Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, MARCH 21, 2023

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 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, Gordy Wagner, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gerde, Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, 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 March 7, 2023 were presented by the Board Chair. Motion to approve the agenda, with the addition of “Consider Resolution Supporting the Family Homeless Assistance and Prevention Program Grant by West Central Minnesota Communities Action” as Item #3, and “Authorization of Boiler Replacement for Courthouse Sally Port” as Item #13, made by Gerde and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for March 7, 2023, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. 

Consider Resolution Supporting the Family Homeless Assistance and Prevention Program Grant Application Submitted by West Central Minnesota Communities Action was presented by Amber Holmstrom, WCMCA Housing Coordinator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202305 Supporting the Family Homeless Assistance Program Grant Application Submitted by West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. for the Grant Term of October 2023 to September 2025, made by Lindor and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Agreement with Prairie Lakes Youth Placement for Juvenile Detention Services was presented by Terry Jaworski, Probation Director. Motion to authorize the Chair to execute the proposed agreement with Prairie Lakes Youth Programs of Willmar for one guaranteed juvenile bed at the cost of $365 per day as presented, made by Gerde and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Award Contract – SAP 061-622-013 and SAP 061-629-017; Approve Ad for Bids – CP  2023:27, CP 2023:28, and CP 2023:30; Approve Ad for Bids – SAP 061-615-008; and Consider Resolution Supporting an Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Application for Remonumentation Activities were presented by Brian Giese, Engineer. Motion to award a contract to Mark Sand & Gravel of Fergus Falls in the amount of $932,058.80 based on planned quantities and unit prices for the construction of SAP 061-622-013 and SAP 061-629-017, made by Gerde and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the advertisement for bids for the completion of CP 2023:27, CP 2023:28, and 2023:30 as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the advertisement for bids for the construction of SAP 061-615-008 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Discussion was held on the proposed resolution to pursue a grant application for remonumentation activities, including about current monuments, costs, risks, property access, and legal obligations, after which no action was taken.

Consider Additional Appropriation to Pope County HRA-EDA for Professional Services Related to Fremad Redevelopment Project; Consider Resolution Establishing the Pope County Opioid Task Force; Consider Resolution Authorizing Pope County Staff to Execute All Necessary Documents to Ensure Pope County’s Participation in the Multistate Settlements Relating to Opioid Supply Chain Participants, and in the Minnesota Opioids State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement; Consider Resolution Declaring Pope County Holidays Per Minnesota Law Including Juneteenth; and Authorization of Boiler Replacement for Courthouse Sally Port were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to approve additional appropriation of $21,040.48 for professional environmental and recordation services costs to the Pope County HRA-EDA for work to be performed by Enviro-safe, Inc. of Cushing, in relation to environmental work as specified in the work proposal, and by Arch3, LLC of St. Paul in relation to recordation work as specified in the work proposal, as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202306 Establishing the Pope County Opioid Task Force as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202307 Authorizing Pope County Staff to Execute All Necessary Documents to Ensure Pope County’s Participation in the Multistate Settlement Related to Opioid Supply Chain Participants, made by Gerde and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202308 Declaring Pope County Holidays per Minnesota Law Including Juneteenth as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Motion to authorize acceptance of the quote from Ellingson Plumbing, Heating, A/C, and Electrical of Alexandria for replacement of the Courthouse sally port boiler in the amount of $11,196.00, to be paid for from Fund 31 capital improvement funds, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Commissioner Request for Approval of Out-of-State Travel to National Association of Counties Convention  was presented by Larry Lindor, Commissioner. Motion to approve out-of-state travel of Commissioner Lindor to the National Association of Counties Convention, July 21 to 24, 2023 in Travis County, Texas, made by Wildman and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. 

February 2023 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis; Auditor Bills –  February 15 – March 14, 2023; and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the February 2023 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis, made by Lindor and seconded by Gerde, Carried Unanimously. Auditor Bills were presented as an informational item. Motion to approve payment of bills of $108,198.75 plus supplemental bills of $1,985.01 plus per diems and employee reimbursements of $3,545.21, totaling $113,728.97, made by Gerde and seconded by Gremmels, 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 11:47 AM.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Gordy Wagner, 

Chair of the Board

April 10