SYNOPSIS OF COUNTY BOARD MEETING
December 16, 2008
Members present: Seeboth, Berg, Guggisberg, Lochner and Potter, along with
County Administrator Enter, County Attorney Olson and District 3 Commissioner-Elect
Dove.
M/Berg, S/Seeboth, to accept the Minutes of 2-2-08 and authorize publication of
the Synopsis of same, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Potter, to schedule a Closed Session for labor negotiation
strategy planning to be held in the Commissioners Room 204 of the Brown County
Courthouse, New Ulm, MN at approximately 0:30 AM this date 2- 6-08 for the Law
Enforcement Labor Services, Inc. (LELS) Locals #94 and #98 and for the two (2)
AFSCME Collective Bargaining Units (Courthouse and ighway) pursuant to MS
3D.03, carried.
At 9:02 AM, State Senator Dennis Frederickson met with the County Board and
various department heads to discuss pending legislative issues including: Forecasted
state revenue short-fall through 6-30-09 and for state FY 20 0-20 , and possible
effects on local units of government; the Association of Minnesota Counties proposal
for Minnesota Redesign regarding Governance, Flexibility and Transparency;
suggestions for revision of the Green Acres assessment law; concern of cost shifts to
local units of government; levy limit legislation; Drug & Gang Task Force fundingneed
for special levy authorization; evaluating mandates on local units of government; Drug
Court; Public ealth issues; Family Services issues; Probation Agent funding;
Transportation; and Workforce concerns. Chairman Lochner thanked Senator
Frederickson for attending the County Board meeting and for his service in the
Minnesota State Senate.
M/Guggisberg, S/Berg, to authorize the payment of General Government claims in
the amount of $ 86,909.75, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Seeboth, to approve the following Liquor Licenses requested by
the River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club, Inc.: 3.2 Liquor License at their
clubhouse location of 24927 Main St. Essig, MN in Milford Township for the period of
- -09 thru 6-30-09; and a "One Day" Liquor License on -24-09 at the Golden Gate
Campground located in ome Township, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Potter, to schedule the date for the 2009 County Board of Appeal
(BOA) and Equalization Meeting for 6- 6-09 at 9 AM in the Commissioner Room 204
of the Brown County Courthouse, with the Board continuing the BOA and
Equalization Meeting at 6:30 PM on 6-22-08, carried.
M/Berg, S/Seeboth, to approve the Multi (2) Lot Preliminary Plat Application #P-00098
by FORMTEXT Lynn & Jane Ahlness known as Ahlness Third Subdivision on
property described as FORMTEXT Lot Block Ahlness Second Subdivision, Sec.
3-T 08N-R3 W, Lake anska Township, Brown County. Property being platted is an
existing farmstead. Owners would like to separate house & garage from existing farm
use buildings, with ( ) condition listed, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Potter, to approve the Final Plat single lot split by Verlin Goering
known as Goering First Subdivision on property described as being in Sec.
22T 0NR3 W, Milford Township, Brown County Minnesota, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Potter, to schedule a public hearing for the proposed Brown County
Park Ordinance revisions as recommended by the Park Commission for 0 AM on -20-
09 in the Commissioners Room 204 of the Brown County Courthouse, New Ulm,
MN, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Potter, to approve using Park Director Laine Sletta as the
"authorized agent" for the MN DNR open waters permit application and WCA no
loss/exemption application for the project to remove sediment from the Mound Creek
County Park south sediment basin/pond, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Potter, to authorize an amount of $ ,000 from the Water Plan
fund to be designated to Brown Nicollet Community ealth as funding support for the
Children's Water Festival, carried.
At 0:37 AM, Chairman Lochner convened a Closed Session for Labor Negotiation
Strategy Planning, pursuant to M.S. 3D.03, for the LELS, Inc. Locals #94 and #98
Sheriff's Department Collective Bargaining Units; and for the two (2) AFSCME
Collective Bargaining Units (Courthouse and ighway). This session was attended
by Commissioners Seeboth, Berg, Guggisberg, Lochner and Potter, along with
County Administrator Enter, County Attorney Olson, Sheriff offmann,
Commissioner-Elect Dove, Personnel Director Crabtree, and Attorney Frank Madden
via telephone at 0:38 AM. The Closed Session adjourned at 0:55 AM.
M/Berg, S/Seeboth, to approve the following three (3) contracts with New Ulm
Medical Center for calendar year 2009: Consolidated Chemical Dependency
Treatment Fund Purchase of Service and ost County Contract; Addendum Use,
Occupancy and Support Services Agreement related to rental of space at the Bridge
on Center building by NUMC; and Letter of Agreement Between New Ulm Medical
Center and Brown County Family Services for the participation of Dave Schaetzke,
Licensed Psychologist, on the Brown County Pre-Placement Team, carried.
At AM, Representative-Elect Paul Torkelson met with the County Board and
various department heads to discuss pending legislative issues including: Forecasted
state revenue short-fall and potential effects on local government; pending revenue
un-allotment by the Governor; concern of cost shifts to local units of government; the
Association of Minnesota Counties proposal for Minnesota Redesign regarding
Governance, Flexibility and Transparency; Family Services issues; levy limit
legislation; Drug & Gang Task Force funding and need for special levy authorization;
Green Acres pending revisions; Drug Court; Public ealth issues; Need for an alcohol
fee for detox costs; Transportation; evaluating mandates on local units of government;
and Workforce concerns. Chairman Lochner thanked Representative-Elect Torkelson
for attending the County Board meeting to review county legislative concerns.
At :54 AM, Chairman Lochner recessed the meeting and the County Board
participated in a Brown County istorical Society luncheon, and reconvened at : 5
PM.
M/Seeboth, S/Berg, to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between Brown
County Public ealth and the Brown County Sheriff's Office for continued health
services at the jail for the period of - -09 thru 2-3 - 0, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Guggisberg, to accept the quote received from Treat's ome Center
in the amount of $2,757.49 (includes sales tax) for the installation of C. and A. Allstar
carpet in Dayroom "B" and "C" in the Brown County Jail; and the quote for carpet
installation received from Paul enle Installation in the amount of $848, with funding
provided by the non-levy Jail Commissions Account, carried. An additional quote was
received from New Ulm Furniture.
M/Berg, S/Potter, to authorize the implementation of a Pay to Stay County Jail
Program effective - -09 for sentenced inmates in the Brown County Jail per
Minnesota Statute 64 . 2, Subd. 3 with a fee of $20 per day assessed to straight time
Brown County inmates; and to enter into a contract with Financial Consultants
Company, Inc., Foley, MN, to collect unpaid inmate accounts, carried. It should be
noted the unpaid accounts would include pay to stay, medical, dental, and any other
correctional services provided that can be charged back to the inmate.
M/Seeboth, S/Potter, to accept and file the January-November 2008 Budget
Report (Cash Basis and Unaudited) which reflects activity at 9 .7% of the budget
year as follows: expenditures of $23,522,200.32 or 93. %, and revenues of
$23,98 ,95 .43 or 95.4%; and the November 2008 Supplemental Budgets Report
noting expenditures of $ ,76 ,025.37 or 4.4%, and revenues of $ ,572,067.67 or
4.7% of annual budgeted activity, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Potter, to adopt the certified levy for 2009, in the amount of
$ 0,823,757 resulting in a 6. 9% increase from the 2008 certified levy; and to adopt
the 2009 Brown County Budget for revenues and expenditures in the amount of
$27,50 ,382 which resulted in a 8.8% increase from 2008; and instructed the County
Administrator to both certify the adopted levy to the Brown County Auditor/Treasurer
and submit the summary of the adopted 2009 Brown County Budget for publication,
carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Berg, to accept and file the following Public ealth Update: Advisory
Committee Meeting Minutes; " eart of New Ulm" Community ealth Promotion
Project; Community ealth Assessment and Action Plan (C AAP) Proposed Timeline
and Plan; Statewide ealth Improvement Project (S IP); Community Engagement
Collaborative; Agency Evaluation; ome ealth Aide and omemakers Positions
Offered; MSU Student Reflection; MN Train Software Program; and Medical
omes/ ealth Care omes, carried.
M/Berg, S/Potter, to set the date of Wednesday afternoon on 2- 8-09 for the Public
ealth Annual Meeting, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Potter, to approve the appointment of Robin Bandow and Alice
illesheim as the Regular PT omemakers for the Public ealth Department at the
hourly rate of $9.7 27 (Grade V, Entry) contingent on passage of the pre-placement
physical and with a projected start date of -5-09, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Berg, to approve the appointment of Amber Roesch as Long Term
Temporary Regular PT (Average 32 hrs/wk) Juvenile Work Crew Leader at the hourly
rate of $ 5.895 effective 2-29-08, carried. Projected long term temporary
appointment is to fill a vacated position due to a military leave.
M/Berg, S/Potter, to approve regular employee status for Rich Ruch, FT General
Foreman, carried.
M/Berg, S/Seeboth, to deny the request for an Employee Education Grant Program
as suggested by the Personnel Policy Committee, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Guggisberg, to approve Res. No. 2008-28 Adopting the Revised
Version of the Employee Personnel Policy for the County of Brown, Minnesota,
carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Potter, to approve the following 2009 Supplemental Budgets: Law
LibraryRev. and Exp.: $20,950; Sheriff ContingentRev. and Exp.: $9,000;
Snowmobile SafetyRev. and Exp.: $3,56 ; Jail CommissionRev. and Exp.: $9,000;
9 Emergency Tele.Rev. and Exp.: $ 4,975; Septic Loan Prog.-$368, 86; Building
FundRev. $9, 45 and Exp. $7,568; Ditch FundRev. and Exp.: $3 8, 89; Landfill
Fund-Rev. $924,050 and Exp. $839,477; SCORERev. $89, 55 and Exp. $72,847,
carried.
M/Berg, S/Potter, to accept and file the following ighway Department Monthly
Update: 2008 Construction Projects Update; Future Construction Projects Update;
and Maintenance Projects Update, carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Potter, to approve the 2009 Departmental Conference Schedules
and Association/Membership Dues Listing, understanding that further review is
pending with respect to state funding reductions to Brown County, carried.
M/Berg, S/Seeboth, to designate $2,000,000 to the following funds for cash flow
purposes in the year 2009 - Revenue Fund: $750,000; Family Services: $750,000;
and Road and Bridge: $500,000; and to designate the following reserves for specific
purposes - Revenue Fund: $70,000 for Vested Comp Accruals, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Berg, to schedule a public hearing for 0:00 AM on -6-09 for
miscellaneous fees additions/revisions pursuant to MS 373.4 , carried.
M/Guggisberg, S/Lochner, to accept the quote received in the amount of $ 7,455
from Chuck Spaeth Ford, Inc. for a 2009 Ford Fusion SE (vehicle fully meets
requested specifications) replacement automobile for the agency mental health
needs using South Central Community Based Initiative funds, carried. Additional
quotes were received from the following: Bob Schuck Chevrolet-2009 Chevrolet
Malibu LT; Jensen Motors, Inc.-2009 Pontiac G6; Kohls Weelborg-2009 Chevrolet
Malibu LT; and Maday Motors-2009 Dodge Avenger SE (vehicle not fully meeting
requested specifications).
M/Berg, S/Potter, to authorize selling the current 2006 Ford Taurus (blue) to Sioux
Trails Mental ealth Center for $6,775 per the blue book value pending Sioux Trails
Mental ealth Board approval, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Potter, to authorize the payment of Family Services administrative
claims in the amount of $ 7,435.44, carried.
M/Seeboth, S/Lochner, to approve a salary in the amount of $9 ,200 effective - -09
for the Brown County Family Services Director, with respect to the responsibilities
and duties of the Family Services Director and Family Services Director enderson's
experience, qualifications, and performance, carried, with Berg and Potter dissenting.
M/Seeboth, S/Lochner, to approve a salary in the amount of $94,250 effective - -09
for the Brown County ighway Engineer, with respect to the responsibilities and
duties of the ighway Engineer and Engineer Steven's experience, qualifications, and
performance, carried, with Berg and Potter dissenting.
M/Seeboth, S/Lochner, to approve a salary in the amount of $93,700 effective - -09
for the Brown County Administrator, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes (MS) 375A.06
and the Employment Agreement dated 9- 6-97, and with respect to the
responsibilities and duties of the County Administrator and Administrator Enter's
experience, qualifications, and performance, carried, with Berg and Potter dissenting.
Pursuant to MS 387.20, and with respect to the responsibilities and duties of the
Sheriff's Office and Sheriff offmann's experience, qualifications, and performance,
M/Seeboth, S/Lochner, to approve the 2009 Brown County Sheriff salary of $79,500,
carried, with Berg and Potter dissenting.
Pursuant to MS 386.0 5 and with respect to responsibilities and duties of the
County Recorder's Office and Recorder Kamolz's experience, qualifications, and
performance, M/Seeboth, S/Lochner, to approve the 2009 Brown County Recorder
salary of $59,750, carried, with Berg and Potter dissenting.
Pursuant to MS 384. 5 and 385.373, and with respect to the responsibilities and
duties of the Auditor/Treasurer's Office and A/T elget's experience, qualifications,
and performance, M/Seeboth to approve the 2009 Brown County Auditor/Treasurer
salary of $78,000, motion died for lack of a second to the motion.
Thereafter, pursuant to MS 384. 5 and 385.373, and with respect to the
responsibilities and duties of the Auditor/Treasurer's Office and A/T elget's
experience, qualifications, and performance, M/Guggisberg, S/Seeboth, to approve
the 2009 Brown County Auditor/Treasurer salary of $77,330, motion failed, with
Potter, Berg and Lochner dissenting.
Thereafter, pursuant to MS 384. 5 and 385.373, and with respect to the
responsibilities and duties of the Auditor/Treasurer's Office and A/T elget's
experience, qualifications, and performance, M/Seeboth, S/Guggisberg, to approve
the 2009 Brown County Auditor/Treasurer salary of $77,000, motion failed, with Berg,
Potter and Lochner dissenting.
Thereafter, pursuant to MS 384. 5 and 385.373, and with respect to the
responsibilities and duties of the Auditor/Treasurer's Office and A/T elget's
experience, qualifications, and performance, M/Seeboth to approve the 2009 Brown
County Auditor/Treasurer salary of $76,000, motion died for lack of a second to the
motion.
Thereafter, pursuant to MS 384. 5 and 385.373, and with respect to the
responsibilities and duties of the Auditor/Treasurer's Office and A/T elget's
experience, qualifications, and performance, M/Berg, S/Potter, to approve the 2009
Brown County Auditor/Treasurer salary at the same level as in 2008 which is $75,075,
carried, with Seeboth and Guggisberg dissenting.
M/Potter, S/Berg, to approve the salary for County Commissioners for 2009 at the
same level as in 2008 which is $20,750; to continue the $500 additional salary in 2009
for the Brown County Board Chair; and to continue the per diem for County
Commissioners at $75 in 2009, carried, with Guggisberg and Lochner dissenting.
M/Berg, S/Seeboth, to approve the 2009 Brown County Committee Appointments
Listing noting that County Commissioner representation on Judicial Ditch Authorities
will be added to the list consistent with previous Board action, carried.
At 3: 4 PM, Chairman Lochner convened a Closed Session to consider Social
Services Payments, whereupon M/Seeboth, S/Berg, to authorize the payment of
Social Services payments in the amount of $288,564.22, carried.
Correspondence C- thru C- 2 were accepted and filed.
Berg reported on the Board of Equalization training received at the AMC Annual
Conference 2-8/ 0-08; Guggisberg reported on the Adult Drug Court Steering
Committee meeting on 2- 2-08; on the AMC Redesign Project meeting with the New
Ulm Journal Editor on 2- 5-08; and on MRCI matters; and Potter reported on the
RCRCA meeting of 2- 5-08.
Calendars were coordinated for the next two week period.
There being no further business, Chairman Lochner declared the Meeting
adjourned at 3:33 PM.
The Official Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Dec. 6, 2008, are on file in the
County Administrator's Office and may be viewed during normal business hours, M-F,
8AM-5PM. Correspondence and requests for additional information may be
directed to the County Administrator's E-Mail Address: YPERLINK
mailto:county.administrator@mail.co.brown.mn.uscntyadmn@co.brown.mn.us
Home Page Address: HYPERLINK www.co.brown.mn.uswww.co.brown.mn.us.