Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, September 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: Larry Lindor, Gordy Wagner, and Paul Wildman.  Board Member Paul Gremmels was not present.  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 August 20, 2024 were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings for August 20, 2024 as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Resolution 202422 to Amend the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Conservation Reserve Program Incentives Pilot Program Workplan FY2024 and Consider Resolution 202423 to Adopt and Implement the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Conservation Reserve Program Incentives Pilot Program Workplan FY2025 were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator, on behalf the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative. Motion to adopt Resolution 202422 Amending the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Conservation Reserve Program Incentives Pilot Program Workplan FY2024 as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to adopt Resolution 202423 Adopting and Implementing the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Conservation Reserve Program Incentives Pilot Program Workplan FY2025 as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously.

Scandinavian Lake Association Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grant Request was presented by Ralph Hanson, Land Use Specialist. Motion to approve the request from the Scandinavian Lake Association for Aquatic Invasive Species Grant funding in the amount of $2,700 for an aquatic vegetation survey, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Consider Resolution 202424 Amending the Pope County Land Use Controls Ordinance: Sections 2.2, 10.4, 10.12, 10.24 and 11 was presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director, Jessica Hill, Zoning Administrator. Motion to adopt Resolution 202424 amending sections 2.2, 10.4, 10.12, 10.24 and 11 of the Pope County Land Use Controls Ordinance, and cause the same to be published in accordance with law, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.

Conditional Use Permit 24196 for Shoreland Alteration (Lanoue Landscaping & Banks, Leven Township); Conditional Use Permit 24199 for Shoreland Alteration (Schmidgall, Glenwood Township); and Interim Use Permit 24220 for Workforce Housing (Strom & RD Offutt, Bangor Township) were presented by David Green, Land & Resource Management Director. Motion to approve the application of Lanoue Landscaping on behalf of Banks and issue the Conditional Use Permit for shoreland alteration consistent with the Planning Advisory Commission’s recommendation to approve with conditions and findings as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the application of Schmidgall and issue a Conditional Use Permit for shoreland alteration consistent with the recommendations presented in the PAC Staff Report, including the requirement of a detailed site plan establishing compliance of the lower retaining wall relative to the ordinary high water (OHW) mark and allowing for the access path and upper stairway as detailed in the site plan, and approving the CUP with the other conditions and findings as provided, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Advisory Commission, and approve Interim Use Permit 24220 of Strom on behalf of RD Offutt for workforce housing, resulting in an amendment to the previously-issued Conditional Use Permit 21170, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Tax Abatement – Parcel 24-8760-109 – Taxes Payable 2024 and Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements were presented by Stephanie Rust, Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve the 2024 tax abatement in the amount of $524.00 for John Conroy and Stacy Vonbank on Parcel #24-8760-109, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve payment of bills of $44,399.88 plus supplemental bills of $6,672.04 plus employee reimbursements of $2,262.03, totaling $53,333.95, made by Wagner and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: Visa $6,522.04; Morris Electronics Inc $14,565.49; New Horizons $2,702.93; Obenland & Nelson $5,675.00; Pro-West & Associates Inc $4,314.64; Rinke-Noonan $4,338.00; 41 Payments less than $2,000 $12,953.82. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Administrator and County Commissioners; the meeting was recessed by the Chair at 10:07 AM.

The Board reconvened at 10:19 AM for 2025 departmental budget hearing presentations from the Attorney, Auditor/Treasurer, Recorder, and Sheriff’s Offices.

There being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 11:07 AM. 

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Paul Gerde,

Chair of the Board

Sept. 23