County Board of Commissioners Report
Tue, 02/18/2025 - 9:17am
admin
By Darin Steindl
Farmers Independent
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, February 11 with Commissioner Stuart Dukek, Commissioner Bryan Ramsrud, Commissioner Bruce Emmel and Commissioner Mark Larson in attendance. Commissioner Mark Titera was out of town but listening by phone.
Following the review and approval of the agenda and minutes from the last meeting, the Land & Forestry Department was next on the agenda.
Bruce Cox, Land Commissioner, discussed the removal of a building structure on tax forfeited property. Commissioner Ramsrud made a motion to authorize the demolition of the tax forfeit house parcel #23.304.0300. Demolition will be by Dyrdahl Construction for $1,660.00. Three 50-yard dumpsters will be provided by Lenes Sand and Gravel at $1,000 per dumpster and debris will be transported to the land fill at Gentilly. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Emmel, the motion carried.
Brielle Prokosch from Clearwater Soil & Water Conservation District discussed the annual hiring of watercraft inspectors. The county contracts with Always There Staffing in Bemidji to interview and hire candidates. Prokosch explained that the cost to the county would remain the same as 2024. First year inspectors are paid $15 per hour and receive a $0.25 increase for each consecutive year of service up to $17 per hour. Commissioner Larson made a motion to approve the contract with Always There Staffing for the 2025 AIS season. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Emmel, the motion carried.
Dan Sauvé, County Engineer, reviewed the financial statement for the Highway Department and submitted bills to be paid. Commissioner Emmel made the motion to approve payment of the highway department bills as presented, Commissioner Ramsrud seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Sauvé then explained that the state will be working on Trunk Highway 200 from County State Aid Highway 2 to Trunk Highway 71 beginning in July. During construction, the state would like to use County State Aid Highway 37, County State Aid Highway 2, and County State Aid Highway 40 as a detour route. There was discussion about the effect on area businesses during the construction, with Lobo’s Bar & Grill being impacted the most. Commissioner Ramsrud made a motion to authorize the detour agreement and with the state paying the county $2,524.94 for use of the county roads. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Larson, and the motion carried.
Dan Hecht, Environmental Administrator, discussed a solid waste service fee adjustment for 2025. Commissioner Ramsrud made a motion to adopt the Solid Waste Service Fee schedule with the adjustment to the SW-2 Commercial fee from $75/ton to $92/ton dated February 11, 2025, effective for taxes payable beginning 2025. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Larson, and the motion carried.
Hecht then discussed creating a full-time position if multiple part-time employees were to retire in the future. Commissioner Larson made a motion to approve creating and proceeding with the classification of a Solid Waste Lead Worker position within Environmental Services. Commissioner Ramsrud seconded the motion, and the motion carried.
Next, Hecht asked for permission to sell a roll-off container at the land fill. Commissioner Emmel made a motion to authorize the sale of used equipment as follows: part of and accessory to asset #5661, one 47 cubic yard compactor roll-off container to Beltrami County in the amount of $14,000.00. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ramsrud and the motion carried.
Hecht’s last item of discussion was amending the service contract for rural solid waste collection sites. Commissioner Ramsrud made a motion to approve the contract amendment dated February 11, 2025, of the existing rural solid waste collection sites service contract (May 31, 2022), removing the Rice Township site, adding the Long Lost Lake Township site, and adding capacity at the Itasca and Pine Lake Township sites. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Larson, and the motion carried.
Allen Paulson, County Auditor/Treasurer, was next on the agenda. The first item was reviewing the bills to be paid. Commissioner Dukek made the motion to authorize the County Auditor to pay submitted invoices of $168,674.40 from the County Revenue Fund and $27,692.52 from the Public Health Fund. Commissioner Ramsrud seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Several other items were then discussed, with the following motions made and approved:
•Hiring Joely Roberts as Clearwater County Land Department Administrative Assistant/County Park Manager at Grade 13, Step 1 effective February 11, 2025.
•Hiring Liliya Harper as Clearwater County Assistant Attorney at Grade 24, Step 2 effective February 10, 2025.
•Hiring Erin Fox as the Clearwater County Assessors Office Clerk at Grade 10, Step 1 effective January 27, 2025.
•Hiring Taylor Engelstad as Clearwater County Deputy Assessor at Grade 16, Step 1 effective January 28, 2025.
•Approve the step increase for Lisa Syverson to Range 26, Step 6 effective February 25, 2025.
•Authorize the County Board Chairman to sign the Labor Agreement between the Minnesota Teamsters General Local Union No. 346 (Sheriff Department) and Clearwater County effective January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027.
•Authorize the County Board Chairman to sign the Labor Agreement between the Minnesota Teamsters Public Local 320 (Communications/Correctional Officers) and Clearwater County effective January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027.
•Authorize the County Board Chairman to sign the Labor Agreement between the Minnesota Teamsters Public Local 320 (Court House Employees) and Clearwater County effective January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027.
•Authorize the County Board Chairman to sign the Labor Agreement between the Minnesota Nurses Association and Clearwater County effective January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027.
•Approve the resolution on file approving the repurchase of parcel 23.308.0250 by Armando Corona for the price of $424.66 plus recording fees, deed fees, and deed tax for a total of $557.31.
With no further items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 am. The next Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 at 9 am.