Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners Proceedings

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with changes: Add: Employee Recognition, Safe Child Consultation Contract, Maintenance Liaison, and Resolution of Support-Bonding.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of December 27, 2024.

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of January 7, 2025 with changes.

SOCIAL SERVICES Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $33,949.41; Commissioners Warrants $2,290.23; Commissioners Warrants $15,397.99.

Purchase of Services Agreement-Northland Counseling Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously with Commissioner Cody Hasbargen abstaining to approve the Purchase of Services agreement with Northland Counseling effective January 1, 2025-December 31,2026.

Auditor/Treasurer Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $227,751.75; Road & Bridge $86,792.87; Solid Waste $40,330.13; EDA $20,365.00.

County Surveyor Contract Approval Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Professional Services contract for County Surveyor with Bolton & Menk and for Chair Jon Waibel, Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson, and County Attorney Michelle Moren to sign the same.

Audit Engagement Letter Motion  was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the Audit Engagement Letter, for the year ended December 31, 2024, with Hoffman, Philipp, & Martell, PLLC and for the Chair Jon Waibel and Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same.

Employee Recognition Chair Jon Waibel presented the 2024 Steven R. Sindelir Memorial Award for Excellence to Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Anna Sanchez.

WHEREAS, As of July 1, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Corrections  (DOC) has found the existing Lake of the Woods County Jail to be structurally deficient and in need of major renovations or replacement, and has required the County to transfer inmates to an alternative facility until alternative facilities have been built; an

WHEREAS, pursuant to DOC mandates, inmates can be held at the existing county jail for a maximum time period of 72 hours (which can be extended only if the Court has authorized that specific inmate can have Huber and/or STS privileges); and WHEREAS, due to the limitations imposed by DOC, the County has been required to house inmates in other jail facilities in neighboring counties, resulting in transportation time and expenses, and the cost of housing the inmates outside of the Lake of the Woods County jail; and WHEREAS, the County Board has considered the practicality and future costs of all alternatives; factoring in the County’s considerable distances to alternative facilities and the uncertain availability and cost of such arrangements; and has determined that building a new Law Enforcement Center is the most viable response to the Department of Corrections’ mandate; and WHEREAS, the aforementioned project is the most fiscally responsible option and will result in near-term and long-term economic and public safety benefits to County residents and businesses, as well as non-resident visitors and businesses, and WHEREAS, the construction of a new Law Enforcement Center will require funding from a state bonding bill; and  THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD AS FOLLOWS:The County Board urges all lawmakers to work to pass a bonding bill in the current legislative session, which includes funding appropriations for the Lake of the Woods County Law Enforcement project.

Maintenance Liaison Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously for Commissioner Joe Grund to be Maintenance Liaison.

Boat & Water Grant Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the Boat & Water Grant Assessment as presented by Sergeant Ben Duick and for  Commissioners: Jon Waibel, Joe Grund, Cody Hasbargen, Ed Arnesen, and Buck Nordlof, Sheriff Gary Fish, Sergeant Ben Duick, and Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same.

Tech II to Tech II Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to move Wyatt Erickson from Tech II to Tech III at Grade 13, Step 6, $30.14 per hour at 396 points.

WHEREAS: Timothy Aery has served Lake of the Woods County as a Heavy Equipment Operator since June 27, 1994; WHEREAS: Tim will retire from Lake of the Woods County effective January 17, 2025 with more than thirty years of service; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That Lake of the Woods Board of County Commissioners extends its deepest appreciation to Timothy for his dedicated service and wishes him well on his retirement. The resolution was seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and the same being put to a vote, was unanimously carried. 

Attorney Safe Child Consultation Contract Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Safe Child Consultation contract between University of Minnesota Physicians and Lake of the Woods County and for County Attorney Michelle Moren to sign the same.

Temporary Office Assistant  Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the request to hire Diane Rosen as temporary office assistant at Grade 13, Step 12, $33.43 per hour plus IRS mileage rate of .70 cents effective January 16, 2025.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following Conditional Use Permit/Findings of fact #25-01CU by Kyle and Kati Christianson to move more than ten (10) cubic yards of material within the shore impact zone of Lake of the Woods for the purpose of shoreline stabilization due to the 2022 high water event. Lake of the Woods is a General Development Lake.

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County will discuss the organizations practices that support cybersecurity; and

WHEREAS, the disclosure of the information discussed would pose a danger to compromise security procedures or responses; WHEREAS, pursuant to Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05, Subd.3(d), the County board by resolution may close a meeting to discuss the security reports; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners hereby closes the County Board meeting on January 14, 2025 in order to discuss ongoing security strategies. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to close the closed session and open the regular meeting.

Correspondence The board reviewed correspondence from Minnkota Power.

Adjourn Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 a.m.