Official Proceedings Pope County  Board of Commissioners  Regular Board Meeting Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 9:00 AM at the Pope County Courthouse, 1st Floor Community Room, 130 E Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334 was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chair Larry Lindor with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gerde, 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 and Approval of Official Proceedings for September 6, 2022 were presented by the Board Chair. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Gerde and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.  Commissioner Nan Haggerty joined the meeting at 9:01 a.m. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings from September 6, 2022 as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.

Authorize Notice of Date and Time of Annual Drainage Hearing was presented by Dave Orlowski, Drainage Inspector. Motion to set the Annual Drainage Hearing for Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 9:00am or as soon thereafter as can be heard, made by Rogahn and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously.

Tax Abatement – Parcel 02-0497-000 – Taxes Payable 2022; Value Abatement – Parcel 02-0497-000 – Taxes Payable 2023; Tax Abatement – Parcel 03-0114-000 – Taxes Payable 2022; Value Abatement – Parcel 03-0114-000 – Taxes Payable 2023; August 2022 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis; Auditor Bills -August 10 – September 13, 2022; and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the 2022 tax abatement in the amount of $390.00 for Jan Strauss on Parcel 02-0497-000, made by Wagner and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the value abatement for taxes payable 2023 for Jan Strauss on Parcel 02-0497-000, made by Haggerty and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the 2022 tax abatement in the amount of $454.39 for Bruce and Deb Blair on Parcel 03-0114-000, made by Gerde and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the value abatement for taxes payable 2023 for Bruce and Deb Blair on Parcel 03-0114-000, made by Rogahn and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept the August 2022 Trial Balance and Fund Analysis, made by Wagner and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously. Auditor Bills -August 10 – September 13, 2022 was presented as an informational item. Motion to approve payment of bills of $141,156.44 plus supplemental bills of $6,154.83 plus per diems and employee reimbursements of $1,928.75, totaling $149,240.02, made by Haggerty and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.   

Consider Resolution 202241 Accepting the Pope County HRA Preliminary Levy Request for 2023 was presented by Jason Murray, Pope County HRA-EDA Director. Motion to adopt Resolution 202241 accepting the Pope County HRA preliminary levy request for 2023 in the amount of $440,350 as presented, made by Gerde and seconded by Rogahn, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Resolution 202242 Adopting the 2023 Pope County Preliminary Budget and Property Tax Levy and Setting a Truth-In-Taxation Hearing was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202242 adopting the 2023 Pope County preliminary budget totaling $20,606,673 in expenditures; setting the 2023 preliminary property tax levy at $10,179,669, an increase of 7.9% over 2022’s levy; and setting a Truth-In-Taxation hearing for Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 6:00pm at the Pope County Courthouse Board Room, made by Wagner and seconded by Rogahn, Carried by the following vote: Ayes: Gerde, Lindor, Rogahn, Wagner; Nays: Haggerty.

Motion to enter into closed session pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.05, Subd. 3(c) to consider development of a purchase offer for certain real property described as parcel 21-0198-000, made by Rogahn and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.  Closed session was entered at 9:43 a.m. Motion to end closed session and return to open session, made by Gerde and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Open session resumed at 10:17 a.m.

The Board recessed at 10:18 a.m., and reconvened at 10:29 a.m. 

Motion to enter into closed session based on attorney-client privilege pursuant for litigation to Minn. Stat. 13D.03, Subd. 3(b) regarding case file 61-CV-22-XXXX, State by Peters Sunset Beach, Inc., et al. v. Pope County, made by Wagner and seconded by Haggerty, Carried Unanimously.  Closed session was entered at 10:30 a.m. Motion to end closed session and return to open session, made by Wagner and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Open session resumed at 11:47 a.m.

Informational updates were given by the County Administrator and Commissioners.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by Chair Lindor at 12:05 p.m.

Kersten Kappmeyer, 

County Administrator

Larry Lindor, 

Chairman of the Board

Oct. 10