County Commissioners meeting

The Red Lake County Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 with all board members present.

Chairman Anthony Flage called the meeting to order. The agenda was approved with one addition to add Angie Lundeen later in the meeting.

Tanya Hanson from the Red Lake County Soil Water and Conservation District (RLC SWCD). Hanson reported no legislative updates on the Buffer Strips or funding for the Buffer Strips. She needed approval on 2 shoreline permits for Enbridge to work on pipes on Section 2 of Lambert Township. Commissioners John Lerohl made a motion, seconded by Chuck Simpson, carried.

Hanson also updated the board on the One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) which has been approved by BWSR ( Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources). The counties are now being asked to also adopt the 1W1P. Commissioners Ron Weiss made the motion, Lerohl seconded, carried.

The Buffer Strip went into discussion among the commissioners and Hanson. The RLC SWCD has been encouraged by the state to come up with other water courses for buffers to come up with a map and Hanson suggested to the commissioners that she would like to instead to have a resolution to voluntary option if landowners want and meets the criteria to be added. There are 13 different bills on this subject at the capitol and everyone is waiting to see how it shakes out. Once legislation is done, then she would like to put something in the paper and hire someone to replace Matt Anderson, who left for another position to work on this program. Hanson said she would come back to the next meeting with more information.

Last on Hanson’s list of items was to get approval of a permit for Roger and Mark Walters, who would like to add a fourth wall on a 3 sided barn. All the state paperwork is completed, but according to the county ordinance, she needs a variance to approve the permit. After discussion with the state, the county can use the state’s construction/short form as the County Conditional Use Permit. Commissioners Dave Sorensen made a motion, seconded by Simpson, carried.

Expenditures were looked at next and were approved with a couple of additional bills not listed with Sorensen making the motion, Weiss seconded, carried.

Myron Jesme and Allan Page from the Red Lake Watershed District came to the Commissioners meeting to present their annual report. Both gentlemen talked about various projects worked on the past year - 3 repair jobs which included Ditch #10, and a number of SCS  (Soil Conservation Service) projects from the 70’s were repaired.

Jesme informed the board that the 1W1P had been approved and the budget for the RLWD was set. With that comes clean water funding.

Lerohl complimented the Red Lake Watershed District for the work they do and that they do a good job. Jesme said that the Red Lake County Soil Water Conservation District is very active and does a good job also. 

Minutes were approved with a motion by Lerohl, seconded by Simpson, carried.

Kristi Nelson from Social Services needed the board to approve a change to the hours worked in the social services. The board approved with a motion by Lerohl, seconded by Sorensen, carried.

Committee reports were given starting with Weiss who had attended the Tri County Corrections meeting. There was a presentation about sex offenders, treatment and recidivism rate of %5 after treatment. Statewide there are over 17,000  sex offenders, with approx. 350 level 3 offenders. Polk/Red Lake have less than 1 percent of level 3 offenders.

Sorensen attended an  Inter County Nursing Service meeting. He also reported on the Enbridge lawsuit with 13 counties. Thinking all the counties should get together and prepare to go to the legislature, maybe hire a lobbyist. A meeting in Hallock is starting on this.

Sorensen also attended a NW Mental Health meeting, reporting that they made 12,000 last month, the first in 26 months. 

Lerohl attended an Housing Rehab Association (HRA) meeting and Section 8 vouchers were discussed. If a Section 8 voucher is approved here our state pays for it, and if they leave, go to another state, we still pay for it. There is an effort to stop this practice, as is should only be good for local. 

A building has been bought and will be used as offices and apartments in East Grand Forks.

Lerohl also attended a Inter County Community Council  (ICCC) meeting and reported that the Weatherization Program’s payback is $1 to $3. For every one dollar spent, you save three. ICCC is worried about shut down in the state, as they can’t payback payroll from internal funds, so would have to shut down also.

Flage and Simpson didn’t have any meetings to report on.

A resolution to be the fiscal agent for the Moonlighters Snowmobile Club was made with a motion by Lerohl, seconded by Sorensen, carried.

Angie Lundeen had a question about the custodial duties. The Custodian is out for a period of time and was wondering if a temporary custodian could be hired until the regular custodian returns. The board said yes, go ahead.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.