Official Proceedings Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board MeetingTuesday, April 5, 2022 

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 9:00 AM at the Pope County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Meeting Room, 130 E Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, Minnesota was called to order by the Chair Larry Lindor, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gerde, Nan Haggerty, Cody Rogahn and Gordy Wagner.  Kersten Kappmeyer, County Administrator, was present, and Neil Nelson, County Attorney, was not present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of the Agenda, and Approval of the Official Proceedings for the March 15, 2022 Regular Board Meeting were presented by the Board Chair.  Motion to approve the agenda, made by Rogahn and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.  Approval of the Official Proceedings for the March 15, 2022 Regular Board Meeting was presented by the Board Chair.  Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for the March 15, 2022 Regular Board Meeting, made by Haggerty and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.

Authorize Execution of Restated Joint Powers Agreement for Region 4 South Mental Health was presented by Stacy Hennen, Western Prairie Human Services Director.  Motion to authorize execution of the Restated Joint Powers Agreement for Region 4 South Mental Health as presented, made by Gerde and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.

Interim Use Permit: Recreational Vehicles was presented by David Green, Land and Resource Management Director.  Motion to Approve the Interim Use Permit Application of Ryan & Cheryl Fernholz for seasonal location of four RV units onsite at Part of Government Lot 1 and 2, Section 26, Township 125 (Glenwood), Range 38, Pope County, Minnesota, Parcel #09-0098-000, with the conditions recommended by the Planning Advisory Commission as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.

Highway Department Monthly Update, and Local Road Improvement Program Grant Agreement – SAP 061-618-035 – Resolution 202213 were presented by Brian Giese, Engineer.  The Highway Department Monthly Update was shared with the Board.  Motion to adopt Resolution 202213 as Exhibit E for the Grant Agreement to the State Transportation Fund Local Road Improvement Program, made by Wagner and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.

Decrease Auditor/Treasurer Change Fund to $700, and Pay Bills were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer.  Motion to approve the decrease in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Change Fund from $1,500 to $700, made by Rogahn and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.  Motion to approve payment of bills in the amount of $297,375.35 as presented. This motion, made by Rogahn and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously.

Discussion of Current ARPA Spending Plan and Potential Supplement to Funding from General Fund Balances – Resolution 202214, Consider Grant and Subrecipient Agreement with Starbuck Telephone Company for Broadband Infrastructure Project, Consider Approval of Addenda to Extension Support Staff Agreement, Consider Letter in Support of HF2821/SF2670 to Fund ARMER Radio Replacement, and COVID-19 Update and Policy Discussion were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator.  Motion to adopt Resolution 202214 affirming the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending plan as presented, while allowing the option to supplement or match general fund dollars for spending priorities on a case-by-case basis, made by Rogahn and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.  Motion to authorize a grant award not to exceed $1,800,000 to Starbuck Telephone for a $3,000,000 fiber-to-the-home broadband infrastructure project in portions of eight townships as described in its response to the County’s request for proposals and contingent upon the execution of the County’s grant and subrecipient agreement, made by Haggerty and seconded by Rogahn.  Motion to amend the main motion to specify that the grant would be funded with $1,200,000 of funding from the County’s and any participating township’s ARPA funds and $600,000 from the County’s other general funds, made by Gerde and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.  The main motion so amended thereafter also Carried Unanimously.  Motion to authorize execution of the extension agreement addendum, allowing for employment of a non-student summer program coordinator with funds normally designated for summer intern wages, and allowing for the University to hire a non-student for the position when a student intern cannot be identified for hire, as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.  Motion to approve correspondence from the Chair on behalf of the Board in support of HF2821/SF2670 and ARMER radio upgrade grants, as amended to include the number of radio units in the County, made by Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.  Motion to rescind the Pope County COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and as a successor policy implement the Pope County COVID-19 Screening Policy as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.  Motion to approve the Addendum to the Employment Contract with the County Administrator, made by Haggerty and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.

Approval of the Per Diem Expense Reports was presented by the Board Chair.  Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Gerde and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously.

Updates were given by the County Administrator and the County Commissioners.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by Chair Lindor at 11:43 a.m.

Kersten Kappmeyer, 

County Administrator

Larry Lindor, 

Chairman of the Board

May 2