New County Board Chairman appointed
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners meeting on January 5, 2016 began with the appointment of new chairman and vice chairman.
Commissioner Neal Illies was nominated by Commissioner Dean Newland and unanimously approved by the Board as the new Chairman. Commissioner John Nelson was nominated by Commissioner Arlen Syverson and unanimously approved as the new Vice Chairman by the Board.
Department Head review results were described as "all satisfactory" by Board Chairman Neal Illies. Those having recently gone through reviews were Engineer Dan Sauve, Maintenance Supervisor Steve Faldet, Environmental Services Director Dan Hecht, Nursing Service Director Marissa Hetland, Veterans Service Officer Harry Hutchens, MIS Director Stuart Lien, Land Commissioner Bruce Cox and Assessor Jamie Freeman.
Soil and Water Conservation District and any department head may meet with the County Board at any scheduled monthly meeting by arranging an appointment time with the Board Coordinator.
All other citizens wishing to meet with the Board to discuss business shall contact the Commissioner of their district, obtain approval to meet with the Board, and then the Commissioner will contact the Coordinator for an appointment time.
County Veterans Service Officer, Hutch Hutchens was granted Board approval to travel out of state to attend the 2016 National Association of CVSO Conference for continued participation in required Annual Continuing Education Units. The recertification will be at Myrtle Beach, S. C. from May 14-21. While the Board approved his travel for the conference, Commissioner Dean Newland was opposed to the CVSO traveling out of state.
The bids were opened from local newspapers, the Farmers Independent in Bagley, and Leader-Record in Gonvick. The Farmers Independent received designation as the legal paper for 2016 with their low bid of $2.69 per column inch for first publication of the financial statement, County Board proceedings, and two publications of the list of delinquent taxes. Leader-Record will do the second publication of the financial statement with their bid of $2.89 per column inch.
The Board members unanimously approved readoption of the three day notice requirement rule that no motion or resolution can be acted on by the County Board unless all of the Board members have received the written motion or resolution of the matter at least three days prior to the Board meeting. This requirement can be waived by general consent by all Board members.
Other motions approved regarding business for 2016 are the following: general Agenda for first meeting each month; meeting dates for 2016 regular Board meetings and department head meetings; readoption of Robert's Rules of Order as a guideline for facilitating meetings; publishing of Board minutes summary, with all resolutions, policies, and ordinances available at the Auditor's Office for review. Boards and Committees Appointments for 2016 were discussed and approved by the Board members. (See related description of appointments.)
County Engineer, Dan Sauvé received approval for payment of Highway Department bills in the amount of $4,814. He received authorization to advertise for County Highway Projects on the County Website.
The Board unanimously approved the hiring of Jeffrey Sunderland to the Heavy Equipment Operator position at a salary of $30,763.
Mr. Sauvé said he would be working on equipment motions for this year.County Auditor Allen Paulson was given Board authorization to pay the submitted invoices of $131,670 from the County Revenue Fund, and $42,599 from Nursing Service.
He was authorized to pay routine bills, including payroll related, prior to Board approval.
Commissioners present at the meeting were Daniel Stenseng, Dean Newland, John Nelson, Neal Illies and Arlen Syverson.