Red Lake County Commissioner meeting held January 24th

On January 24, 2017, the Red Lake County Commissioners met with Dave Sorensen, John Lerohl, Chuck Simpson, and Chairman Anthony Flage present, and Ron Weiss absent. 

The agenda was approved with changes and first on the agenda was the Employee Recognition of Years of Service. Chairman Flage presented to the five persons in attendance their certificate for years of services, and the others he read out to the audience. (See photo)

Angie Lundeen, Human Resources brought before the Commissioners a step increase for Kristi Nelson which was approved with a motion by Lerohl, seconded by Simpson, carried.

Nick Knott, Treasurer for the County, visited with the Commissioners on the status of bonds and interest earned for 2016. Market Values are about the same, Knott reported.

Kristi Nelson came before the Commissioners with a contract between Norman and Red Lake that needed approval by a motion. The only change was that IRS Mileage would no longer be capped, otherwise it was the same as last time. Sorensen made a motion to approve, Lerohl seconded, carried.

Bills were looked at next and were paid with a motion by Lerohl and seconded by Simpson, carried.

Kurt Casavan was on the agenda to discuss the county landfill permitting process. The State has been encouraging Red Lake County to change over the Oklee landfill to a transfer station and this would be a large expense to the county to do. The landfills in the county are still good for approx. 20 years and feels that it is un-necessary to make this change at this time. Casavan would like the county to start setting aside funds for this in the future as he feels this will be the way the state rule will eventually be. Casavan may have to do some soil cores this summer to check for leaching and lateral movement of water for the MPCA.

The Commissioners said to continue as he has with this issue and keep them informed.

Committee reports were next with Simpson having none to report on. Sorensen had attended the Tri County Corrections Center meeting reporting that Red Lake’s numbers are down. Still not enough personnel but otherwise, things are going well.

Sorensen also had a NW Mental Health meeting and reported that the financials are improving and there have been help from the Hibbing office and missed billing has been found and electronic records are being addressed. Also a Finance Committee was formed to go over the reports before the meeting so the meeting is shorter. A new treasurer has been elected.

Lerohl reported on a meeting concerning the possible Inter County Community Council’s building purchase in TRF. Food Bank would like to have a spot there also and looks like it would be a positive purchase for ICCC.

Lerohl also had a HRA meeting reporting that everything is going good, changed some by-laws dealing with part time employees, and heard about office space in East Grand Forks.

Lerohl had a phone meeting for the RDC (NWRegional Development Commission) and a discussion of safety training for bicycles at local schools was held. ICCC (Inter County Community Council) meeting was also held recently with results from the audit reporting no findings. Talked about Brain Gain, a public meeting that is going to be held on February 7th at the Englestad Arena in Thief River Falls, featuring Ben Winchester and Christopher Ingraham. Lerohl also reported the ICCC Director Catherine Johnson is also the CAP Agency President (Community Action Partnership) and that Energy Funding has been cut by 10%. 

Flage had a Red Lake County Soil Water and Conservation District (RLC SWCD) meeting reported that election of officers was completed, Oklee Herald is the official newspaper, and a one year watershed plan has been sent to BWSR (MN Board of Water and Soil Resources). Matt Anderson has been working with landowners on the buffer regulations and feedlot applications are being worked on. Also the Tree program ad is in the paper.

County Engineer Korky Kleven came before the Board for a signature on the EcoFootprint grant he has been working on with Enbridge and Red River Corridor to add four more river access points. 95% of the package has been reviewed. Kleven also asked if the Commissioners have heard anything back from the City of Oklee on the Highway 222 project. Kleven wants a signed document before moving forward and Lerohl said he would talk to the City of Oklee. 

Minutes were approved as read with a motion and Auditor Robert Schmitz brought up the Open House at Inter County Nursing on February 14th at their new offices in the Pennington County Courthouse building. Plummer snowmobile Club needed a motion the same as last year for the Seven Clans Snowmobile race that will be held soon. 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for February 14th at 10:00 a.m.