Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, FEBRUARY 6, 2024 

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, February 6, 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 Chair, Paul Gerde, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, Gordy Wagner, and Paul Wildman.  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 January 16, 2024 were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for January 16, 2024 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. 

Consider Resolution on Adoption of the Pope County Hazard Mitigation Plan was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202405 adopting the Pope County Hazard Mitigation Plan as presented. This motion, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Approval of Clearwater Bay Service Contract was presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director. Motion to approve of the Clearwater Bay Contract between Pope County and Elwood Septic Professionals as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

State Representative Mary Franson was welcomed to the Pope County Board Meeting by Chair Gerde. Representative Franson provided an update on the coming Legislative session in St. Paul, and heard from the County Board regarding concerns with bonding, Pope Douglas Solid Waste funding, PrimeWest and county-based purchasing, and other topics of interest.  The Board thanked Representative Franson for attending the meeting.

Advertisement for Bids – CP 061-024-003; Advertisement for Bids – SAP 061-615-010; and Advertisement for Bids – SAP 061-608-008 were presented by Greg Tolifson, Senior Engineering Technician, for Brian Giese, Engineer. Motion to authorize the advertisement for bids for the completion of CP 061-024-003 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to authorize the advertisement for bids for the construction of SAP 061-615-010 as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to authorize the advertisement for bids for the construction of SAP 061-608-008 as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. 

Discussion on Future Appointment of At-Large Pope County Extension Committee Member was presented as an informational item by Chair Gerde, and the process of identifying and appointing interested members was discussed.

Consider Appointment of Pope County Lay Member Representative to the Lakeland Mental Health Center Board; Request for ARPA Funding Grant Approval from Cyrus First Responders; and Request for State Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA) Allocation to the Pope County Housing Trust Fund were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to reappoint Mary Walsh as Pope County Lay Member on the Lakeland Mental Health Center Board for a three-year term to begin on February 26, 2024, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve request for ARPA funding grant to Cyrus First Responders in the amount of $5,423.32 for new volunteer equipment outfitting expenses as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the appropriation of Pope County’s State Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA) allocation in the amount of $90,147 to the Pope County Housing Trust Fund, to be used as permitted under County Ordinance and state law and regulation, as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Proposal from Abdo for Assistance with GASB 96 (SBITA) and GASB 97 (Leases) for the 2023 Audit; December 2023 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis; 4th Quarter 2023 Journal Entries and Billing; 4th Quarter 2023 Revenue Expenditure Budget Report; and Pay Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve and authorize the Auditor/Treasurer to sign the proposal from Abdo and enter into an agreement with them for services to be provided for audit preparation with GASB 96 and GASB 97, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the December 2023 Trial Balance and Fund Analysis, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the 4th Quarter 2023 Journal Entries and Billing, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the 4th Quarter 2023 Revenue Expenditure Budget Report, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $156,276.49 plus per diems and employee reimbursements of $1,142.85, after removing payment of SWCD invoice for clarification of amount due and owing, totaling $157,419.34, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: American Solutions For Business 2,795.87; Anoka County Treasury Office 2,380.00; Code 4 Services, Inc 36,102.81; Counties Providing Technology 6,894.00; Douglas County Auditor-Treasurer 8,429.08; Ellingson Plumbing Heating AC & Electrical 3,867.12; Glenwood Lutheran Church 2,400.00; Horizon Public Health 20,021.50; Minnesota Sheriffs Association 5,647.29; Motorola Solutions Inc 17,962.56; Northland Business Systems 3,468.20; Obenland & Nelson 5,675.00; Rinke-Noonan 13,754.91; Stevens County Sheriff’s Office 2,000.00; Villard Implement Company 4,400.00; 49 Payments less than 2000 20,478.15. A motion was made to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, and Carried Unanimously.

 Informational updates were given by the County Attorney, County Administrator, and Commissioners.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 10:57 AM.

Kersten Kappmeyer, 

County Administrator

Paul Gerde, 

Chair of the Board

Feb. 26