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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BLUE EARTH COUNTY, MINNESOTA

August 10, 1999

1. AGENDA REVIEW

The motion carried. 99-291

2. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS ON COMMITTEES

3. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

The motion carried. 99-292

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner McLaughlin seconded the motion to approve the following Bills:

The motion carried. 99-293

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Landkamer seconded the motion to approve the following Personnel items:

Employment of Rodney Roberts, Custody Officer (B23), with a starting salary of $12.09 per hour effective August 11, 1999. (Sheriff)

Promotion of Carla Frederick, from Case Aide (B23) to Social Worker (Mental Health Case Manager) (C42) with a salary adjustment from $12.82 to $15.68 per hour effective August 16, 1999. (Human Services)

Authorization to initiate recruitment for a .5 FTE Case Aide (Club House Support) (B23). (Human Services)

Adoption of Personnel Board of Appeals Findings:

RESOLUTION TERMINATING EMPLOYMENT

WHEREAS, an employee was discharged from employment with the County on November 10, 1998; and

WHEREAS, the employee appealed his discharge pursuant to the County Personnel Rules; and

WHEREAS, a hearing was held before the Blue Earth County Personnel Board of Appeals on April 28, 1999, and June 30, 1999; and

WHEREAS, all of the procedural requirements have been met; and

WHEREAS, the Personnel Board of Appeals has issued findings of fact, conclusions, and a recommendation upholding the discharge of the employee;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows:

1. The Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners has reviewed and hereby adopts the findings of fact, conclusions, and decision to terminate the employee.

2. The Board has reviewed and hereby approves a Notice of Discharge to be issued to the employee notifying him of the decision. The Board Chair is directed to sign the Notice on behalf of the County.

3. The administration is directed to serve the Notice, along with a copy of the findings, conclusion, and decision and a copy of this resolution on the employee by certified mail and to place a copy in the employee’s personnel file.

The motion carried. 99-294

Mr. Steve Michel, Physical Plant Director, presented Bids for a Generator for the Courthouse.

Pursuant to publication, bids were received, opened and reviewed for the following equipment, with the following results.

EQUIPMENT: Generator for Courthouse

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner McLaughlin seconded the motion to accept the low bid of $65,761.00 from Katolight Power System Solutions, Mankato, MN. The Board also authorized Mr. Michel to issue a purchase order immediately and send a letter to the Year 2000 Project Office to meet Statute 471.345 requirements (Exemption from Uniform Contracting Law).

The motion carried. 99-295

Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve the following resolution:

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A FEE INCREASE FOR DEPUTY REGISTRARS

WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota established a public/private deputy registrar system to provide citizens convenient locations to conduct title registration services for motor vehicles and DNR recreational vehicles; and,

WHEREAS,the State of Minnesota in 1949 established a user service fee on motor vehicle transactions to be retained by the deputy registrar to defray the cost of providing the local service; and,

WHEREAS, since 1983, the user service fee for motor vehicle transactions had only one increase of $0.25 in 1989. Since 1989, the consumer price index has increased by more than 30% and the minimum wage has increased 41%; and,

WHEREAS, the deputy registrar administrative fee is a user fee that should fully support the cost of providing motor vehicle transactions; and,

WHEREAS,the user service fee no longer covers the operational cost to maintain most deputy registrar office. Public deputy registrars must use property tax levy to subsidize this service. Rural areas with lower volumes are in jeopardy of losing service.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County of Blue Earth supports and recommends a user service fee increase in the year 2000 to maintain local title and registration service to the citizens of Minnesota.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Blue Earth further recommends that the legislature provides for future user service fee increases based on an acceptable economic indicator.

The motion carried. 99-296

Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve Tax Abatements to David Hagemeier, 951 East Main Street, Mankato, R01-09-18-280-016 K-57618 and Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Company (DM&E) for R38-07-13-501-001 in Judson.

The motion carried. 99-297

Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve a renewal agreement with the State of Minnesota through its Department of Human Services for Fraud Prevention Investigation.

The motion carried. 99-298

4. TAX ABATEMENT DISTRICT

Mr. Roger Guenette, Advance Resources, gave a summary of the proposed project. No public comments were made.

Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner McLaughlin seconded the motion to approve the following:

RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF MANKATO'S NORTH EAST DEVELOPMENT AREA INCLUDING THE VICTORY DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT

BE IT RESOLVED by the County Board (the"Board") of the Blue Earth County, Minnesota (the "County"), as follows:

1. Recitals.

   (a) In order to promote commercial, industrial and residential development within the City of Mankato's North East Development Area, the Board is establishing a Property Tax Abatement program (the "Abatement") on eight parcels. The identification of the specific parcels (the "Property"), the duration and annual amount of the Abatement is stipulated as follows:

   Parcel Number		Occupant/Use	Years/Abatement Duration	Estimated Abatement Proceeds/Year
   1.	R01-09-10-103-002	(Atlantis Plastics)	Jan. 1, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2009 inclusive	$25,057
   	R01-09-10-103-003
   2.	R01-09-10-101-004	(Ag-Star/Farm Credit Services)	Jan. 1, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2009 inclusive	$23,404
   3.	R01-09-10-104-006	(Mankato Lodging/TGI Fridays)	Jan. 1, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2009 inclusive	$44,782
   	R01-09-10-104-007
   	R01-09-10-104-008
   4.	R01-09-10-101-003	(CWC/Premier Drive Properties)	Jan. 1, 2001 - Dec. 31, 2009 inclusive	$33,523
   5.	R01-09-09-426-033	(General Growth Dev. Company)	Jan. 1, 2002 - Dec. 31, 2011 inclusive	$39,571

   (b) In no event will the total of the Abatement exceed $1,629,847 over the duration of the Abatement period.

   (c) On the date hereof, the County Board held a public hearing on the question of the Abatement, and said hearing was preceded by at least 10 days but not more than 30 days prior published notice hereof.

   (d) The Abatement is authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.1812 through 469.1815 (the "Abatement Law").

2. Findings for the Abatement. The County Board hereby makes the following findings:

   (a) The County Board expects the benefits to the County of the Abatement to at least equal the costs thereof.

   (b) Granting the Abatement is in the public interest because it will fund land acquisition and essential infrastructure improvements, increase or preserve the tax base of the County, help retain and expand commercial, industrial and residential development in the County, and provide employment opportunities in the County.

   (c) The County Board expects the public benefits described in 2(b) above to be derived from the Abatement.

   (d) For the term of the Abatement, the Property will not be located in a tax increment financing district.

   (e) In any year, the total amount of property taxes abated by the County by this and other resolutions does not exceed the greater of five percent (5%) of the current levy or $100,000.

3. Terms of Abatement. The abatement is hereby approved. The terms of the abatement are as follows:

   (a) The Abatement duration for each affected tax parcel shall not exceed ten (10) years and shall apply to the taxes payable in the years identified and set forth in 1(a) herein.

   (b) The Abatement shall be for 100% of the County's share of the ad valorem property taxes generated by the Property which are attributable to the Project.

   (c) The Abatement may not be modified or changed during the term set forth in 3(a) above, except with the prior written consent of the County.

   (d) The Abatement shall be subject to all the terms and limitations of the Abatement Law, including the requirement that taxes attributable to land value are not subject to abatement.

5. SMALL CITIES LOAN PROGRAM

The motion carried. 99-300

7. PUBLIC WORKS

Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner McLaughlin seconded the motion to approve a Cooperative Agreement with the City of Lake Crystal for the reconstruction of CSAH 76 (Main Street) from TH 60 to Shepard Street.

The motion carried. 99-301

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Landkamer seconded the motion to approve a Cooperative Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources authorizing the State to reconstruct the Public Water Access Site in Bray Park on Madison Lake. Construction is scheduled for the summer of 2000.

The motion carried. 99-302

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Landkamer seconded the motion to approve a Cooperation Agreement with the Department of the US Army Corps of Engineers for emergency streambank protection projects on CSAH 28.

The motion carried. 99-303

6. LAKE CRYSTAL RECREATION CENTER

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Landkamer seconded the motion to adjourn the Board Meeting at 10:40 a.m.

The motion carried. 99-304