New solid waste collection site in Long Lost Lake Township
Tue, 04/22/2025 - 1:00pm
admin
By Darin Steindl |
Farmers Independent
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on April 15 with all commissioners present except Commissioner Stuart Dukek. Vice chair Mark Titera called the meeting to order at 10 am.
After approval of the agenda and minutes from the last meeting, the commissioners heard from the Environmental Services Administrator, Dan Hecht.
Dan Hecht presented photos of the new solid waste collection site in Long Lost Lake Township. Dumpsters are now in place and available for residents to use. There is some work yet to be completed on the road into the site (adding gravel), so it may be muddy for a short time. Electric fencing will also be installed to keep bears from making a mess. The estimated cost of construction for the site totals $26,280.00 with $3,000 being paid by the township. Hecht also gave an update on an accessibility issue into one of the buildings at the Lake Itasca Pioneer Farmers site. There has been ongoing communication with the state about how the issue should be handled. Clearwater County does not have qualified staff to enforce the requirements of State Statue 326B.16 and has been unable to contract with any inspection companies near the county and has requested the assistance of the state Department of Labor and Industry to resolve the issue.
County Sheriff Darin Halverson requested authorization to sign the 2025 State of Minnesota Boat and Water Safety grant for $2,317.00. This grant allows deputies time to monitor area lakes for safety issues such as life jacket usage. Deputies do not check for fishing licenses. A motion was made by Commissioner Bryan Ramsrud to authorize the sheriff to sign and accept the grant monies. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Bruce Emmel, motion carried.
County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson presented bills to be paid. A motion was made by Commissioner Titera, seconded by Commissioner Mark Larson to authorize the payment of submitted invoices of $106,949.73 from the County Revenue Fund and $15,689.02 from the Public Health Fund. Motion carried. Next, Paulson asked the board to waive the 3-day notice and authorize the payment of a Highway Department bill for equipment parts totaling $2,580.96. Commissioner Ramsrud made a motion to approve payment of the bill, seconded by Commissioner Larson. During discussion, the board stated that the County Engineer would be contacted about the delay in payment of the bill. The motion carried with Titera, Ramsrud, and Emmel voting in favor and Commissioner Larson voting opposed. Paulson then presented the following items for review:
•To approve removing Nursing Service (Gonvick) from section 2.3.3 under Employment. Motion carried.
•To approve adding MN Statue 181.173 Subd2 to the Personnel Policy under Section 2 Employment. “Salary ranges in job postings required. (a) An employer must disclose in each posting for each job opening with the employer, the starting salary range, and a general description of all of the benefits and other compensation, including but not limited to any health or retirement benefits, to be offered to hire a job applicant.” Motion carried.
•To approve change the wording of Section 11.5 Bereavement Leave to: “It is the policy of Clearwater County to grant an employee sixteen hours with pay as bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member and eight hours for the death of an extended family member. Employees may take additional bereavement leave pursuant to ESST from their sick or vacation balances. Once ESST time has been exhausted, the employee may use compensatory leave according to county policies”. Motion carried.
•To approve the following changes to the meal reimbursement policy effective April 15, 2025: Standard rate (applies to all locations without specified rates) Breakfast $16, Lunch $19, Dinner $28. Additional specified rates for St. Louis, Hennepin, Ramsey and Olmstead counties were listed with slight adjustments to the standard rate. Motion carried.
•To approve changes to the County Personnel Policy (pages 11, 25-27, 30-35) recommended by Ann Goering, Labor Attorney. Motion carried.
There being no further items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 at 9 am.