Lake of the Woods County Board Commissioners Meeting Proceedings

                                                                     April 8, 2025     

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with changes: Add: Legislative Update, Assessors Office Values Update.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of March 25, 2025.

SOCIAL SERVICES Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $139,726.62; Commissioners Warrants $2,793.07; Commissioners Warrants $15,517.42.

Auditor/Treasurer Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $76,934.60; Road & Bridge $37,816.51; County Development $200.00; Solid Waste $11,892.90.

PILT Letter Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the drafted letter to the Govenor and Legislators regarding proposed cuts on PILT payments.

Planning Commission Board Appointment Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously with Commissioner Buck Nordlof abstaining, to appoint Tim Nordlof to the Planning Commission Board.

Arrowhead Library Appointment Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to appoint Deb Perala to the Arrowhead Library Board with Woody Fiala as an alternate.

Board of Equalization Meeting Date Change Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to change the BOE meeting date from June 23, 2025 to June 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

Public Works Permission to Advertise, Interview, & Hire PT Seasonal Help Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the request to advertise, interview, & hire PT seasonal help for Highway and Mowing projects.

Updates County Engineer Anthony Pirkl gave an update on various Highway projects.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following IUP/Findings of Fact #25-02IU by 623, LLC (Steven & Amy Olson) to operate a short-term vacation rental in a Rural Residential Development Zoning District (R2) with conditions:

Consideration of Preliminary Plat of Youngs Bay Mancaves by YBMC, LLC The East 165.00 feet of the West 198.00 feet of Government Lot 3, Section Twenty-five (25), Township One Hundred Sixty-eight (168) North, Range Thirty-four (34) West (Angle), Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota, except the South 290.00 feet thereof, Parcel ID# 02.25.24.020. Applicant is requesting to create a planned unit development consisting of twelve (12) storage units.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the request by YBMC, LLC to create a planned unit development consisting of twelve (12) storage units with conditions.

Consideration of Preliminary Plat Baudette Mancaves by GWE, LLC The East½East½NW¼NE¼, Section Twenty-seven (27), Township One Hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range Thirty-two (32) West – Parcel ID# 19.27.12.010. Applicant is requesting to create a planned unit development consisting of twelve (12) storage units.Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the request by GWE, LLC to create a planned unit development consisting of twelve (12) storage units with conditions.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to amend the administrative variance process in the LOTW County Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Ordinance.

Human Resources Salary Approval Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve Wyatt Shaw at a dispatch wage Grade 12, Step 1, $24.84 per hour for training prior to becoming Deputy Sheriff all contingent upon passing required testing.

Legislative Update Commissioner Ed Arnesen gave a brief legislative update regarding jail bonding and safe boats.

2024 LOTW County Feedlot Report Mike Hirst reviewed the 2024 Feedlot Annual Report

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the 2024 LOTW County Feedlot Report and for Chair Jon Waibel to sign the same.

Old/New Business-Unused Wells The board discussed the progress of sealing unused wells with Mike Hirst.

Public Hearing Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting and open the public hearing.

Small Cities Grant Application Northwest Community Action Representative Diane Hayes reviewed the small cities grant and requirements.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to close the public hearing and open the regular meeting.

Resolution The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the following:

BE IT RESOLVED that Lake of the Woods County act as the legal sponsor for the project contained in the application to be submitted on April 16, 2025 and that the Chairman and the County Auditor are hereby authorized to apply to the Department of Employment and Economic Development for funding of this project on behalf of Lake of the Woods County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Lake of the Woods County has the legal authority to apply for financial assistance, and the institutional, managerial and financial capability to ensure adequate construction, operation, maintenance and replacement of the proposed project for its design life. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Lake of the Woods County has not violated any Federal, State or local laws pertaining to fraud, bribery, graft, kickbacks, collusion, conflict of interest or other unlawful or corrupt practice. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon approval of its application by the State, Lake of the Woods County may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the approved project, and that Lake of the Woods County certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in all contract agreements.NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chairman and County Auditor, or their successors in office, are hereby authorized to execute such agreements, and amendments thereto, as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the applicant.

Lake of the Woods Cannabis Company Brittney Peterson from Lake of the Woods Cannabis Company gave an update regarding the application submission and approval process for cannabis businesses.

Recess A brief recess took place at 10:25a.m. and reconvened at 11:40a.m.

Assessors Values Update County Assessor Alisa Jacobsen gave an update on property values and sales in the area.

Set Work Session Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to set an IT work session following the April 22, 2025 board meeting.

Adjourn Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 12:05 p.m.