Improved helipad access coming to the County
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners meeting of November 10, 2015 began with an end of the year review regarding weed control, and the success of the summer duties and noxious weed related activities.
Kathy Rasch, District Manager of Soil and Water Conservation District, has accepted a position with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Her new position is in the Water Quality Certification Program.
Nathan Nordlund will be taking over as District Manager of SWCD, and has worked there for about five years.
She said she will still be working in the area and expects to use similar skills which she has learned with SWCD. She has worked in Clearwater County SWCD for 11-1/2 years.
Commissioner Neal Illies presented a resolution supporting the application for the Capital Improvement Grant from the Minnesota Department of Health by Sanford Health for the Sanford Bagley Medical Center, which was approved by the Board. This grant is intended to improve access to the helipad, and needed lighting, with a goal of resuming air medical flight services at this facility. Clearwater County agrees to provide the matching funds required for the grant.
Housing Authority Board members Kent Barcus, Joy Walberg and Cheryl Grover were in attendance at the meeting to continue the discussion as to the future of the HUD program in Clearwater County. (See related article.)
Sheriff Darin Halverson was given authorization to sign the snowmobile safety enforcement grant for state fiscal years 2016 and 2017 in the amount of $7,604.
Commissioners agreed to and authorized the signing of the Region 3 Homeland Security and Emergency Management Joint Powers Mutual Aid Agreement, which consists of 13 counties, including Clearwater, Beltrami, Polk, Mahnomen and others. This allows Homeland Security equipment, personnel and other resources available to each county upon request.
Sheriff Halverson was also granted authorization to purchase nine portable radios through the Emergency Management account not to exceed $10,000; and two Armer radio consolettes and have them installed at a cost not to exceed $16,000, of which 50% percent will be reimbursed through the Northwest Minnesota Emergency Communications Board, and balance from the Enhanced 911 system budget. This new equipment will improve communications with other counties, and enable the patching through of communications between State Patrol and County Sheriff, for example, when needed.
County official of MIS, Stuart Lien received approval for a motion to authorize the purchase of a VESTA 911 System from Independent Emergency Services (IES) with five year support at a cost not to exceed $173,000, from the E911 account. It will probably not be billed out until a year from now.
Neal Illies pointed out that replacement parts for the old 911 equipment can no longer be obtained. Any county can back up Clearwater County with the new system.
Dan Hecht from Environmental Services received approval for a motion to increase the 2015 budget by $15,096 in the account for contracts and septic grant. This is to carry forward the unspent 2014 Local Fix-Up grant funding for septic system replacement for low income homeowners. The County has two years to spend the grant funds before needing to return them to the State.
A motion to authorize expenses related to reconstruction to cost-share with Eddy Township for replacement of the solid waste canister site was approved. This motion authorizes payment of the county’s share of up to $3,000 in 2015, and payment for the county’s share of the remaining expenses for the site of up to $3,500 in 2016, mostly for dirt work and fencing.
Land Commissioner Bruce Cox was given Board approval to purchase a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup from Ranger Chevrolet. The price will be $24,988, plus sales tax, which will come from the tax forfeit fund.
County Engineer, Dan Sauvé brought a 5 Year Capital Equipment Replacement Plan and received Board approval for it. The 2016 total for replacements is estimated to be $329,000. The Highway Department Budget for 2016 will be presented in December.
He received authorization to pay the Highway Department bills in the amount of $111,654.
County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson received authorization to pay the submitted invoices of $116,273 from the County Revenue Fund, and $13,654 from Nursing Service.
Two license applications were approved, one for off sale liquor for Rock Creek General Store, Inc., and the other for a seasonal on sale beer license for Hoot Owl Resort.
Commissioners present at the meeting were Daniel Stenseng, Dean Newland, John Nelson, Neal Illies and Arlen Syverson.