Commissioners take the oath and Anthony Flage is chair for 2017

On January 3, 2017, the Red Lake County Commissioners held their reorganization meeting. 

First order of business was to have the two re-elected commissioners, Chuch Simpson and Ron Weiss, recite the oath of office. After they were done, Nancy Amberson was also sworn in by reciting the oath of her office, as County Assessor.

The meeting was called to order by Auditor Bob Schmitz.   The agenda had no additions or changes and was approved as written with a motion by Dave Sorensen, seconded by Ron Weiss.

Schmitz call for nominations for Chair, a process which is held every year at the first meeting of the month. Once a nomination is received, Schmitz calls for any other nominations for Chair three times, then a vote is taken. The Commissioner nominated for Chair was Anthony Flage and after the calls for nominations, a motion by Sorensen, seconded by Simpson, was carried to make Flage the Chairman.

Flage then took over calling for nominations for Vice Chair. Weiss nominated Sorensen, nominations were called for again three time, and a motion was made by Simpson, seconded by Weiss to elect Sorensen as Vice Chair.

Opening of the newspaper bids was next on the agenda and the Gazette and Oklee Herald both bid the same for the printing of the financial, board minutes, delinquent taxes and any other printing. The Oklee Herald won the bid with a motion by Weiss and seonded by Sorensen, stating that the Oklee Herald is at most of the meetings. The Gazette received the 2nd printing of the Financial statement.

The Commissioners left the meeting times and dates (10 am on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month) the same. Per diems were left the same as last year. 

The County Appropriations budgeted for 2017 were approved with a motion by Weiss and seconded by Simpson.  The appropriations are as follows:

Comm. on Aging: $8360.00

Red River Basin

Commissions: $107.00

RLC Fair Bd: $10,000.00

DWI Court: $1,000.00

American Legions 

(3 @ $85.00) : $225.00

Friends of the Library: 

$6,300.00

RRV Developement 

Assoc.: $800.00

Inter County Nursing 

Service: $21,388.00

Oklee Ambulance 

Service: $9000.00

RLF Ambulance 

Service: $29,000.00

RLC Historical 

Society: $2,000.00

NW Regional Library (MOE 

Requirement): $26,732.00

Red Lake County 

Parks: $7,000.00

Total Appropriations:

  $121,942.00

Note: Any appropriation over $20,000.00 to be paid in quarterly installments.

The bills were paid with a motion by Sorensen, seconded by Simpson.

There were no minutes or committee reports.

Committee assignment lists were looked and and there were a committee changes and a few where there were vacancies that needed to be filled. The changes will be made and presented at the next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on January 24, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the County Court house.

Schmitz brought to the board the need for replacing window blinds for the building. They blinds are about 20 years old and the plastic is fragile causing many failures. Twenty-seven new blinds of various sizes with a quantity discount, installed will be $2600,00. Weiss made a motion to replace/install the blinds, Sorensen seconded the motion, carried.

Schmitz also reported that the repair work at the Social Services building has been completed.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:09 a.m.