Official Proceedings Pope County  Board of Commissioners  Regular Board Meeting Tuesday, August 2, 2022 

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at the Pope County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Board Room, 130 E Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334 was called to order by the Chair Larry Lindor at 9:00 AM with the following members also present: Paul Gerde, Nan Haggerty, Cody Rogahn, and Gordy Wagner.  Kersten Kappmeyer, County Administrator, and Neil Nelson, County Attorney, were also present.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  

Approval of Agenda; Approval of Official Proceedings for July 19, 2022; Consider Resolution 202236 Honoring the Retirement of Long-Time Employee Barry Bouwman; and Consider Resolution 202237 Honoring the Retirement of Long-Time Employee Gary Wold were presented by the Board Chair. Motion to approve the agenda, made by Rogahn and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for the July 19, 2022 regular Board meeting, made by Haggerty and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202236 Honoring the Retirement of Long-Time County Employee Barry Bouwman with the sincere thanks of Pope County for his service, made by Rogahn and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202237 Honoring the Retirement of Long-Time County Employee Gary Wold with the sincere thanks of Pope County for his service. This motion, made by Gerde and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. 

Interim Use Permit – RV Park Proposal (Schirmers, Leven Township); Interim Use Permit – RV (Chlian, Minnewaska Township); and Conditional Use Permit – Accessory Building (Koubsky, Glenwood Township) were presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director. Motion to table the Interim Use Permit application for a Recreational Vehicle Park (Schirmers, Leven Township) until the next regular Board meeting, made by Gerde and seconded by Rogahn, Failed by the following vote: Ayes: Gerde, Lindor; Nays: Haggerty, Rogahn, Wagner. Motion to remand the Interim Use Permit application for a Recreational Vehicle Park (Schirmers, Leven Township) to the Planning Advisory Commission for consideration once the applicant’s stormwater management plan is received and presented, made by Haggerty and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Interim Use Permit application for a Recreational Vehicle (Chlian, Minnewaska Township) and grant the permit with conditions as recommended by the Planning Advisory Commission, and noting a variance for the land use had been granted, made by Rogahn and seconded by Gerde, and by the following vote: Ayes: Gerde, Lindor, Rogahn, Wagner; Nays: Haggerty, Carried. Motion to approve the Conditional Use Permit application for a Recreational Vehicle (Koubsky, Glenwood Township) and grant the permit with conditions as recommended by the Planning Advisory Commission, made by Wagner and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.

The Monthly Highway Department Report and Culvert Lining Project Approval (CSAH 24) were presented by Brian Giese, Engineer. Motion to authorize the County Engineer to enter into an agreement with Subsurface, Inc. for the installation of a UV-CIPP liner under CSAH 24 at the estimated cost of $80,220 to $83,220 as proposed, made by Rogahn and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Grant Support for Additional Phase of Broadband Expansion Project of Hanson Communications dba Starbuck Telephone and Issuing Letter of Support for DEED Grant Application and Request to Approve Purchase of Security Cameras for Health and Human Services Remodel were presented by Bryan Gates, Information Technology Director. Motion to approve County support of the 2022 DEED Border-to-Border application of Hanson Communications/Starbuck Telephone Company for the next phase of broadband expansion in Pope County through the approval of a letter of support from the County and by a financial commitment of $1,062,198.92 from general County funds, offset by any funds received by other townships or other local government entities in support, made by Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the purchase and installation of security cameras as proposed by Brothers Fire & Security for the Health and Human Services remodel in the amount of $12,243.57, made by Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Authority for Chair and Administrator to Execute a Lease Agreement with the City of Villard for Beach Activities on County’s Parcel #02-0165-002, Authorize Revision of Lease to End Tenancy of 24 Minnesota Ave. East for Human Services Temporary Offices, and Consider Updates to Pope County Data Practices Policies were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to authorize the County Board Chair and Administrator to execute the proposed Lease Agreement with the City of Villard on behalf of Pope County for provision of a beach and related amenities upon County land, namely the easternmost 350 feet of Parcel #02-165-002, made by Haggerty and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Chair’s signature of the Second Amendment to the Sublease Agreement for 24 Minnesota Ave. East between Pope County and American Solutions for Business under the same terms and with termination of the sublease at the end of September 2022, made by Haggerty and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve updates to the Pope County Data Practices policies as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.

The Board Chair recessed the meeting at 10:48 AM, and reconvened the meeting again at 10:54 AM. 

Consider Appointment of Pope County Coroner or Authorization to Enter into a Contract for Service for Coroner Services was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to authorize the County Chair and County Administrator to negotiate and sign a contract on behalf of Pope County for coroner and medical examiner services on an annual fee basis with the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, effective August 15, 2022 through December 31, 2023, and appoint Dr. A. Quinn Piper as Pope County Coroner and Medical Examiner consistent with the contract for services, made by Gerde and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.

State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement for the 2022 Primary Election, State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement for the 2022 General Election, and Pay Bills and Per Diems were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement for the 2022 Primary Election, made by Gerde and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement for the 2022 General Election, made by Haggerty and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the payment of bills of $139,405.55 plus per diem of $80.00, totaling $139,485.55, made by Gerde and seconded by Rogahn, 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 Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the Administrator and the Commissioners.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by Chair Lindor at 11:54 AM. 

Kersten Kappmeyer, 

County Administrator

Larry Lindor, 

Chairman of the Board

Aug. 22