HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Commissioners - Minutes - 10/13/19980
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Call to Order
The Otter Tail County Human Services Board convened Tuesday, October 13, 1998 at 9:30 a.m.
at the Otter Tail County Courthouse with Commissioners Sydney Nelson, Chair; Virginia Partmann,
Vice-Chair; Malcolm Lee, Secretary; Andy Lindquist, and Bill Stone present.
Approval of Agenda
Motion by Lee, second by Partmann, and unanimously carried to approve the Human Services
Board agenda of October 13, 1998.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by Lindquist, second by Lee, and unanimously carried to approve the Human Services
Board minutes of September 22, 1998 as mailed.
Personnel Committee Update
Commissioner Partmann, on behalf of the Personnel Committee, described the process used to
rank the candidates for the Human Services Director position. Board members received brief
employment information on the finalists as well as their names. The names of the eight finalists
who will be interviewed are: John Dinsmore, Elwyn Harrington, Kirsten Hoese, Thomas Jensen,
Earl O'Connell, Robert Peitzman, David Sainio, and David Sayler. The Committee will keep the
Board apprised of the process.
Dog Bite Hearings
Phyllis Knutson, Coordinator of Disease Prevention & Control, read an investigative dog bite report
on a 6-7 year old Chesapeake Retriever named "Storm", owned by Richard Berge, rural Fergus
Falls. Mr. Richard Berge was also present at the hearing. After reading her report, Mr. Berge did
not contest any of the reported details.
After lengthy discussion, a finding was made that the above referenced dog, "Storm" was
considered dangerous to public safety, that the owner must control the dog by restraint when no
one is home or when it is unsupervised and that it must be kept away from the township road.
Mr. Berge agreed with the expressed recommendations.
Phyllis Knutson, Coordinator of Disease Prevention & Control, read an investigative dog bite report
on a 5-6 year old German Shepherd named "Butch", owned by Harold and Mary Ann Thoennes,
Vining. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thoennes were present at the hearing. After reading her report, both
Mr. and Mrs. Thoennes expressed that the exact circumstances of the dog biting their three year
old grandchild was not known, that the dog always played with the children. Ms. Knutson indicated
that substantial bodily harm had been inflicted upon the grandchild. Lengthy discussion followed.
A finding was made that the above referenced dog, "Butch" was considered dangerous to public
safety, that the owners must keep their dog under supervision or outside in a kennel, and that a
"Beware of Dog" sign must also be posted in the Thoennes' yard. Mr. Thoennes indicated he
Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners
October 13, 1998
Page2
would have the dog neutered as well. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thoennes agreed to comply with the Q.
remedy.
MnCare
Social Services Supervisors, Bev Schoon and Barb Dohrer, together with DHS Health Care Access
Team Leader, Julie Skay and Health Care Manager, Deb Wagner, discussed county options to do
MinnesotaCare enrollment. After discussion, Chair Nelson requested that the Social Service
Supervisors (Barb Daher/Bev Schoon) return to them with pros/cons and a recommendation about
administering this program.
Prostate Cancer Awareness
Public Health Director, Diane Thorson, discussed providing Prostate Cancer Awareness by
providing a meeting or series of meetings for County employees.
Motion by Stone, second by Lee, and unanimously carried to authorize the Public Health Director
to request American Cancer Society Volunteers, Carmen Jackson and Warren Vanderlinden, to
present a noon-time informational meeting for County employees about Prostate Cancer
Awareness.
Public Health Goals
The Public Health Director discussed nuisance regulations and the numbers and differences in
-types of nuisances reported by the public. She indicated difficulty from a departmental standpoint
in responding to all of the requests. She will discuss these concerns with the Otter Tail County's n
Community Health Services Committee for recommendations. 'vtitt,I
Prairie Community Services
Social Services Supervisor, Tom Jensen, and Social Worker, Barb Madole, presented an
application from Prairie Community Services for a Need Determination of Services to Persons with
Mental Retardation or Related Conditions to convert two Fergus Falls ICF/MR facilities, Cedar
Home and Douglas Home, to Adult Foster Care rule 42/203 facilities. The conversion of these
facilities is in the best interest of the clients, community, and Prairie Community Services.
Downsizing the census from six to four people will create more living and working space. It will
also make it possible for residents to have their own bedrooms and a less restrictive, more home-
like setting.
Motion by Partmann, second by Lee, and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of
Jensen and Madole regarding the proposed downsizing of Prairie Community Services -Douglas
Home and Cedar Home, and to authorize appropriate application procedures.
Approval of Bill & Claims
Motion by Lindquist, second by Lee, and unanimously carried to approve payment of the Human
Services bills and claims as presented.
Revised Tobacco Ordinance
Motion by Partmann, second by Stone, and unanimously carried to set a date for the public
hearing to enact the proposed Otter Tail County Revised Tobacco Ordinance dated 10/01/98, for Q
9:30 a.m. on November 24, 1998 during the Otter Tail County Human Services Board meeting.
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Adjournment
Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners
October 13, 1998
Page 3
At 11 :19 a.m. Chair Nelson declared the meeting the Otter Tail County Human Services Board
adjourned until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 1998.
Dated: ((J~ oZ~ /9'18 COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ervices Chairman
Call To Order
The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners convened Tuesday, October 13, 1998 at 1 :00 p.m.
at the Otter Tail County Courthouse with Commissioners Malcolm Lee, Chair; Sydney Nelson,
Vice-Chair; Andy Lindquist, Bill Stone, and Virginia Portmann present.
Approval of Agenda
Motion by Lindquist, second by Stone, and unanimously carried to approve the County Board
agenda of October 13, 1998 as mailed.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by Portmann, second by Nelson, and unanimously carried to approve the County Board
minutes of October 6, 1998 as mailed.
Assessment Contracts
County Assessor, Bob Moe, requested approval of Assessment Contracts ·for the 1999
Assessments in the amount of $5,931 for Edna Township and $3,783.80 for Dead Lake Township.
The contract assessor for these areas will be Francie Gleason. These contracts would replace the
contracts with Ruby Vogel for Otter Tail Township and Clitherall Township, which will be done as
part of her duties as a full-time assessor with the County Assessor's Office.
Motion by Portmann, second by Lindquist, and unanimously carried to approve the Assessment
Contracts as described by the Assessor.
Tax Capacity Calculation
The Assessor provided handout materials relative to the Tax Capacity Calculation for the 1999 tax
payables. He compared 1998 to 1999 for each of the classifications. A lengthy question and
answer discussion followed.
Public Utilities
Motion by Stone, second by Nelson, and unanimously carried to, authorize payment of $76 to
Minnesota Utilities Counties for Otter Tail County's share of the FERG study. The study compared
total taxes paid by various investor-owned utilities.
Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners
October 13, 1998
Page4
Final Plat -"Ivy Acres" o·
Motion by Nelson, second by Stone, and unanimously carried to approve the final plat of "Ivy ·····
Acres" (Sec. 36, Twp. 135, R. 39, Rush Lake Township, Buchanan Lake) as presented by Marsha
Bowman, Land & Resource Management.
Contract Approval
Motion by Nelson, second by Stone, and unanimously carried to approve the Reconstruction and
Bridge Replacement on CSAH No. 13 with Minnerath Construction, Inc., S.A.P. 56-613-01, as
presented by County Engineer, Rick West, and approved by the County Attorney, David Hauser.
Storage Tank Removal
The County Engineer requested approval to proceed with the removal of petroleum storage tanks
at Vining, Perham, and Battle Lake as outlined in a cost estimate proposal with Widseth, Smith &
Nolting of Baxter, MN.
Motion by Lindquist, second by Partmann, and unanimously carried to proceed with the storage
tank removal as outlined by Rick West
Referendum Passage
Commissioner Partmann requested clarification from the County Attorney regarding the passage of
a referendum at an election. The County Attorney explained that passage of a referendum is
based on a simple majority of those people actually voting on the referendum question. Failure to
vote on the question is not a NO vote.
Drainage Ditch No. 48
Ditch Inspector, Tiny Holm, along with landowner, Theodore Steinbach discussed his landlocked
difficulties along the County's Drainage Ditch No. 48. To cross the drainage ditch, Mr. Steinbach
proposed a free-span bridge be constructed, however, lacking the necessary 26% of the
landowners along the drainage ditch to support his proposal, he came forth seeking the Board's
assistance. · After lengthy discussion about alternatives, Mr. Steinbach was advised to consult an
attorney to represent his interests relative to issues of the cartway and other means of access to
his property.
Adjournment
At 2:18 p.m., Chairman Lee declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners
adjourned until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 1998.
Dated: (f)~ d..01 l9'rR , OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CB/kal
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