Commissioners received update from Highway Department

On September 25th, the County Commissioners, John Lerohl, Chuck Simpson, Al Remick, Ron Weiss and Dave Sorensen met for their regular meeting.

Chairman Dave Sorenson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Alliance.

Jerilyn Swenson, Interim County Engineer for Red Lake County, came to the Commissioners meeting to update them on the projects current being done and to explain the budget requests.

Swenson began with letting the commissioners know about an incident regarding a Pup Trailer (dump trailer) recently. The hinge broke while in use, dumping its cargo. This was most likely due to the age of the trailer (from the 1980’s – approximately 30-40 years old). Thankfully no one was hurt when it happened. So this piece of equipment needs to be replaced and is added into the budget along with the other equipment replacements for 2019. One motor grader that is located in Oklee needs to be traded in and a 1999 Sterling Plow truck needs to be replaced. Two other items need to be looked at too are the above ground fuel tanks in Red Lake Falls that need to be removed and replaced with a new one. And a salt building is needed. Comment from commissioners that the past engineer had mentioned the salt building before. The other increase in the budget is salaries in the Highway Administration budget.

After some discussion with the Commissioners, Swenson will look over her numbers again to see if things can be changed in the preliminary budget after learning how equipment purchases are made in Red Lake County.

The Commissioners asked Swenson if she had heard any news on the Red Lake Falls project. She reported that the City of RLF hopes to get going next year, but things are still not totally lined up yet. The funds that the County has been asked to be fiscal agent for are still valid and need to be used by 2020 before being renewed.

The two bigger projects in Red Lake County are being worked on right now. CSAH # 10 is fixed and overlay should be starting this coming week, Swenson reported. Other items Swenson talked about was the mowing of road ditches, weed spraying. Swenson also mentioned to the Commissioners that they haven’t been able to close out the 2017 books, which is causing some issues. 

It was explained that this is happening in other departments also and this is due to the audits that state decided to examine. The exit interview has been completed, but there is still much to do, Auditor Bob Schmitz said. The Commissioners asked if he needs some help to get this done and Schmitz said yes, that would be helpful since this is an election year and there is extra work also. The commissioner instructed Schmitz to get some additional help to rectify this situation.

The minutes were approved with a motion by Lerohl, seconded by Weiss, carried. The expenditures were approved by a motion by Simpson and seconded by Weiss, carried after a roll call vote.

Kurt Casavan, County Environmental engineer came in to the meeting briefly to let the commissioners know that his budget will need an additional $10,000.00 added. Casavan stated that this is due to the landfill regulations.

A grant needed to be accepted that Tanya Hanson had written for the Septic Grant for upgrading septic systems in the county. Lerohl made a motion, seconded by Weiss, carried.

Committee reports: Simpson, Sorensen and Weiss did not have anything to report. Remick only had a Social Services meeting he had attended on Wednesday night, but no quorum was reached and no business was transacted.

Lerohl had a HRA (NW MN Housing & Redevelopment Authority) meeting. They have been searching for an executive director and interviews have been held. There are two scheduled for a final interview. Otherwise, everything else is going well. 

Lerohl also attended an ICCC (Inter County Community Council) meeting. They watched a video about Headstart which has moved to Northland College building in Thief River Falls. ICCC, which has received a grant to for the Homeless, has been working on implementing. They will be reimbursed as they spend funds for that project. The Weatherization programs are going well also. There are many projects they are working on for this year.  

Schmitz reported on the new security for the computer system is now been received. And the bill for this needs a motion. Weiss made a motion, Simpson seconded, carried with a roll call vote.

Penny Grove from Social Services came to get a motion for the minutes and bills from the Social Services meeting that was recently held. The motion is to approve the recommendations made by the partial board on Wednesday night. Simpson made the motion, Weiss seconded, carried.

Angie Lundeen, Human Resources, reported to the board what she had learned about the comparison study the commissioners have been discussing at the past few meetings. Lundeen and talked to Bjorklund Compensation Consulting and got a quote on their services. Gallagher is another company Lundeen will get a quote from once it is decide what the commissioners want. Lundeen had a list of 8 items:

1. Employees – participate

$3000

2. Dept. Interviews – Head

$2950

3. Update Job Descriptions – some of them $500

4. Necessary – Eval of ratings, etc.  $3000

5. Necessary – Market Value 

$4500

6. Training of Dept. Heads – Classification $1500

7. Executive Summary? $500

8. Employee appeals 

@ $125               $500

Cost for Compensation study from Bjorklund Compensation Consulting will be approximately $15,950. It is a six-month process.

Commissioners would like to do this as it hasn’t been done in many years and would to have it done before Union negotiations. Lundeen will call Gallagher for their pricing and if it is less she will come back before the board for a decision. If they are more, Lundeen will start the process with Bjorklund.

Meeting was adjourned.