Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, APRIL 2, 2024

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, April 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 Chair, Paul Gerde, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, Gordy Wagner, and Paul Wildman.  Neil Nelson, County Attorney; and Kersten Kappmeyer, County Administrator, were also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda and Approval of Official Proceedings for March 19, 2024 were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as amended, with the removal of item #12, Request of Sunrise Energy Ventures, and addition of item #18, Consider Authorization of Auditor/Treasurer and Land and Resource Management Office Renovation Project Expenses, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for March 19, 2024 as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. 

Introductions of New Employees was presented by Jackie Stevens, Human Resources Director. Judy Radil was introduced as a new employee in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office and welcomed to employment with the County. Another employee’s introduction was postponed to another meeting date.

A motion was made to open a public hearing at 9:03 a.m. on proposed Ordinance No. 202402, An Ordinance Regulating the Use of Cannabis in Public Places by Lindor, was seconded by Gremmels, and Carried Unanimously. Public comment was solicited and some was offered in support of the ordinance. A motion was made to close the public hearing at 9:10 a.m. by Wildman, was seconded by Lindor, and Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202411 enacting Ordinance 202402 Regulating the Use of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products in Public Places and Prohibiting the Use of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products by Those Under the Age of 21, and ordering the posting and publishing of a summary of the ordinance in accordance with law, made by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

A motion was made to open a public hearing at 9:12 a.m. on proposed Ordinance No. 202403, Regulating Dangerous, At-Large, and Nuisance Animals by Lindor, was seconded by Gremmels, and Carried Unanimously. Public comment was solicited and some was offered in support of the ordinance. A motion was made to close the public hearing at 9:19 a.m. by Lindor, was seconded by Wagner, and Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202412 enacting Ordinance 202403, Regulating Dangerous, At-Large, and Nuisance Animals in Pope County, and ordering the posting and publishing of a summary of the ordinance in accordance with law, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

A motion was made to open a public hearing at 9:21 a.m. on proposed Ordinance No. 202404, Repealing Outdated Provisions of the Pope County Environmental Health Administrative Ordinance by Lindor, was seconded by Wagner, and Carried Unanimously. Public comment was solicited by the Chair, and none was offered. A motion was made to close the public hearing at 9:23 a.m. by Wildman, was seconded by Gremmels, and Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202413 enacting Ordinance 202404 Repealing Outdated Provisions of the Pope County Environmental Health Administrative Ordinance, and ordering the posting and publishing of a summary of the ordinance in accordance with law, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Authorize Sale of Surplus Equipment was presented by Dave Orlowski, Highway Maintenance Supervisor. Motion to authorize the sale of surplus equipment (2009 International 7600) as equipped and in ‘as is’ condition to Reno Township in the amount of $30,000, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Resolution Approving Amendment of the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative FY 2022-23 Biennial Workplan; Consider Resolution Adopting and Implementing the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Incentives Pilot Program Workplan; and Consider Resolution Adopting and Implementing the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative FY 2022-23 Supplemental Watershed Based Implementation Funds (WBIF) Workplan were presented by Steve Zeece III, Sauk River Watershed District. Motion to approve Resolution 202414 Approving Amendment of the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative FY 2022-23 Biennial Workplan as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202415 Adopting and Implementing the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Incentives Pilot Program Workplan as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202416 Adopting and Implementing the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative FY 2022-23 Supplemental Watershed Based Implementation Funds (WBIF) Workplan as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. 

Tax Abatement – Parcel 05-0016-000 – Taxes Payable 2024 and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the 2024 tax abatement in the amount of $2,320.00 for Sharla Anderson on Parcel #05-0016-000, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $77,827.58 plus supplemental bills of $1,601.56 plus employee reimbursements of $59.60, totaling $79,488.74, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $77,827.58 plus supplemental bills of $1,601.56 plus employee reimbursements of $59.60, totaling $79,488.74, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: Brownies Tire 2,342.82; CDW Government Inc 2,136.00; Election Systems & Software, Inc. 2,783.44; Ellingson Plumbing Heating AC & Electrical 12,992.00; Fidlar Technologies Inc 3,637.00; L & O Acres Transport Inc 18,057.14; Pro-West & Associates Inc 4,830.73; Softree Technical Systems Inc 4,570.00; St Cloud/City Of 10,935.21; Stalker Radar Applied Concepts Inc 3,555.00; Wildman Electric Inc. 3,470.38; 19 payments less than  2000 10,119.42.. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Authorization of Auditor/Treasurer and Land and Resource Management Office Renovation Project Expenses  was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. A motion to grant authority to the Administrator in consultation with the Facilities Committee to authorize expenditures of up to $120,000 from Fund 31 Capital Improvement Balances toward renovation of Auditor/Treasurer and Land and Resource Management office space in the Courthouse to better accommodate election and customer activity, including the authority to enter into agreements and accept quotes for work within the scope of the renovation project, was made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman. The Chair called a brief recess at 9:52 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:00 a.m.  There being no further discussion on the pending motion, the motion then Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Attorney, County Administrator, and County Commissioners, and there being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 10:21 AM.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Paul Gerde,

Chair of the Board

April 22