Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners Proceedings

  The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

CALL TO ORDER Chair Jon Waibel called the meeting to order at 9:00a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners: Cody Hasbargen, Joe Grund, Jon Waibel, Ed Arnesen, and Buck Nordlof. Also present was County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with changes: Add: 2024 EMPG Grant, Legislative Update, Koochiching Jail Update.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of January 14, 2025.

SOCIAL SERVICES Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $11,931.39; Commissioners Warrants $1,861.80; Commissioners Warrants $55,066.48.

Auditor/Treasurer Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnsen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $81,740.85; Road & Bridge $27,091.16; Solid Waste $9,956.83; EDA $1,833.27.

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Homeland Security has asked local law enforcement agencies along ourNation’s border to step up border monitoring, pursue joint objectives, and enhance their capabilities for providingborder security; and,WHEREAS, in an effort to assist local governments in fulfilling this request, the Department of Homeland Security through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and EmergencyManagement Division, offered “Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant; and,WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods CountySheriff’s Office is a successful recipient of an Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant; and,

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff has undertaken, as additional duties, the responsibility to availhimself and his officers for additional training, or to provide such training for his officers’ himself, for border protection and border security, and the additional duties of improving the distinct capability of the sheriffs’ office as a whole with regard to border security and border patrol as part of a joint mission; and in addition, as and for additional duties, the sheriff will necessarily devote more of his own time to border patrol and border enforcement;and,WHEREAS, the Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant given to assist the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Officein its efforts to secure the border includes the sum of $123,750.00 and $117,090.00 of this grant is for salaries.WHEREAS, it is estimated that these additional border security duties will necessitate that the Sheriff expend on average another eight (8) hours per week; and,WHEREAS, through the Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant, all of the additional overtime worked by officers devoted to border security issues is fully reimbursable under the grant, including the cost of officer overtime pay, PERA, Medicare and worker’s compensation, so that the net cost of the additional homeland security duties to Lake of the Woods County is fully reimbursed by the grant.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the resolution setting the sheriff’s salary, as originally set by this board on December 17, 2024 was $109,306.80 and fringe benefits were $20,932.25, be amended so that the sheriff’s salary isincreased by the sum up to $16,752.00 and fringe benefits are increased up to $3,208.01 commencing January 1, 2025through December 31, 2025, with the increase funding from the Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant contingent upon the following:

1.  That the Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant funding be available; and

Emergency Management 2023 EMPG Grant Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the 2023 EMPG Grant in the amount of $14,120.00 and for Chair Jon Waibel and County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same.

2024 EMPG Grant Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the 2024 EMPG Grant and for Chair Jon Waibel and County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same when it becomes available.

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the request for $2000.00 out of con-con funds.

Approval to Bid SAP 039-629-001 Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the request to bid SAP 039-629-001.

Boat & Water Grant Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Boat & Water grant as presented by Sergeant Ben Duick in the amount of $75,213.00.

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, Minn. Stat. § 13D.05, subd. 3(b) states that “meetings may be closed if the closure is expressly authorized by statute or permitted by the attorney-client privilege”; and

WHEREAS, Lake of the Woods County received correspondence from Canadian National Railway Company dated October 18, 2024 threatening litigation regarding solid waste tax assessments; and   

WHEREAS, County Attorney Moren and Engineer Pirkl met with CNR counsel on January 22, 2025 to discuss the threatened litigation and engage in settlement discussions; and WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Board seeks to meet with its attorney, to discuss the threatened litigation and potential settlement; and

WHEREAS, it would be detrimental to the interests of the Lake of the Woods County Board to hold a public discussion with its attorney regarding the strengths and weaknesses of its legal position(s), strategy, and potential settlement position regarding the threatened litigation where an opposing party or opposing attorney could listen to or be made aware of Lake of the Woods County’s positions; and WHEREAS, there is an absolute need for the Lake of the Woods County Board to obtain confidential legal advice regarding the threatened litigation in order to maintain the attorney-client privilege. BE IT RESOLVED by the Lake of the Woods County Board as follows:

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to close the closed session and open the regular meeting at 10:45a.m.

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to adjust solid waste assessments as necessary.

Set Work Session Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to set a work session for solid waste for March 25, 2025 following the regular board meeting.

Adjourn Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 a.m.