Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2024

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, July 16, 2024 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, was also present.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda and Approval of Official Proceedings for August 6, 2024 were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as amended, with the addition of July 2024 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis as #10 and Authorize Application by Pope County for a Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative Grant for Third Floor Security Improvements as #13, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for August 6, 2024 as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

State of Minnesota Snowmobile Safety Enforcement (SSE) Grant; State of Minnesota Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Grant; Consider Purchase of 40mm Less Lethal Weapons; and Consider Replacement of Glock Duty Weapons were presented by Tim Riley, Sheriff. Motion to accept the 2024-2025 State of Minnesota Snowmobile Safety Enforcement Grant and execute the agreement for $2,113 for FY 2024 and $2,113 for FY 2025 as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept the 2024-2025 State of Minnesota Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Enforcement Grant and execute the agreement for $5,285 for FY 2024 and $5,285 for FY 2025 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve requested purchase of 40mm less lethal weapons at an estimated cost of $24,000 from County Public Safety Funds as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve requested purchase of Glock 9mm handguns at an estimated cost of $14,000 from County Public Safety Funds as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.

Final Project Acceptance and Payment – SAP 061-608-008 was presented by Brian Giese, Engineer. Motion to accept SAP 061-608-008 as complete and authorize the final contract payment to Midwest Contracting, LLC of Marshall, MN in the amount of $22,516.65, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Set General Election Canvassing; Consider State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement for the 2024 General Election; 

July 2024 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis; Auditor Bills – July 10 – August 13, 2024; and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to set the General Election Canvassing for November 13, 2024 at 10:30am in the Pope County Courthouse Board Room and appoint Commissioner Gremmels and Commissioner Wildman to serve on the Canvassing Board, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement for the 2024 General Election as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the July 2024 Trial Balance and Fund Analysis as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Auditor Bills were presented as an informational item. Motion to approve payment of bills of $168,864.89 plus supplemental bills of $139,339.56 plus employee reimbursements of $2,578.27, totaling $310,782.72, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC $137,794.52; Cloudpermit Inc $2,000.00; Counties Providing Technology $6,974.00; Douglas County Jail $12,678.35; LVC Companies, Inc $2,475.12; M-R Sign Co, Inc. $2,205.70; Marthaler $8,002.38; Midwest Contracting LLC $22,516.65; Prairie Lakes Youth Programs $11,656.00; Rinke-Noonan $24,886.00; SHI International Corp $26,405.42; Stevens County Highway Department $8,045.55; Taylor Print Impressions $8,704.10; Texas Association of School Boards Inc $4,000.00; Villard Implement Company $9,671.40; 40 payments less than $2000 $20,189.26.

Authorize Application by Pope County for a Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative Grant for Third Floor Security Improvements was presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator; Terry Jaworski, Probation Director and Safety Committee Chair. Motion to authorize the submission by Pope County of a Minnesota Judicial Branch Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative Grant for Third Floor Security Improvements at the Courthouse as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Administrator and County Commissioners; the meeting was recessed by the Chair at 10:27 AM.

The Board reconvened at 10:39 AM for 2025 departmental budget hearing presentations from the Assessor, Veteran Services, and Information Technology Departments, followed by 2025 outside appropriation requests by the Pope County Humane Society and Pope County Agricultural Society.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 11:17 AM. 

Kersten Kappmeyer, 

County Administrator

Paul Gerde, 

Chair of the Board

Sept. 9