The Polk County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday morning at the Polk County Government Center.
ASSESSOR-MARK LANDSVERK
The board was first approached by County Assessor Mark Landsverk, who came forward with an Abatement request from Mabel Joan Mosher in Beltrami for $5,902 for a clerical error with a homestead incorrectly removed. The board approved the request unanimously.
Abatement List Review
Landsverk then came forward with an acknowledgment receipt of the 2022 abatement list for all the changes to the abatements and past assessments in the last three years. “It’s corrections that we make to the assessment. It could be for a past assessment that we could go back three years on to make changes,” Mark Landsverk explained. “It’s basically tax refunds on property tax when we find that either an error has been made or an application has been sent in a little late, and we fix it for them that way.” The board approved the list unanimously. The full abatement list can be seen below-
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Statutory Board Notification of changes
The final item Landsverk brought forward was a submission of clerical changes and notification of changes to the 2022 assessment to fulfill statutory requirements. He explained they made several clerical errors, homestead changes, forfeited property, and exempt property to taxable, new plats, splits, and property combinations until the end of the year. He reported they had begun work on the 2023 assessment but noted there were no unusual changes made to this year’s statutory requirements. The board approved the changes unanimously. The report can be seen below-
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PLANNING AND ZONING-JACOB SNYDER
The board then heard from Assistant Environmental Supervising Administrator Jacob Snyder on a plan and resolution requiring the county to establish guidelines for the use of an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Plan to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) at water access sites within the county. “That’s a plan on how we use state grant funding we get from the state to run our program. The majority of what we do is watercraft inspections,” Jacob Snyder explained. “About half the money goes to running our inspection program about getting people at our access sites to get the message out to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and equipment, and the biggest thing with our program is trying to get the word out for people to do the right things. Clean and dry your equipment, your fishing equipment, the lily pads, kayaks, canoes, and even on motorized boats can spread AIS species throughout the lakes and rivers in our area.” He explained that the CD3 boat cleaning station at the East Shore Boat launch on Maple Lake has been a success for the past two boating seasons, and the counties have added two I-LIDS video camera systems at Union & Maple Lake to monitor the cleaning at the lakes. Snyder explained they were working with the Lake Improvement Districts to help their needs and assisting in several AIS sprayings. He mentioned that the AIS Taskforce has reviewed the plan and made a draft form for the 2023 inspection season, so he asked the board to approve the final 2022 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention plan for Polk County and the 2023 Draft plan. The board approved the plans unanimously.
Planning Commission Board of Adjustment appointees
Snyder then came forward with a recommendation to re-appoint Len Vonasek to the Planning and Zoning department and third alternate Board of Adjustment member. The board approved the motion unanimously.
HUMAN RESOURCES-ALECIA HELMS
The board was then approached by Human Resources Director Alecia Helms, who came forward with the new wage grids for the final four groups with new compensation changes for the MOUs. These Memorandums of Understanding went to the Sheriff Deputies LELS Local 496, Sheriff Sergeants & Telecommunicator Supervisor LELS Local 497, Highway Maintenance 49ers Local 49, and the Social Services AFSCME Council 65. She reported that all groups approved the new wage grids and compensation changes. “Polk County underwent a market study to look at wages across the board in all job categories, and today was what we went through with the commissioners as to the votes that had passed “Yes,” and we have been able to obtain all positive from all of our groups across Polk County,” Alecia Helms explained. “We’re moving forward in a positive direction in implementing a new wage scale.” She noted all of these wage changes would become effective immediately on January 1 unless unforeseen issues develop. The board approved the grids unanimously.
SOCIAL SERVICES-KAREN WARMACK
The board was then approached by Social Services Director Karen Warmack, who came forward with a two-year Sanford Adult Mental Health Initiative (AMHI) contract to provide mental health services for northwest Minnesota counties for $357,200 per year.
Tri Valley Opportunity Council Transportation and Senior Companion Contract
Warmack then came forward with a contract to provide a caring companion program for elderly residents in Polk County while also providing transportation services.
Alluma County Contract
Warmack then came forward with a contract with Alluma to provide mental health and supportive services to Polk County residents. The services that would be provided included Children Mental Health Services, Outpatient Services, and flexible funds to support children for $77,000.
Alluma Adult Mental Health Initiative (AMHI) Services contract
Warmack then came forward with a contract for a two-year contract with Alluma by the Minnesota Department of Human Services has authorized funds to provide mental health services under the Adult Mental Health Initiative grant for northwest Minnesota counties for $873,135 a year.
Alluma Collaborative Support Services Agreement
Warmack then came forward with an agreement with Alluma to provide Collaborative Support Services to the Polk County Collaborative serving Polk County children and families.
CareerForce MFIP/DWP Joint Powers Agreement contract
Warmack then came forward with a contract with CareerForce MFIP/DWP Join Powers Agreement to provide Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Diversionary Work Program (DWP) Employment and Training services for $617,268. The services provided by it included MFIP/DWP Case Management, Job Search, and Employment and Training services.
Alluma Community Support Program (CSP) contract
Warmack then came forward with a two-year Alluma Community Support Program (CSP) contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services as they authorized funds to provide the Community Support Program (CSP) for community support program services for $431,080 per year.
2021-22 Adult Mental Health Initiative (AMHI) Grant from the Department of Human Services contract with Sanford
Warmack then came forward with a contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide a regional Adult Mental Health Initiative grant of $2,907,828 from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, to provide Adult Mental Health Services. There would be an amendment to the contract to move $30,000 from the outreach project section of the AMHI contract to the social living skills line item to Sanford’s budget to provide a re-entry program to not exceed $357,201 in 2022.
2022 Adult Mental Health Initiative Grant from the Department of Human Services purchase of service contract with Alluma
Warmack then came forward with a contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide a regional Adult Mental Health Initiative grant of $2,907,828 from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, to provide Adult Mental Health Services. There would be an amendment to the contract of $873.135 to move $16,000 from the County Housing subsidy line item to the Alluma housing line item and not to exceed $889,135. Approval for Polk County Social Services to reallocate any underspent AMHI funding in an existing budgeted line item not to exceed 10% of the total AMHI budget.
Child Protection Specialist Replacement Request
The final item Warmack brought forward was the request for the replacement of a Child Protection Specialist (CPS) to work in child protection investigations and out-of-home placement cases under the supervision of Sheila Razmyslowski. The board approved all motions unanimously.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES-JON STEINER
Assistant Environmental Supervising Administrator Jon Steiner next approached the board, who first came forward with a price adjustment for the Polk County Landfill for a 40,000 Gallon Leachate tank in the spring of 2022. The quote from the lowest bidder, Harrington, was accepted at their board meeting on March 15 for $161,487.50, with delivery estimated at $13,000. But after a delay in the delivery, the cost was raised to $14,400, and increased the total price to $162,887.50.
2023 Polk County Haulers License
Steiner mentioned that the county estimates it will license 22 Waster Haulers in 2023, with changes in haulers’ contracts, consolidation, and route changes being responsible for licensing variations. So, he requested that 16 CY2023 Polk County Haulers Licenses be given to the applicants listed who have submitted a completed application and nine licenses given to the applicants with incomplete applications.
CY2023-CY2025 Roll-off Hauling Contract
Steiner then reported that the Polk County existing roll-off hauling contract with Lenes Sand & Gravel expired on December 31 and requested bids for a contract for 2023-2025. They had opened up bids on November 28 but did not receive any. So they had completed direct negotiations of solid waste service contracts and found that in the final proposal they received on December 14 included significant price increases ranging from 26% (a leachate from LF to Crookston) to 176% (the MSW compactor from Fosston Recycling Yard to the Fosston RRF Tip Floor). Removing these outliers showed a range of a 40% increase (the Bypass MSW from TS to MSW LF to a 70% increase (Demo from RRF to C&D LF), which made an average increase of approximately 55%. After these negotiations, Steiner recommended they approve a six-month Roll-off Hauling Contract they negotiated with Lenes Sand & Gravel of Fosston. The board approved all motions unanimously.
General Program Updates
Steiner’s final items included a list of recent updates to the Environmental Services buildings. These included purchasing some vehicles from Enterprise and concrete repairs at the Transfer Station. Some changes at the Landfill included a landfill construction project, Becker County MSW, and a Landfill/Wetland Permit. The Resource Recovery Facility included updates with the addition of Recyclable Commodity Pricing & Robotic Sorters, price adjustments, regional grants, and PFAS for the entire department.
The Polk County Commissioners will next meet on Tuesday, January 3, at 8:00 a.m. in the Polk County Government Center.
