August 12, 2014

Pipestone County Commissioner Meeting

August 12, 2014

The Pipestone County Commissioners met with Chairman William (Bill) Johnson, Commissioners Luke Johnson, Bruce Kooiman, Harold (Butch) Miller, and Jerry L. Remund. County Administrator Sharon Hanson was also present. Chairman W. Johnson called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Motion by Miller, seconded by Remund to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by L. Johnson, seconded by Miller to approve the consent agenda as follows:

  1. Minutes of August 5, 2014 Commissioner Meeting
  2. Commissioner Warrants/Meal Reimbursements in the amount of $226,081.55 and Hospital Warrants in the amount of $622,093.05
  3. Treasurer’s Report July 2014
  4. Fuel Card Auditor Warrant in the amount of $572.11 Payable to WEX Bank

Motion carried unanimously.

SHARON HANSON – 2015 BUDGET INFORMATION

County Administrator Sharon Hanson provided an overview of the 2015 Proposed Budget.

Motion by L. Johnson, seconded by Kooiman to schedule the Truth and Taxation Public Meeting for December 1, 2014 at 7:00p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Miller, seconded by W. Johnson to reschedule the December 9, 2014 Commissioner Meeting to December 10, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. due to the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) Annual Conference. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Remund, seconded by Miller to set the final budget adoption date for the December 23, 2014 Commissioner meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

DISCUSSION OF 321 10TH AVE SE PIPESTONE, FORMER RAILROAD PROPERTY PIPESTONE-CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Remund, seconded by L. Johnson to close the meeting per MN Statute 13D.05, Subd. 3(c) (3) to discuss the possible purchase of 321 10th Ave SE Pipestone and former railroad property Parcel Identification numbers: 18.007.1550, 18.007.3660, 18.007.3665 which are both adjacent to the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting closed at 9:35 a.m.

The following were in attendance during the closed session: Chairman William Johnson Commissioners Luke Johnson, Bruce Kooiman, Harold (Butch) Miller, and Jerry L. Remund, County Administrator Sharon Hanson, County Attorney Jim O’Neill, Building and Grounds Maintenance Supervisor Marc Hall, and HR Coordinator Cathy Feste.

Motion by L. Johnson, seconded by Remund to open the closed session. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting opened at 9:55 a.m.

Motion by Remund, seconded by Miller directing Building and Grounds Supervisor Marc Hall to make an offer for purchase of the property located at 321 10th Ave SE Pipestone, MN. Motion carried unanimously.

BID LETTING– CSAH 10 CULVERTS – 10:00AM

Engineer Dave Halbersma and County Attorney Jim O’Neill conducted County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 10 box culvert projects bid opening. The following bids were received:

Planholder / Address / Bid Total
R & G Construction / Marshall, MN / $874,213.00
Midwest Contracting LLC / Marshall, MN / $898,563.00
Central Specialties Inc / Alexandria, MN / $1,105,502.26
Duininck Inc / Prinsburg, MN / $1,015,475.80

Bids were taken for review.

SET LETTING DATE FOR GRAVEL PIT CROPLAND

Motion by Miller, seconded by Remund to set the bid letting date of September 23, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners Room for the renting of cropland on County owned gravel pit property. Motion carried unanimously.

STEVE WEETS - 2015 TREASURER BUDGET

Treasurer Steve Weets presented the 2015 Treasurer’s Office and Data Processing budgets and answered questions.

TERRI HEATON – FINANCING CONSIDERATIONS

Senior Vice President Terri Heaton of Springsted, Inc. gave a presentation on funding options the County would have if they wished to pursue outside funding for completion of future projects or to offset levy increases.

BID AWARD – CSAH 10 CULVERTS

Motion by L. Johnson seconded by Remund to award the bid for CSAH 10 culverts to

R & G Construction Co. in the amount of $874,213.00. Motion carried unanimously.

KYLE KRIER - ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGETS / GRANT AGREEMENT

Environmental Administrator Kyle Krier presented the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources MPCA County Feedlot Performance Grant Agreement. Pipestone County will receive $6,296 for performance work completed on feedlots in 2015. Motion by Miller, seconded by L. Johnson to approve the 2015 Board of Water and Soil Resources Minnesota Pollution Control Agency County Feedlot Performance Grant Agreement in the amount of $6,296.00 which will be applied to the Soil and Water Conservation District budget. Motion carried unanimously.

Administrator Krier reviewed the Conservation and Zoning, Ag Inspector, and Solid Waste Budgets for 2015 and answered questions.

FEEDLOT PUBLIC MEETING – 11:40 AM

A feedlot public meeting was held for the following feedlot application: Mike Hulstein, located in the SW Quarter of Section 35 in Elmer Township.

Chairman W. Johnson recessed the meeting at 12:00 p.m. to reconvene at 1:00 p.m. Chairman W. Johnson reconvened the meeting at 1:00p.m.

PIPESTONE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER EXPANSION BID OPENING

Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) Chief Executive Officer Brad Burris, PCMC Maintenance Supervisor Pete Swanson and Construction Managers Joe Niewohner and Chad Munce from Journey Construction Professionals joined the meeting for the PCMC Expansion bid opening. The following bids were received:

Hasslen Construction / Breitbach Construction
Base Bid-Material / $11,573,000 / $12,172,000
Base Bid-Install / $11,677,000 / $11,066,000
Base Bid-Total / $23,250,000 / $23,238,000
Alternate #1-Builder’s Risk by Owner / -$40,000 / -$53,000
Alternate #2-Alternate Light Types / $140,000 / $138,000
Total (Base + Alternates) / $23,350,000 / $23,323,000

The bids were taken for review with proposed award at the August 19, 2014 County Hospital Board meeting.

PERA REQUEST FOR VOTING METHOD

Administrator Hanson explained that Public Employers Retirement Association of Minnesota (PERA) was informed by the Social Security Administration that the Correctional Plan PERA needs to have ratification by members as to participation in Social Security. This was thought to be previously approved by agreement. PERA has requested feedback from counties on voting method to be used for administration of the vote in order to represent the employer's (counties) wishes. The county would only recommend voting method, each eligible employee would have the opportunity to vote. Motion by L. Johnson, seconded by Remund to notify PERA that Pipestone County supports the majority voting method. Motion carried unanimously.

HOLLI ARP - 2015 EXTENSION BUDGET

Regional Extension Director Holli Arp presented the 2015 Extension budget and answered questions.

SAFETY CONSULTING CONTRACT

Consensus of the Board to not proceed with safety consulting contract from Safe Assure.

TAX ABATEMENT POLICY

Administrator Hanson presented a draft Tax Abatement Policy for review with consideration at the August 26, 2014 Commissioner meeting.

BUFFALO RIDGE TRANSIT ROUTE, VSO GRANT RESOLUTION 59-35-14

Marc Hall, Transit Director and Veteran’s Service Officer (VSO) presented information on the Buffalo Ridge Transit Route and a request to adopt Resolution 59-35-14 that would accept a County VSO Operational Enhancement Grant in the amount of $7,500.00 in 2015.

Consensus of the Board to accept the recommendation of the Buffalo Ridge Transit Route Board to only offer will-call rides from September 1 through the end of 2014 for the Buffalo Ridge Transit Route.

Motion by Miller, seconded by Remund to adopt Resolution 59-35-14 that would accept a County VSO Operational Enhancement Grant in the amount of $7,500.00 in 2015 and authorize Board Chair and County VSO signatures. Motion carried unanimously.

MARC HALL - 2015 VSO, TRANSIT AND BUILDING AND GROUNDS BUDGETS

Director Hall presented the 2015 VSO, Transit and Building and Grounds budgets and answered questions.

SHERIFF DAN DELANEY - 2015 SHERIFF’S BUDGETS

Sheriff Dan Delaney presented the 2015 Sheriff, Jail and Dispatch budgets and answered questions.

PERSONNEL

County Assessor Joyce Schmidt and Human Resources Coordinator Cathy Feste joined the meeting to present a request to offer a candidate for the Junior Appraiser position up to Step 9 of the Courthouse Union pay play. Motion by Remund, seconded by W. Johnson to authorize Human Resources to offer up to Step 9 of the Courthouse Union pay plan to a Junior Appraiser candidate based on experience, license and training. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by L. Johnson, seconded by Miller to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 3:31 p.m.

______

William (Bill) Johnson Pipestone County Board Chair

ATTEST:

______

Sharon Hanson

County Administrator

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August 12, 2014