Shoreland Ordinance amendments approved

 

The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on November 8, 2016, with Environmental Services Director Dan Hecht discussing amendments to the Shoreland Management Ordinance being recommended by the Planning Commission. 

“These are housekeeping changes to make our local ordinance consistent with changes to State Statute that have happened over the years,” the department agenda stated. 

He said the changes are tied to the Legislature, and then there are often further changes made to the Legislature. Many times the changes are made locally, but then must be updated as a result. This explains the ten year delay in formally approving the amendments here.

Clearwater County's ordinance prohibits Water Oriented Accessory Structures (WOAS) such as boathouses, gazebos, and lakeside storage sheds. Mr. Hecht said Clearwater County is somewhat more restrictive than State minimum standards, but the Planning Commission has consistently reaffirmed the County's existing ordinance language, and consensus was to leave this part of the ordinance unchanged at this time. 

Other issues included nonconforming use of land and structures, deck additions, repairs, restoration and damage to structures.

The Board of Commissioners accepted the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve amendments to the Clearwater County Shoreland Management Ordinance dated April 18, 2006, with subsequent amendments as detailed in the Planning Commission minutes of Nov. 1, 2016.

“This is a clarifying and a relaxing of the rules,” he stated. “For us it will be easier.”

North Country Health Board: A request for the Clearwater County Board to sign the contract between North Country Health Board and Administrator Bonnie Engen to extend her services to them was discussed. Chairman Neal Illies said the Statute does not require such action. 

Regarding a second contract in which Clearwater County is requested to act as the fiscal agent for North Country Health Board, the Board members discussed the wording of the contract.

A motion presented by Commissioner John Nelson to authorize the chairman to sign the contract as fiscal agent for North Country Health Board was tabled with another motion by Commissioner Dean Newland. Commissioner Arlen Syverson agreed that the wording needed to be changed.

Commissioner Nelson pointed out that Clearwater County could never provide for public health themselves, as 30,000 people are needed for it. At this time Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, and Hubbard Counties rely on the services provided through a grant for the funding of the North Country Health Board. 

Commissioner Nelson stated, “This is how we get our money for public health in the community. And this is the procedure which has been used in the past.”

Chairman Illies said, “The Health Board runs their own budget, and they are their own agency. We only act as the fiscal agent.” Rewording of the contract will be pursued by Commissioner Nelson and discussed at the Nov. 15 meeting. 

Recorder Brenda Knable received approval to raise the research fees in the Clearwater County Recorders Office from the current $20 up to $30 per hour in order to be in line with what other counties charge, effective Nov. 15, 2016.

County Attorney Richard Mollin had some matters to discuss with the Board which were of a privacy nature, and requested a closed session. A motion to close the regular board meeting for this purpose was made, and then the regular meeting was again opened on completion of the matters. 

County Engineer, Dan Sauve` received authorization for payment of the Highway Department bills in the amount of $133,680 as presented. 

The Board accepted the Engineer's Certificate of Performance for culvert replacement, bituminous milling and surfacing, aggregate shouldering and mill rumble strip in the amount of $2,465,260, and authorized final payment to Mark Sand & Gravel. Work was done on CSAH 7, 25, 30 and 16. 

Sheriff Darin Halverson received the Commissioners approval to update the Clearwater County Emergency Operations Plan as presented. 

County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson received authorization to pay the submitted invoices of $117,432  from the County Revenue Fund, and $77,422  from the Nursing Service Fund. Two liquor licenses were approved.

Commissioners present at the meeting were Daniel Stenseng, Dean Newland, John Nelson, Neal Illies and Arlen Syverson.