Official Proceedings Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting Tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2024
Public Notice | Published on January 13, 2025 at 12:14pm CST
Official Proceedings
Pope County
Board of Commissioners
Regular Board Meeting
Tuesday, DECEMBER 17, 2024
The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, December 17, 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; Approval of Official Proceedings for December 3, 2024; Approval of Official Proceedings for December 5, 2024 Truth in Taxation Meeting; and Execute Appointment Document and Administer the Oath of Office for the County Assessor were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for December 3, 2024 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for the December 5, 2024 Truth in Taxation Meeting as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. The Board Chair executed the appointment document for the County Assessor Michael Wacker for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2025, and the Auditor/Treasurer administered the Oath of Office to the Assessor.
Annual Assessor’s Clerical Change Update was presented as an informational update by Mike Wacker, Assessor.
Consider Resolution 202442 Supporting Acquisition of Land by Pope-Douglas Solid Waste Management and Authorizing a Proportional Special Appropriation for Acquisition was presented by Steve Vrchota, Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management. Motion to adopt Resolution 202442 supporting the land acquisition of Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management and granting the proportional special appropriation to Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management in the amount of $112,500 for the purpose of funding Pope County’s proportional cost for the purchase of property at the PDSWM waste to energy conversion facility site in Alexandria, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously.
Out-of-State Travel Request by County Recorder for Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) 2025 Winter Symposium in San Antonio, TX was presented by Sarah Green, Recorder. Motion to approve the request for out-of-state travel by the County Recorder, Sarah Green to attend the 2025 Winter Symposium hosted by PRIA in San Antonio, TX on March 4-6, 2025, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.
2025 Pope County Tobacco Retail License Review and Approvals was presented by Jessica Peterson, Horizon Public Health. Motion to approve the following 2025 Tobacco Retail Licenses as presented: American Legion Post #253 (Lowry); The Grog Shop (Glenwood); Minnewaska Liquor (Starbuck); Brother’s Market (Glenwood); Casey’s General Store #1740 Minnesota Ave. (Glenwood); Casey’s General Store #3660 (Starbuck); Casey’s General Store #4505 State Hwy 29 (Glenwood); Cenex Fuel Express (Glenwood); Cenex Fuel Express (Starbuck); Pope County Co-Op Oil Cenex (Villard); Tom’s Market (Glenwood); Water’s Edge (Starbuck); made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.
Consider Pope County Opioid Funding Application Request from Horizon Public Health (Media Campaign) and Review and Consider Delegation Memorandum of Agreement with Horizon Public Health for Cannabis Regulatory Activities were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to approve the application of Horizon Public Health for $11,856.66 in Opioid Settlement Funds in support of its proposed media campaign initiative as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve and authorize execution of the Memorandum of Agreement with Horizon Public Health delegating certain regulatory functions to Horizon for the purpose of local cannabis registrations, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.
Approval of 2025 Solid Waste Hauler Licenses was presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director. Motion to approve the issuance of licenses to Tom Kraemer, Inc.; Alex Rubbish & Recycling, Inc.; Engebretson & Sons Disposal Service, Inc.; Waste Management of MN, Inc.; Clark’s Service & Rental; and West Central Sanitation, Inc.; made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.
Consider Appointment of Board of Adjustment and Planning Advisory Commission Members; Consider Appointment of Pope County Housing and Redevelopment Authority-Economic Development Authority Member for District 5; and Consider Appointment of County Extension Committee Members were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to appoint the following members of the Board of Adjustment and Planning Advisory Commission for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027: Ted Kannegiesser (District 4), Kathy Christiansen (District 5), Mark Halls (At-Large), made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to reappoint Jason Rupp as the District 5 representative on the Pope County Housing and Redevelopment Authority – Economic Development Authority Board for a new term beginning January 1, 2025, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to appoint the following member to the County Extension Committee for new three-year terms beginning January 1, 2025: Sharon Braaten, District 3; and seek additional interested persons for appointment in District 1 and District 4 at a later date, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.
November 2024 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis; Year End Journal Entries and Transfers; Auditor Bills – November 13-December 10, 2024; and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the November 2024 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve year-end journal entries and transfers and direct the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office to make any year-end adjustments and transfers as needed, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Auditor Bills were presented as an informational item. Motion to approve payment of bills of $212,721.13 plus supplemental bills of $2,685.10 plus employee reimbursements of $4,208.00, totaling $219,614.23, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: American Solutions For Business $2,422.90; Arnquist Flooring $6,281.69; Counties Providing Technology $6,894.00; Douglas County Jail $10,342.99; Intereum Holdings LLC $7,503.59; Kiesler’s Police Supply Inc $2,011.98; Kris Engineering Inc $11,369.03; LVC Companies, Inc $4,510.00; Mn Counties Intergovernmental Trust/M $2,399.00; Motorola Solutions Inc $75,051.20; Prairie Lakes Youth Programs $11,280.00; Regents Of The University Of Minnesota $29,762.24; StoreMoreStore $4,262.90; Total Response $2,089.50; Visa $5,550.82; West Central Communications Inc $6,278.52; 50 payments less than $2000 $24,758.66.
Consider Resolution 202444 Approving the 2025 Pope County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Final Levy Amount; Consider Resolution 202445 Setting the 2025 Pope County Final Budget and Levy; Consider Resolution 202443 Recognizing the Pope County/Pope Soil and Water Conservation District Outstanding Conservationists for 2024; and Set 2025 County Board Meeting Schedule were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202444 approving the 2025 Pope County Housing and Redevelopment Authority budget and corresponding levy of $520,000 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202445 setting the 2025 final levy at $10,992,107, a 3.9% increase over the levy set for 2024, and a total budget of $20,989,810 in expenditures, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202443 recognizing Richard, Victoria, Paul, and Josie Syverson as Pope County/Pope County SWCD outstanding conservationists for 2024, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to set the 2025 County Board meeting schedule as follows, with all meetings to be held in the Pope County Courthouse Board Room, Third Floor, at 130 Minnesota Ave. E. in Glenwood: County Board meetings are set for the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m.; and Committee of the Whole meetings are to be held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m., except for the November COW meeting, which will be held Wednesday the 12th, and the December COW meeting, which will be held Friday the 12th, and the Truth in Taxation hearing to be held Thursday, December 4th at 6:00 p.m., made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously.
Informational updates were given by the County Administrator and County Commissioners, and there being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 10:35 AM.
Kersten Kappmeyer,
County Administrator
Larry Lindor,
Chair of the Board
Jan. 13
