Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 9:00 AM at the Pope County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Board Room, 130 E Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the Vice Chair, Paul Gerde, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, and Paul Wildman.  Commissioner and Chair Gordy Wagner was not present.  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 August 15, 2023 were presented by Vice Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for August 15, 2023 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Highway Department Monthly Report, Approve Out-of-State/International Travel (Highway Department), and Approve Final Payment SP 088-070-073 were presented by Brian Giese, Engineer. The Monthly Report was presented as an informational item. Motion to approve the requested out-of-state, international travel for County Engineer, Brian Giese to attend the Transport Research Arena in Dublin, Ireland as representative of the Local Road Research Board in April 2024, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept SP 088-070-073 as complete and authorize final payment in the amount of $88,551.09 to Sir Lines-A-Lot of Edina, MN as outlined in the final pay voucher, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. 

Consider Donation of Surplus Information Technology Equipment to the Pope County Humane Society, Accept Anonymous Donation of $100.00 to Pope County Veteran Services, and Request to Approve Retirement of Canine Officer were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to approve the donation of surplus Information Technology equipment, one Dell desktop unit, inventory #01251, to the Pope County Humane Society, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept an anonymous cash donation of $100 for the Veterans Memorial Day Program, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the retirement of canine officer Karma, and authorize execution of the agreement of retirement as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Consider Resolution 202317 on Classification of Forfeited Lands; and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to adopt Resolution 202317, setting the classification of forfeited lands as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $548,447.46 plus supplemental bills of $47.85 plus employee reimbursements of $1,320.29, totaling $549,815.60, made by Wildman and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: Echo Electric LLC 4,760.27; Fleet Charge 3,771.59; Hancock Concrete 7,392.00; L & O Acres Transport Inc 5,191.75; M-R Sign Co, Inc. 2,474.98; Obenland & Nelson 5,575.00; Prairie Lakes Youth Programs 11,315.00; Pro-West & Associates Inc 2,157.40; Rinke-Noonan 38,643.00; Safe Assure Consultants Inc 9,745.70; Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC 88,551.09; Texas Association of School Boards Inc 4,000.00; Towmaster Inc 322,910.00; US Records Midwest LLC 9,958.00; Wayne-N-Jean’s Evergreens 12,030.00; 43 Payments less than 2000 20,019.53.

Approval of the Per Diem Expense Reports was presented by Vice Chair Gerde. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Interim Use Permit: RV (Lesmeister, Leven Township); and Conditional Use Permit: Non-Farm Residence (Terhaar, Bangor Township) were presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director. Motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Advisory Commission and approve the issuance of an Interim Use Permit for RV to Lesmeister with findings as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Advisory Commission and approve issuance of the Conditional Use Permit for Non-Farm Residence to Terhaar with findings as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Attorney and County Administrator.

Conditional Use Permit: Non-Farm Residence (TeBrake, Gilchrist Township); and Conditional Use Permit: Non-Farm Residence (Terhaar, Bangor Township) were presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director. Motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Advisory Commission and approve issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for Non-Farm Residence to TeBrake with findings as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Advisory Commission and approve issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for Distillery to TeBrake with findings as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Commissioners.

The Vice Chair recessed the meeting at 10:07 AM, and called the meeting back to order at 10:21 AM.

2024 budget presentations were received from the County Attorney, Auditor/Treasurer, and Land and Resource Management offices.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Vice Chair at 11:27 AM.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Gordy Wagner,

Chair of the Board

Sept. 25