HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Commissioners - Minutes - 08/18/2020
OTTERTAIL
COU NTY· MINNESOTA
MINUTES OF THE
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Government Services Center, Commissioners' Room & Via Livestream
515 West Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN
August 18, 2020
8:30a.m.
Call to Order
The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners convened at 8:34 a.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at the Government
Services Center in Fergus Falls, MN. Commissioners Lee Rogness, Chair; Betty Murphy, Vice-Chair; John Lindquist, Wayne
Johnson, and Doug Huebsch were present in the room. The meeting was held via Webex and was available to the public
via livestream due to the health pandemic and declared emergency in accordance with Minn. Stat. Sec. 13D.021 Subd.
1(1).
Approval of Agenda
Chair Rogness called for approval of the Board Agenda. Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried
to approve the Board of Commissioners' agenda of August 18, 2020 with the following additions:
Resolution to adopt and implement the Pomme de Terre River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
AMC Annual Conference
High water on Twin Lake
Lakes n Woods Storage LLC
Public Works Committee -Highway 1 under water
Consent Agenda
Motion by Huebsch, second by Murphy and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda items as follows:
1. August 4, 2020 Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
2. Warrants/Bills for August 18, 2020 as amended (Exhibit A)
Joint Powers Agreement
Motion by Murphy, second by Johnson and unanimously carried to authorize appropriate County Officials' signatures to
execute the joint powers agreement between Otter Tail County and the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) to
allow the county to continue to house inmates for the DOC.
2021 Highway Construction Program
County Engineer Charles Grotte provided a brief update to the Board regarding the 2021 highway construction program
and reviewed anticipated projects and funding. Construction estimates are based on preliminary costs from the
transportation plan and may increase as projects are designed and engineering estimates are developed. The amount
for the 2021 proposed highway construction is $26,142,026.00.
Approval of Contracts & Bonds
Motion by Huebsch, second by Johnson and unanimously carried to authorize appropriate County Officials' signatures
to execute the contract between Otter Tail County and Landwehr Construction Inc., for the Lake Olaf pipe repair.
Recess & Reconvene
At 8:57 a.m., Chair Rogness declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a short
break. The Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 9:01 a.m.
Page 1 of6
Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2020
Planning Commission Recommendation
Tom's Lake Farm LLC I Douglas Nystrom, Manager:
Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to approve an interim use permit application
requesting two dwellings on one parcel until new dwelling is complete, at which time the old dwelling will be removed.
The old dwelling is to be removed no later than one year from issuance of the interim use permit. The proposal is located
at 14281 County Hwy 57, Section 11 of Leaf Mountain Township;Toms Lake (56-151), NE.
"Madson" /Larry Madson:
Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to table the approval of a Preliminary Plat titled
"Madson", until the survey has been updated. The Plat was approved by Planning Commission and Mr. Madson requested
to modify the plat to eliminate the concerns regarding an easement.
Ervin & C Rocho/I Family Trust:
Motion by Murphy, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to approve a conditional use permit application for the
mining of aggregate for use in local roadway construction projects including aggregate base and asphalt paving
materials. This is an After-The-Fact Request. The proposal is located north of 29608 County Hwy 22, Section 8 of Maine
Township; Unnamed Lake (56-474), NE .
Approval of Final Plat
Motion by Johnson, second by Huebsch and unanimously carried to approve the final Plat known as "Silent Ridge Estates"
consisting of 8 single family residential riparian lots, located in Section 33 of Dora Township on East Silent Lake (56-517),
RD .
Public Hearings
County Attorney Michelle Eldien informed the Board that several other counties have been conducting public hearings
virtually and has been going well. It is a consensus of the Board that public hearings are needed to conduct county
business and agreed to begin scheduling public hearings. Commissioners expressed the importance of informing the
public on how to participate and provide instruction on how to comment to ensure everyone is heard .
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING BORDER-TO-BORDER BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM
APPLICATIONS
Otter Tail County Resolution No. 2020 -57
WHEREAS, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners is aware of the Minnesota Department of Employment and
Economic Development Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program for the expansion of broadband
service to areas of Minnesota that are unserved or underserved; and
WHEREAS, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners agrees that broadband is an essential part of community
infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners believes broadband is an expectation of residents and business
and is directly connected to opportunities for enhancing the economic prosperity in the County; and
WHEREAS, Otter Tail County has many seasonal and part-time residents who would permanently reside in Otter Tail
County if they had access to high speed internet capable of facilitating telework; and
WHEREAS, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recognizes that the financing of broadband infrastructure is
challenging and recognize that grants such as the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant may encourage new
and existing providers to invest in building infrastructure into unserved and underserved areas; and
WHEREAS, virtually all of Otter Tail County has been designated "unserved" or "underserved" by MN DEED for the
purposes of this grant and therefore eligible for grant support.
Page 2 of 6
Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2020
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners hereby encourages and supports
local service providers in applying for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program and instruct staff to
write letters of support if/when requested by the service providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners has developed a broadband grant fund
and will support any successful 2020 Border-to-Border grant applications with a 5% project match so long as the project
is within Otter Tail County and construction includes fiber to the door.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Huebsch, duly seconded by
Commissioner Murphy and, after discussion thereof and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor:
Commissioners: Huebsch, Johnson, Lindquist, Murphy, Rogness
and the following voted against the same: None
Adopted this 18th day of August 2020.
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Dated ______________ _
By: ________________ _ Attest ______________ _
Leland R. Rogness, Board of Commissioners Chair Nicole Hansen, Clerk
Donation Acceptance
Motion by Murphy, second by Johnson and unanimously carried to accept a donation of $50,000.00 from Kenny and Kim
Nelson to be used toward the creation of a rest area along the Perham to Pelican Rapids Regional Trail in honor of their
son who was deceased in a car accident. The Board expressed gratitude and requested a letter of appreciation be sent
to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson for their generous donation. Plans for the funds will be presented to the Nelsons for their
consideration before proceeding.
Perham to Pelican Rapids Regional Trail
Deputy Administrator Nick Leonard provided a brief update to the Board regarding funding for the Perham to Pelican
Rapids Regional Trail. Otter Tail County recently received full funding from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on
Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), in the amount of $2.45 million, for the McDonald segment of the trail. Two (2) segments
are going to Legislature next year and dollars are anticipated to be available by July 1, 2021 .
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE OTTERTAIL COUNTY NAVIGATING THE ROAD AHEAD CORONA VIRUS AID, RELIEF,
AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT PROGRAM
Otter Tail County Resolution No. 2020 -58
WHEREAS, in early July, Otter Tail County received its CARES Act funding of $7,206,348 from the State of MN through the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding ; and
WHEREAS, the CARES Act requires that the payments to municipalities be used to only cover expenditures that were
incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), expenses not
accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 (the date of enactment of the CARES Act) for
the state or local government and expenses incurred from the period of March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020 ; and
WHEREAS, there is an immediate need to support individuals, businesses and organizations in Otter Tail County where
current federal and state responses are inadequate; and
WHEREAS, staff have solicited feedback from community stakeholders and the departments most aware of the health
and economic impacts of COVID-19; and
Page 3 of6
Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2020
WHEREAS, based on those interactions and input from the finance committee, staff have developed the Navigating the
Road Ahead program allocating $6 .2 million out of the $7,206,348 CARES Act funding to COVID-19 relief programs in the
areas of 1) Community Resilience, 2) Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Workforce, 3) Education and Child Care, and 4)
Small Towns; and
WHEREAS, the remaining $1,006,348 of the CARES Act funding will be used to address emergency response costs
associated with operating the county during this emergency period including public health essential services, personal
protective equipment, direct community engagement, public safety, compliance and oversight, communications,
sanitation and many other costs directly related to the COVID-19 emergency that were not previously budgeted; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that funding needs in this proposal may change allowing for discretion to move funds between
programs and emergency operations in accordance with eligible costs as set forth in the CARES Act; and
WHEREAS, CARES Act funds cannot be used to replace lost revenue and all CARES Act funds not expended by December
1th, 2020 must be returned to the State of Minnesota.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners hereby approves $6 .2 million of the
CARES Act funding to be allocated to the Navigating the Road Ahead program in the areas of 1) Community Resilience,
2) Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Workforce, 3) Education and Child Care, and 4) Small Towns.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approves $1,006,348 of the CARES Act funding
be used to address emergency response costs associated with operating the county during the emergency period.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners authorizes the County Administrator to enter
into contracts and agreements and execute change orders and amendments to contracts and agreements, in accordance
with the County's procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the funding.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Johnson, duly seconded by
Commissioner Huebsch and, after discussion thereof and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor:
Commissioners:
Huebsch, Johnson, Lindquist, Murphy, Rogness
and the following voted against the same: None
Adopted this 18th day of August 2020.
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Dated ______________ _
By: _______________ _ Attest _______________ _
Leland R. Rogness, Board of Commissioners Chair Nicole Hansen, Clerk
Request for Penalty Abatement
Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to approve the requested penalty forgiveness in the
amount of $10.44 to Doug Gullekson due to an unexpected illness. The County Auditor-Treasurer informed the Board
that hardship meets the requirements of the Otter Tail County Policy for penalty forgiveness.
West Central Initiative (WCI) Economic Development Update
Rebecca Peterson and Jill Amundson with WCI shared a short video with the Board to demonstrate projects in Otter Tail
County that WCI has participated in. They provided a brief annual update and discussed their response to the pandemic
and ways they have been able to support the community.
Page4of6
Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2020
Resolution to Adopt and Implement
The Pomme de Terre River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
Otter Tail County Resolution No. 2020 -59
Whereas, Otter Tail County is a member of the Pomme de Terre River Association Joint Powers Board (PDT JPB); and
Whereas, Otter Tail County has been an active participant in the development of the Pomme de Terre River
Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (Plan); and
Whereas, Otter Tail County recommended the PDT JPB submit the Plan for State approval on January 28, 2020 ; and
Whereas, the PDT JPB submitted the Plan for State approval on June 18, 2020; and
Whereas, the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) North Region Committee met on August 5, 2020 and decided to
recommend the Plan be approved according to Minnesota Statutes 103B.101, subdivision 14 at the BWSR meeting on
August 26, 2020.
Now; Therefore, Be it Resolved, contingent on BWSR approval the Otter Tail County hereby adopts and will begin
implementation of the Plan for the area of the County identified within the Plan and serve as a substitute for the Otter
Tail County Local Water Management Plan as per Minn. Stat. 103B for the duration of the state approved Plan.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Lindquist, duly seconded by
Commissioner Johnson and, after discussion thereof and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor:
Commissioners:
Huebsch, Johnson, Lindquist, Murphy, Rogness
and the following voted against the same: None
Adopted this 18th day of August 2020.
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Dated ______________ _
By: ________________ _ Attest ______________ _
Leland R. Rogness, Board of Commissioners Chair Nicole Hansen, Clerk
AMC Annual Conference
The AMC Annual Conference scheduled for December 7th -9th, 2020 will be held virtually due to COVID-19 .
No Wake Zone -Twin Lake
Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to establish a 30-day no-wake zone for Twin Lake
effective August 18, 2020 as authorized and outlined under M.S. 6110.3700 and recommended by the County Sheriff.
Property owners are experiencing shore erosion from watercrafts due to the high water and a photo of the flooded
access was shared was the Commissioners.
Lakes n Woods Storage LLC
Lakes n Woods Storage LLC was referred to the Public Works Committee for further discussion .
Recess & Reconvene
At 10 :48 a.m ., Chair Rogness declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a short
break. The Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 10:55 a.m.
Page 5 of6
https://ottertailcountymn.us/content-page/covid-19-
health-information/.
Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2020 (Exhibit A)
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Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2020 (Exhibit A)
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