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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Commissioners - Minutes - 06/05/2018 MINUTES OF THE OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Government Services Center, Commissioners’ Room 515 W. Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN June 5, 2018 8:30 a.m. Call to Order The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners convened at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls, MN, with Commissioners Wayne Johnson, Chair; Roger Froemming, Vice-Chair; Lee Rogness and Doug Huebsch present. Commissioner John Lindquist was present at 8:55 a.m. Approval of Agenda Chairman Johnson called for approval of the Board Agenda. Motion by Froemming, second by Rogness and unanimously carried to approve the Board of Commissioners Agenda of June 5, 2018, with the following additions under General Discussion: White House Briefing National Conference Report Consent Agenda Motion by Huebsch, second by Froemming and unanimously carried to approve Consent Agenda items as follows: 1. May 22, 2018 Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Minutes 2. Warrants/Bills for June 5, 2018 (Exhibit A) 3. Approve Issuance of Liquor License for Playtime Sports Bar and Ballroom Inc. 4. Issue County Credit Card to Chris LeClair and Marsha Bowman Motion by Rogness, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to remove the invoice for MN Co Intergovernmental Trust from the Warrant List, in the amount of $55.00, and approve total warrants for June 5, 2018, in the amount of $448,089.54. Land Records Database Software Purchase Motion by Huebsch, second by Rogness and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of PINtegrity, a land records software database, through Fidlar Technologies at a cost of $20,000 with a $2,000 annual maintenance fee. The Recorder indicated that the database will first combine parcel number, legal address and property address. Additional land records will be added as the project progresses. Voluntary Furlough Plan Internal Services/HR Director Nicole Hansen presented a revised Voluntary Furlough Policy and briefed the Board on the substantive changes. Motion by Froemming, second by Huebsch and unanimously carried to approve the revised Voluntary Furlough Policy as submitted. National Fraud Conference Motion by Rogness, second by Froemming and unanimously carried to approve attendance by Fraud Investigator Sandy Holo and Collections Officer Crystal Herman at the 2018 United Council on Welfare Fraud (UCOWF) Conference in Milwaukee, WI, September 11, 2018 through September 13, 2018. Expenses for Ms. Herman were estimated at $150.00 for meals with other expenses covered by the Minnesota Fraud Investigators Association and $921.00 plus tax for Ms. Holo. OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Page 2 Highway Department Projects/Contracts Bridge Replacement – S.A.P. 056-635-036: Motion by Huebsch, second by Froemming and unanimously carried to authorize the appropriate County Officials’ signatures to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Engineer-Owner Agreement, with Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Inc., for design and plans for CSAH 35 Bridge Replacement over the Otter Tail River. Contract for S.A.P. 056-030-003: Motion by Huebsch, second by Rogness and unanimously carried to authorize the appropriate County Officials’ signatures to execute a Construction Contract between the County of Otter Tail and DM Enterprises of Wadena, MN, for removing cattle passes and installing some culverts on CSAH 4, 40, 49, 54, 67 & 88. Geotechnical Evaluation Services – S.A.P. 056-635-035 & 056-635-036: Motion by Huebsch, second by Rogness and unanimously carried to authorize the appropriate County Officials’ signatures to execute the following Geotechnical and Pavement Evaluation Services Agreements between the County of Otter Tail and Braun Intertec of Saint Paul, MN: CSAH 35 Resurfacing from CSAH 1 to CSAH 41 Proposal QTB079073 CSAH 35 Reconstruction Project, Bridge No. 56505 Proposal QTB079445 Recess & Reconvene At 9:13 a.m., Chair Johnson declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a short break. The Board meeting was reconvened at 9:20 a.m. White House Briefing Commissioners Huebsch and Johnson met with federal administrators during a White House Briefing May 31, 2018. Commissioners from Minnesota met with high level deputies and federal department heads and discussed the following: • Housing – talked about doing HUD projects in rural Minnesota where we have jobs instead of building houses in the city where there are no jobs • Army Corp of Engineers – environment, flood control and permitting projects • The Farm Bill and related issues • Administering current laws – overhaul of USDA and Veterans Administration • Waters of the United State (WOTUS) issues – the only waters this administration is concerned with is those used for barge transportation. Beyond that, federal administrators will leave water regulation to state and local government. • Improve and replacing infrastructure – example – our ports are not big enough to support Chinese ships • Promoting self-driving cars and propose to fund infrastructure with a mileage tax replacing the current gas tax funding • Working on how to deal with drone traffic – large drones are currently delivering blood and organs from accident to where it is needed immediately • Broadband grants – they listened to the message that the federal grants going to large corporations are not being used as intended, instead, the funding is going back into the corporations. Commissioners asked for transparency where these grant funds are being spent. This administration wants to continue dialogue with County Commissioners to avoid disconnect with local government. They provided the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Department Contact list for County Officials. OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Page 3 Conference Report Chairman Johnson reported that the County is involved with presenting at the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) at an upcoming event. Mr. Johnson noted the importance of County Officials attending conferences to keep up-to-date and in contact with leaders in the various industries. Absentee Ballot Board Appointments Motion by Froemming, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to appoint the following individuals to the Otter Tail County Absentee Ballot Board for processing absentee ballots issued and received under M.S. 203B.04 through 203B.15 and M.S. 203B.16 through 203B.27 for the August 14, 2018 State Primary and for the November 6, 2018 State General Election. Compensation for these services is $12.00 per hour with a reimbursement for travel at $0.545 per mile: Lynn Brand Beth Carrlson (Employee) Dawn Godel (Employee) Mary L. Hauser Pat Jampsa JoAnne Larson Teresa I. Mann Gary Nelson Janice (Jan) Nelson Valerie Nelson Cora S. Nycklemoe Karen Prischmann Joellen G. Thacker Patricia L. Tell Recess & Reconvene At 9:42 a.m., Chair Johnson declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for committee meetings and lunch break. Public Hearing: Dock and Riparian Use Ordinance Chairman Johnson called the Public Hearing to order at 1:00 p.m. to obtain comments regarding the proposed Amendment to the current Dock and Riparian Use Ordinance. Members of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Task Force were asked to regulate the movement of docks, lifts, rafts and associated equipment from lake to lake to avoid infestation of AIS. The proposed Amendment is attached as Exhibit B. Spencer McGrew, AIS Specialist, referred to M.S. 84D.10, Subd 4(f) which states “a boat lift, dock, swim raft, or associated equipment that has been removed from any water body may not be placed in another water body until a minimum of 21 days have passed”. He indicated that enforcement of this state law is difficult. The AIS Task Force will develop a registry for property owners to call in or register on-line when moving water equipment to ensure that it stays out of the water for 21 days. He indicated that the Task Force understands that the proposed Amendment may have limitations; however, this is a start to regulating the movement of this type of equipment and will bring awareness of the State law. Commissioners discussed issues with private boat launches and potential unintended consequences for lake service providers. Chairman Johnson opened the Hearing to the public at 1:18 p.m. Comments and discussion are summarized as follows: • Bernie Steeves, AIS Task Force Chairman, reported that $5,000 is a line item in the AIS Budget for dock and lift movement awareness and education for property owners. • Sheldon Heinen, Lake Service Provider, asked about the boat or pontoon that floats in the water, as well as anchors and other fishing equipment that is transferred to another lake without staying out of the water for 21 days. A pontoon or boat lift that is attached to the watercraft, e.g. sea legs, is regulated under the clean, drain and dry provision of Minnesota Statute Chapter 84D. OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Page 4 • Dave Majkrzak, AIS Task Force Member, spoke in favor of the Amendment as written to coincide with state law and as the first step to enforcement and awareness related to transferring AIS. • Pat Prunty, former President of Eagle Lake Association, commented on the need for a setback from lot lines in the Dock and Riparian Use Ordinance when the equipment is out of the water and stored on land. • Bernie Steeves expressed concern with large numbers of pontoons and boats entering the lakes with the advertising of “tunes on toons”. Extra watercraft inspectors will be on hand for these events. • Lengthy discussion took place regarding the regulation of moving pontoons or boats with lift systems and if this should be added to the AIS Amendment as counties can be more restrictive than State law. • Rick West, Public Works Director, stated that, as defined by the State of MN, pontoon and boat lift systems are deemed part of the watercraft. • Chris LeClair, Land & Resource Director, suggested that the Dock and Riparian Use Ordinance lacks definitions and reworking the Ordinance could clear up some confusion. • Dave Majkrzak reported that Wright County is the first County to require mandatory inspections as a pilot project. He encouraged approval of the AIS Amendment to move in the right direction. At 2:00 p.m., Chairman Johnson closed the Public Hearing and reconvened the Board of Commissioners’ meeting. Motion by Huebsch, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to enact the Amendment to the Dock and Riparian Use Ordinance as presented to be effective upon the required publication in the Daily Journal. Adjournment At 2:04 p.m., a motion was offered by Froemming, seconded by Rogness and unanimously carried, to declare the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners adjourned until 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Dated: By: Attest: Wayne Johnson, Chair John Dinsmore, Clerk CB/kd OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Exhibit A, Page 1 WARRANTS APPROVED ON 6/5/2018 OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Exhibit A, Page 2 OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Exhibit A, Page 3 OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Exhibit A, Page 4 OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Exhibit A, Page 5 OTC Board of Commissioners’ Minutes June 5, 2018 Exhibit B, Page 1 This Amendment is an addition to the current Dock and Riparian Use Ordinance Dock and Riparian Use Ordinance II. Regulations F. In order to comply with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 84D. Invasive Species, a dock, pier, wharf, or boatlift may not be placed in waters of the state unless: 1. The dock, pier, wharf, or boatlift, is new and has never been in a body of water, or; 2. The dock, pier, wharf, or boatlift, is being moved from one location to another in the same body of water, or; 3. The dock, pier, wharf, or boatlift is registered with the Otter Tail County Land and Resource Management Office. Registration of the dock, pier, wharf or boatlift must include the owners name, the location (E-911 address) and the date the dock, pier, wharf or boatlift was removed from the water. All docks, piers, wharfs, or boatlifts must remain dry for 21 days before it may be placed in another body of water.