Some areas to expect tax changes in 2020 including Bagley down and Gonvick up
Tue, 08/20/2019 - 10:03am
admin
By:
Karen Edelbach
A little excitement was in the air prior to the Clearwater County Board of Commissioners meeting on August 13, 2019. The building was evacuated due to a fire drill sounding.
As people waited outside of the building by the back door to return, Hutch Hutchens, who is County Safety Coordinator, reminded the group that the place intended for them to meet is at the Elementary School parking lot. He also said before anyone should go back into the building there would be a heads up to let them know it was "All Clear" to return, which soon came from the voice of John Nelson. He said this is the only fire drill he could remember in his 19 years at the Courthouse.
In the business of the day, Engineer Dan Sauvé opened four bids for the replacement of the bridge over Hier Creek. He later brought news that the bid will be awarded to Gladen Construction of LaPorte, Minn. for their bid of $106,100, which received Board approval.
He reported that a grant in the amount of $94,683 for helping to the fund bridge replacement project came at the last minute.
The Board accepted the quote of Vogts Dirt Service to crush and stockpile approximately 6,000 cubic yards of Class 1 aggregate in the Spike Dam pit at a price not to exceed $24,800.
He received approval for payment of Highway Department bills in the amount of $38,033.
Assessor Jamie Freeman explained the recent utility values received in July.
"They are fairly normal, except for the pipe line," she stated. "They are down $51 million for Minnesota pipe line and Enbridge combined."
Chairman John Nelson pointed out that in other years there had been depreciation.
"I talked with the Department of Revenue. The rate went from 9.5 to 12.4%, which I think is quite an increase."
Commissioners wanted to know how the tax might be split up. Ms. Freeman distributed a chart for Preliminary 2019 NTC for taxes payable in 2020. The greatest difference anticipated is the Commercial/Industrial area, going from 4% to 7%, with a slight increase in Agricultural to 24%. While Bagley residential market sales went down slightly, Gonvick residential increased slightly.
"It is important that the public understand that this increase in tax is not due to County spending. This is good for us in the long run, because we won't have to pay back as much," Chairman Nelson said.
SWCD Lori Buell and Briel Prokosch reported that the Mississippi Headwaters Board is continuing with the AIS Social Media & Article Campaign. The total budget is almost $75,000.
There is again $15,000 available in a grant to use for the campaign, and five of eight counties are now doing this. Clearwater County did not participate last year because Board members would rather see the money spent locally, or for an additional inspector.
Chairman Nelson wanted to know if there are benefits or results shown from spending this money. Soil & Water responded that they do get the information out their through this campaign. "We used some for Aerial Imagery the last year."
A motion to receive the funds this year failed.
"There is a rumor that it will be made available State wide," Soil & Water said.
The Commissioners agreed that this made more sense.
Rob Belanger, Director and Stephanie McKnight, Nursing Manager received approval for matching funds from the County in the amount of $42,000 to be used toward a project moving physical therapy from the clinic to Sanford Hospital in Bagley. This will come out of the Medical Facilities Management account.
They thanked the Board members for coming on the recent tour of the Hospital improvements. Commissioner Mark Larson thought it was good for everyone concerned. Commissioner Mark Titera said he hadn't been there in years and that it had changed a lot.
Sheriff Darin Halverson received authorization from the Board to purchase two Panasonic Toughbook computers in the amount of $6,102. Funds for this purchase will come from the handgun permit account.
Commissioner Neal Illies noted the expenditure of about $20,000 for replacement of cameras in the Sheriff Department and jail, which had previously been approved.
Environmental Services Director, Dan Hecht informed the Board that he recently received the Solid Waste Facility Permit needed for continued operation of the Demolition Landfill. Total cost for the permit process, which started in July of 2017, for survey and engineering fees (not including in-house staff time) was $25,496, spread out over that time. The permit is valid from July 30, 2019 through July 30, 2029.
A discussion about needed expansion at the landfill, and how to possibly bypass of some products to Fosston such as PVC that are now dumped there, resulted in the plan to hold a work session before the next meeting with Dan Hecht to discuss concerns the Board members have.
CVSO received approval that the County resolve to enter into Grant Contract with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct the County Veterans Service Office Operational Enhancement Grant Program for fiscal year 2020.
County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson brought a motion that was approved for the contract between Clearwater County and the Courthouse Local 320 Union effective Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2021, authorizing salary schedule increases as follows: New scale and .50% increase for 2019, 2.50% increase for 2020 and 2021.
A step increase was approved for Marissa Hetland, Nursing Director to Step 10, Range 26, which is $44.82 per hour, effective May 1.
Information was received that minimum local Library Support for 2020 required by the County is $70,560. This caused the Commissioners to question whether or not the expenditure is equivalent to the services received.
The Auditor-Treasurer was authorized to pay the submitted invoices of $187,160 for the County Revenue Fund and $39,561 for the Nursing Service Fund.
All Commissioners were present at the meeting: John Nelson, Neal Illies, Dean Newland, Mark Titera, and Mark Larson.