Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday,DECEMBER 3, 2024

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, December 3, 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.  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 November 19, 2024 were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as amended, removing item #9 on Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management Appropriation and adding in its place Legislative Visit with Representative Paul Anderson, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for November 19, 2024 as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.

Introduction of New Employee was presented by Jackie Stevens, Human Resources Director. Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Bertek was introduced to the Board and welcomed to employment with Pope County.

Motion to open the duly-noticed Public Hearing on proposed Ordinance 202405 regulating cannabis businesses and events in Pope County and a proposed amendment of the Pope County Land Use Controls Ordinance regarding location of cannabis businesses and events, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. The Public Hearing was opened at 9:03 AM. Comments on the proposed ordinance and amendment were made by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator; and David Green, Land and Resource Management Director. Commissioners posed questions and discussed the two proposals. Public comment was solicited by the Chair, and none was offered. Motion to close the Public Hearing, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. The Public Hearing was closed at 9:28 AM.

Consider Resolution 202434 Enacting Pope County Ordinance 202405 Regulating Cannabis Businesses and Events in Pope County; Consider Resolution 202435 Enacting the Amendments to the Pope County Land Use Controls Ordinance Regulating the Location of Cannabis Businesses and Events in Pope County; and Consider Adoption of the 2025 Pope County Fee Schedule were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202434 enacting Ordinance 202405 Regulating Cannabis Businesses and Events in Pope County as presented, and directing the County Administrator to publish and codify the ordinance in accordance with law, made by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202435 enacting the amendments to the Land Use Controls Ordinance Regulating the Location of Cannabis Businesses and Events in Pope County as presented, and directing the County Administrator to publish and codify the ordinance in accordance with law, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. As summaries, pursuant to Minn. Stat. secs. 331A.01 and 375.51; Ordinance No. 202405 specifically provides for the regulation of cannabis businesses and events in Pope County the manner local governments are allowed by Minnesota Statutes, and also establishes and defines registration processes for cannabis businesses and sets certain requirements and limitations for operation of cannabis businesses and events; the LUCO Amendment provides land use regulations applicable to cannabis businesses and events, defines where such businesses or events are permitted or prohibited, and establishes what permits and standards apply to those land uses where permitted. Copies of the ordinances are available for public inspection on the County’s public website at www.popecountymn.gov, in the offices of the Pope County Administrator or Land and Resource Management during normal business hours, or upon request by calling 320-634-7704.

Motion to adopt the Pope County Fee Schedule for 2025 as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Pope County AIS Action Plan for 2025 was presented by Ralph Hanson, Land Use Specialist. Motion to approve the proposed Pope County AIS Action Plan for 2025 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. 

Representative Paul Anderson was in attendance at the Board meeting for a visit and discussion with the Board regarding the prior and upcoming sessions at the Minnesota Legislature, and discussion of County priorities and concerns.

The Highway Department Monthly Update was presented by Brian Giese, Engineer, as an informational item.

Consider Resolution 202436 Setting the Salary of the County Attorney for 2025; Consider Resolution 202437 Setting the Salary of the County Auditor/Treasurer for 2025; Consider Resolution 202438 Setting the Salary of the County Recorder for 2025; and Consider Resolution 202439 Setting the Salary of the County Sheriff for 2025 were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202436, setting the 2025 salary of the County Attorney at $132,139 at 0.92 FTE time, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202437 setting the 2025 salary of the County Auditor/Treasurer at $110,324, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202438 setting the 2025 salary of the County Recorder at $93,900, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202439 setting the 2025 salary of the County Sheriff at $158,250, of which $5,000 is granted in compensation for Emergency Management services, made by Gremmels and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. 

Resignation of the Pope County Sheriff was presented by Jackie Stevens, Human Resources Director. Motion to accept the resignation of Pope County Sheriff Tim Riley, effective March 31, 2025, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. After Sheriff Riley addressed the Board, the Board congratulated Sheriff Riley on his upcoming retirement, and recognized and thanked Sheriff Riley for his 34 years of service in law enforcement in Pope County and his service most recently as County Sheriff.

Consider Resolution 202440 Setting 2025 Non-Union Wages and Salaries; Consider Resolution 202441 Setting 2025 Pope County Commissioner Compensation; Solicitation of Proposals for Pope County Official Newspaper for 2025; and Consider Revision of Personnel Management Policy Provisions, Section 6, Related to 2025 Earned Sick and Safe Time Law were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202440 setting 2025 salaries and wages for Pope County non-union employees as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202441 setting 2025 compensation for Pope County Commissioners in the amount of $25,600, cafeteria plan payments as paid to other County employees, and a per diem of $100, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to direct the County Administrator to solicit bids or quotes for publication of the County’s official proceedings or summaries thereof and for publication of other legal notices for the year 2025, to be awarded and thereby designated as the official newspaper for Pope County for 2025 at the Board’s first regular meeting in January, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve revisions to the Personnel Management Policy related to Earned Sick and Safe Time in conformance with Minnesota law as enacted by the 2024 legislative session, effective January 1, 2025, as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. 

Pay Bills and Employee Reimbursements was presented by Kelly Detloff, Chief Deputy Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve payment of bills of $80,487.41 plus employee reimbursements of $460.83, totaling $80,948.24, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: Brownies Tire $2,438.55; Galls LLC $2,005.31; Obenland & Nelson $5,675.00; Pro-West & Associates Inc $39,241.33; Streicher’s $16,632.17; 37 Payments less than $2000 $14,372.78. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Attorney, Administrator, and Commissioners, and there being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 10:47 AM.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Paul Gerde, 

Chair of the Board

Dec. 23