Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, JANUARY 2, 2024

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM 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 County Administrator, Kersten Kappmeyer, with the following Board Members present: Paul Gerde, Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, Gordy Wagner, and Paul Wildman.  Neil Nelson, County Attorney was also present.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Nomination and Election of Board Chair for 2024 was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. On motion by Wildman, seconded by Gremmels, Commissioner Paul Gerde was nominated as Chair for 2024. On motion by Wagner, seconded by Lindor, nominations were ceased and Commissioner Gerde was elected Chair for 2024 unanimously.

Nomination and Election of Board Vice-Chair for 2024; Approval of Agenda; Approval of Official Proceedings for December 19, 2023; County Board and Officer Committee Assignments for 2024; Association of Minnesota Counties Policy Committees and Voting Delegate Appointments for 2024; and Board Appointment to the Pope County HRA-EDA Board (District 3) were presented by Chair Gerde. On motion by Wagner, seconded by Wildman, Commissioner Larry Lindor was nominated as Vice Chair for 2024. There being no other nominations offered, Commissioner Lindor was unanimously elected as Vice Chair for 2024. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for December 19, 2023 as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Association of Minnesota Counties Policy Committees and Voting Delegate Appointments for 2024 and Association of Minnesota Counties Policy Committees and Voting Delegate Appointments for 2024 were presented as informational items by Chair Gerde. 2024 Committee Assignments remain the same as for 2023, except for Commissioner Wildman’s appointment in the place of Commissioner Lindor on both the Planning Advisory Commission and on the Region IV South Mental Health Board. 2024 AMC Policy Committee and Delegate Appointments remain the same as in 2023. Records of these will be kept on file with the County Administrator. Motion to appoint Greg Vold as the District 3 Representative on the Pope County HRA-EDA Board for a five-year term, effective January 1, 2024, made by Gremmels and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Resolution 202401 Designating and Awarding Bid for Pope County Official Newspaper for 2024 was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202401 to designate the Pope County Tribune as Pope County’s official newspaper for 2024 for required legal publications, accepting the proposed quote for publication as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. 

Designate Official Depositories for Pope County Funds for 2024; Consider Resolution 202402 to Authorize the Auditor/Treasurer to make Electronic Funds Transfers; Tax Abatement – Parcel 15-0022-000 – Taxes Payable 2023; Value Abatement – Parcel 15-0022-000 – Taxes Payable 2024; and Pay Bills and Supplemental Bills were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to designate all Pope County financial institutions as Official Pope County Depositories for 2024 and when necessary, the Auditor/Treasurer is directed to invest in the MAGIC Fund, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202402, authorizing the Auditor/Treasurer to make electronic funds transfers, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the 2023 tax abatement in the amount of $844.50 for Trampas and Carly Howe on Parcel #15-0022-000, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the value abatement of $484,300 for taxes payable 2024 for Trampas and Carly Howe on Parcel #15-0022-000, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $36,241.78 plus supplemental bills of $1,527,049.55, totaling $1,563,291.33 as amended, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: Bond Trust Services Corporation 291,987.50; Creative Product Sourcing Inc 3,517.51; Douglas County Dept Of Public Works 4,000.00; Ehlers & Associates Inc 3,700.00; Elwood Septic Professionals, LLC 8,600.00; Erickson Excavating, Inc 12,350.00; Kris Engineering Inc 35,835.04; Minnesota State Auditor 29,646.50; Pope County Highway 2,813.62; Regents Of The University Of Minnesota 29,036.49; Starbuck Telephone Company 1,062,198.92; Subsurface Inc 26,300.00; Ziegler, Inc. 6,080.87; Fidlar Technologies Inc 6,260.78; MCAA- Mn County Attorneys Assoc. 3,286.00; Minnesota Counties Computer Coop 17,071.19; Obenland & Nelson 5,675.00; 30 Payments less than 2000 14,931.91. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Wagner 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 10:03 a.m.

Kersten Kappmeyer, 

County Administrator

Paul Gerde, 

Chair of the Board

Jan. 22