Highway restrictions topic at Red Lake Commissioners meeting

On Tuesday, March 8th, the Commissioners met at the Red Lake County Courthouse. All members were present: Chuck Simpson, Ron Weiss, Chuck Flage, Dave Sorensen and John Lerohl.

The board said the pledge of allegiance and the meeting began with an addition of County Engineer Korky Kleven to the agenda, with motion from Weiss and seconded by Lerohl. Carried.

Penny Grove from the Red Lake County Social Services was first on the agenda with a request for the approval/motion for continuance of the SNAP program monies. Sorensen and Flage made the motions, and it was carried.

Kleven was next on the agenda and reported on the progress of the natural gas line coming into Red Lake Falls and what he recommends before granting permits to the company. There meetings for the public scheduled.

Kleven also reported that the road restrictions were going into effect on Wednesday, March 9th. There will be an announcement in the next paper. Signs were going up Tuesday, March 8th in preparation of the start of the restrictions.

There was also a map handed out of the proposed 2016 construction program in the MNDOT District 2. The closest mill/overlay project according to the map to the Red Lake County area is Highway 75 from Warren to 12 miles of Crookston.

The minutes were approved with a motion from Lerohl and seconded by Weiss, carried. 

Followed by the paying of the bills. The question presented to the Commissioners was about a couple of bills for meal reimbursement that didn’t have the proper itemization attached. The Commissioners passed the bills with a warning that after this, all meal reimbursements will be sent back if not properly itemized. Last month the Commissioners had amended the previous meal reimbursement policy to list a max amounts of $15 for breakfast, $15 for lunch & $20 for supper for $50.00 per day for MEALS only. And that receipts had to be itemized. If it is not itemized on the receipt, the employee should ask for an itemized receipt from the restaurant before leaving the establishment. Bills were paid with a motion from Sorensen, seconded by Flage. Carried.

Committee reports were next on the agenda and only a few of the commissioners had meetings to report on. Sorensen talked about the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting he attended. The Director of Capital Planning was the speaker. 

Lerohl also had some meeting to report on. His first report was on the Regional Development Commission (RDC) meeting he attended. Other topics Lerohl mention was the hiring of another person for the Senior LinkAge program, Blandin Foundation/Design team, Christopher Ingraham moving to Red Lake County, the Annual Reports from Inter County Community Council (ICCC) and the RDC he had received. Lerohl also mentioned the Kristi Nelson, Social Services Director, is trying to hire someone to work with the dementia program. Three have applied, but none had the correct qualifications.

Lerohl also attended a Red Lake County Fair Board meeting. There was two meetings. The first the end of February, were allegations of missing monies was discussed. The board requested bills & documentation be checked over. Fair Board member Lowell Hamrum had gone over two of the bank accounts and reported that everything was fine. The Sheriff had been talked to earlier about the allegations and it was decided that since things looked ok, that nothing more would be done at this time.

County Auditor Bob Schmitz asked the board if it was ok to go ahead and order a circuit board for the Chairlift that is out of commission. The part could cost approx. $1900. And when the maintenance person for the elevator/chairlift, it will be installed.

Marco, Inc. had also contacted the county with a proposal on a new copier as the one in the License office is 12 years and there are no more replacement parts available. Lerohl and Weiss made the motion to move ahead on a new copier.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.