokosch said, "Funds come from the State, and DNR bases the amount on the number of lake accesses we have in the County."
The 2020 AIS Prevention Plan and Budget for Clearwater County was approved.
Engineer Dan Sauvé conducted the 2019 Road and Bridge Tour with all five Commissioners on Oct. 24. The primary purpose of the road tour is to look at completed and future road and bridge projects.
The tour included review of 2019 projects of mill and overlay of CSAH 27 from 25 to TH 92; pave CSAH 30 and 31; CSAH 35: replace pavement from TH 91 to 1,489 feet west; CSAH 2 from CSAH 40 to 270th Street project will be held over winter to be finished in 2020; MCSAH 57 1st Avenue in Clearbrook reconstruction; MCSAH 42 Main Street in Clearbrook reconstruction; and MCSAH 5 in Clearbrook, to remove the pavement and replace with thicker bituminous surface to increase strength of the road. The last three are included with City of Clearbrook water and sewer project.
A draft of the 2020 through 2025 Road and Bridge Program Plan is done. After going through the draft the Engineer will have a public open house of the plan to get public input.
County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson was authorized to pay the submitted invoices of $64,027 for the County Revenue Fund and $23,938 for the Nursing Service Fund.
At the October 29 meeting of the Board, the Clearwater County Board of Commissioners authorized the Clearwater County Sheriff to have a Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA) installed in the Clearwater County Jail by MidStates Wireless of Fargo in the amount of $13,499. Funds for the installation will come out of the Emergency Management Budget.
The Red Lake Watershed District 2018 Annual Report was distributed at the meeting.
Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson was present with Colleen Hoffman, AIP from Hoffman Phillip & Knutson to conduct an exit interview and the 2018 Audit.
"It was a good audit, and there were no problems," was reported regarding the Audit.
The Board Chairman was authorized to sign the Joint Powers Agreement with the State of Minnesota for the Anti-Heroin Task Force program. The County Sheriff is authorized to co-sign the agreement. The purpose of the agreement is to provide overtime reimbursement to the governmental unit who investigates illicit activities related to the distribution of heroin, or unlawful distribution of prescription opioids or opioid-related overdose death.
Board Chairman was authorized to sign the State of Minnesota Snowmobile Safety Enforcement Grant Program for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. The grant amount is for $4,362 per year for a total of $8,724. The County Sheriff is authorized to co-sign the grant.
The Board gave general consent for the Sheriff's pickup to be fixed with insurance money from another squad car.
Clearwater County Nursing Service (CCNS) will hire Emily Coyle as a Home Health Aid and Homemaker part time at Step 5. She will work more than 1040 hours per year. Emily has five years of working as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and TMA (Trained Medication Aide). She has been working at a local assisted living which has similar regulations.
CCNS will hire Sarah Anton as Registered Nurse part time at Step 7. She will work more than 1040 hours per year. Sarah has worked as an RN for the past five years as an Emergency Department RN.
Engineer Dan Sauve and Gerald Smith were present to discuss trees to be removed from the right of way on County Road 2. The Highway Department will replant some trees if it is a residence.
Commissioners present at both meetings: Neal Illies, Dean Newland, Mark Titera, and Mark Larson.