Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 7, 2023

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at the Pope County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Board Room, 130 E Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334 was called to order at 9:00 AM by the Chair, Gordy Wagner, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gerde, Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, and Paul Wildman.  Kersten Kappmeyer, County Administrator was present. Neil Nelson, County Attorney, was not present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda; Approval of Official Proceedings for October 17, 2023; and Consider Resolution 202325 Supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans in Pope County were presented by Chair Wagner. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Gerde and seconded by Gremmels, Carrie Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for October 17, 2023 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202325 supporting and recognizing Operation Green Light for Veterans in Pope County during the week of November 6 to November 12, 2023, made by Lindor and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. 

Request for Appropriation and Authorization to Execute Agreement on Final Phase Broadband Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Grant Support to Starbuck Telephone was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to approve appropriation of $1,062,198.92 of County funds from general fund balance to Starbuck Telephone/Hanson Communications for the County’s committed share of support of the final phase of broadband internet service availability buildout in Pope County pursuant to the 2022 DEED grant award, and to approve execution of the associated subrecipient agreement between the County and Starbuck Telephone as presented, made by Gerde and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

Approval of Emergency Management Performance Grant was presented by Tim Riley, Sheriff. Motion to approve 2022 Emergency Management Performance Grant in the amount of $21,882.00, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. 

Highway Department Monthly Report and Approve Final Payment – SAP 061-622-013 and SAP 061-629-017 were presented by Brian Giese, Engineer. The Highway Department Monthly Report was presented as an informational item. Motion to accept contract 612301 for the construction of SAP 061-622-013 and SAP 061-629-017 as complete and authorize the final payment to Mark Sand and Gravel Co of Fergus Falls, MN in the amount of $9,744.22, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.

Re-Grading of Highway Maintenance Worker and Highway Department Supervisory Restructure were presented by Jackie Stevens, Human Resources Director; and Brian Giese, Engineer. Motion to implement the results of the Highway Maintenance Worker compensation analysis and assign the position to a Grade 9, effective January 1, 2024, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Creation of a Deputy Highway Maintenance Supervisor Position and elimination of the Crew Lead Position as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Rolling Forks Vineyards LLC – Renewal of On Sale 3.2 Beer License; Rolling Forks Vineyards LLC – Renewal of On Sale Wine with Strong Beer License; Consider Resolution 202326 Notice of Public Sale of Tax Forfeited Lands, and Set Minimum Prices Along with Date and Time of Public Sale; and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the renewal of the On Sale 3.2 Beer License for Rolling Forks Vineyards for the period of January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, made by Lindor and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the renewal of the On Sale Wine with Strong Beer License for Rolling Forks Vineyards for the period of January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to set the minimum sale prices as follows – parcel 09-0406-198 at $200.00, parcel 09-0406-199 at $250.00, parcel 22-0124-000 at $100.00, parcel 22-0137-000 at $100.00, parcel 27-0209-000 at $7,500.00; and adopt Resolution 202326 for public sale of these parcels as described on the attached Notice of Public Sale of Tax Forfeited Lands, setting the sale date as December 6, 2023, at 9:00am, in the Pope County Board Room, made by Gerde and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $187,028.32 plus supplemental bills of $5,165.45 plus employee reimbursements of $263.67, totaling $192,457.44, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: Amazon Capital Services 3,439.75; Anoka CountyTreasury Office 2,000.00; Brownies Tire 2,327.75; Cloudpermit Inc 4,500.00; Fauskee Oil Company 14,067.00; Loffler Companies Inc 2,356.40; Mark Sand & Gravel Co 9,744.22; Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center 6,000.00; Obenland & Nelson 5,575.00; Pope County Highway 6,229.63; Rasinski Total Door Service LLC 23,190.28; Rinke-Noonan 4,787.00; Starbuck City 48,175.00; Tritech Software Systems 34,122.79; Visa 4347.75; 47 Payments less than 2000 21,331.20. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Administrator and Commissioners.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 11:06 AM.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Gordy Wagner,

Chair of the Board

Nov. 27