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

October 5, 1999

The County Board of Commissioners met in the Commissioners' Room at 6:00 p.m. Present were Chairperson Al Bennett, Commissioner Tom McLaughlin, Commissioner Alvis More, Commissioner Lin Barnes, County Attorney Ross Arneson, County Administrator David Twa and Deputy County Administrator Dennis McCoy

1. AGENDA REVIEW
Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion to approve the amended Agenda to include the Poor Farm Lease, Amend Alliance Pipeline Conditional Use Permit, a Tax Abatement, Service Bureau Resolution and Appoint AMC Voting Delegates. The motion carried. 99-371

2. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS ON COMMITTEES
The Commissioners reported on committees that they have attended since the last Board Meeting.

Mr. Randy Hutson, requested an amendment to Alliance Pipeline’s Conditional Use Permit to allow open cuts of the tile.
Mr. Chad Surprenant, I & S Engineers & Architects and Mr. Al Forsberg, Public Works Director, stated that they were comfortable with the revisions.
Commissioner Barnes moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to allow Alliance Pipeline Limited Partnership to make open cuts of the tile for the installation and maintenance of a 36 inch natural gas pipeline through portions of Blue Earth County as long as such cuts are approved by the DNR. The motion carried. 99-372

4. COUNTY DITCH #86 – AWARD BIDS
Pursuant to publication, a Public Hearing was held for the Improvement of County Ditch #86. The Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners, acting as the Drainage Authority pursuant to M.S. 103E.005, Subd. 9, held the Public Hearing, Pursuant to M.S. 103E.261 at the Blue Earth County Courthouse on October 5, 1999. The public hearing was opened for public comments by Chairperson Bennett at 6:25 p.m.
Officials present included County Administrator David Twa, Land Records Director Sandra King, County Attorney Ross Arneson, Ditch Manager Craig Austinson, Deputy Administrator Dennis McCoy and Engineer Doug Parrott. A listing of others present is included as part of the record. The proceedings were tape-recorded.
Mr. Arvid Wendland, Attorney for the Petitioners, made comments on the project and asked the Board to award the bid.
Mr. Doug Parrott, Engineer, gave an update on the project and stated that he has talked with Krengle Bros. Inc., and they will honor their bid.
Mr. Charles Frundt, Attorney representing Mr. Wayne Preska and Mr. Blaine Phillips, discussed the lawsuit they have filed and stated that his clients were against proceeding with the project.
Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion to approve the Order awarding the contract for County Ditch #86 to Krengle Bros., Inc. in accordance with its bid submitted for the May 27, 1999 letting and that the project engineer be instructed to go forward with the construction of the project. The motion carried. 99-373
Chairperson Bennett closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. The motion carried.

5. PUBLIC WORKS
Mr. Al Forsberg, Public Works Director, presented the following item for the Boards consideration.
Commissioner McLaughlin moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve a revised agreement with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a paved bicycle trail:

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the State has a currently approved development project in Minneopa State Park for a paved bicycle trail; and

WHEREAS, the County is developing a paved bicycle trail which will terminate at the boundary of Minneopa State Park; and

WHEREAS, the State and County are authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Section 471.59 (1996), to enter into agreements to jointly or cooperatively exercise common powers; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits to be derived by the public bodies hereto for the benefit of the general public, the County shall prepare plans and construct the extension of the bicycle trail from the statutory boundary of Minneopa State Park to the Minneopa Falls parking lot on the existing abandoned portion of County Road 117.

The motion carried. 99-374

6. RIVERBEND CENTER FOR ENTERPRISE FACILITIATION
Mr. Milt Toratti, Enterprise Facilitator, presented a report on the two-year demonstration project in Blue Earth County.

7. COURTHOUSE Y2K GENERATOR
Mr. Steve Michel, Physical Plant Director, presented the following for the Boards consideration.
Pursuant to publication, bids were received, opened and reviewed for the installation of the Courthouse generator, with the following results:
PROJECT: Installation of Courthouse Generator
BIDDERS: AMOUNT OF BID:
Fischer & Hoehn Electric, Mankato, MN $89,870.00
Cedar Lake Electric, Faribault, MN $81,123.00

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner McLaughlin seconded the motion to accept the bid of $81,123.00 from Cedar Lake Electric, Faribault, MN. The motion carried. 99-375

3. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Mr. David Twa, County Administrator presented the following items for the Boards consideration.
Commissioner Barnes moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve the September 21, 1999 Board Minutes. The motion carried. 99-376
Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion to approve the following Bills:
Bills for the Week of September 27 – October 1, 1999
Grand Total $1,581,268.14
Bills for the Week of October 4-9, 1999
Grand Total $971,390.25
The motion carried. 99-377
Commissioner Barnes moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve the following Personnel items:
Resignation of Dennis McCoy, Deputy County Administrator (Human Services/Personnel) (E82) effective October 22, 1999. (Human Services)
Authorization to initiate recruitment for a Human Service Director (E81). (Human Service)

Employment of Timothy Wright, Adolescent Services Specialist (C42), with a starting salary of $15.22 per hour effective October 11, 1999. (Human Service)

Employment of Rebecca Wigand, 911 Dispatcher (part-time) (B23), with a starting salary of $11.39 per hour effective October 6, 1999. (Sheriff)

The motion carried. 99-378
Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion to approve the following:

RESOLUTION APPROVING IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR, AND AUTHORIZING CONSTRUCTION OF, WITTROCK FARMS SUBDIVISION, A SIX LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION, LOCATED IN PARTS OF SECTIONS 6, 7, AND 8, DECORIA TOWNSHIP.

WHEREAS, On the 27th Day of July, 1999, the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners approved the Preliminary Plat of Wittrock Farms, a six lot residential subdivision located in parts of Sections 6, 7, and 8, all in Decoria Township, on land owned by Gerald and Virginia Wittrock and Joseph Trio, Personal Representative for the Trio family, to wit:

South Half of Southwest Quarter of Southeast Quarter of Section Six and the Northeast Quarter of Northwest Quarter and North Half of Northeast Quarter of Section Seven and Lot One of Burt’s Subdivision of the North Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 8 Town 107, Range 26, EXCEPT Parcel U of Blue Earth County Right-of-Way Plat No. 8.

Together with all hereditaments and appurtenances belonging thereto; and,

WHEREAS, the Preliminary plat was approved contingent upon the following conditions:

1. Pursuant to Blue Earth County Subdivision Ordinance Section 0140.0714, Subparts 1, 3, and 4, a payment to the County’s dedicated fund for acquisition of park lands shall be made at the time of approval of Final Plat.
   

1. The Final Plat for Wittrock’s Farms Subdivision must be approved by the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners within twelve (12) months from the date that the Revised Preliminary Plat receives approval from the Board.
   

1. A Title Report shall be furnished with the Final Plat. Signatures of all interested parties shall be included in the signature block on the Final Plat.
   

1. After approval of the Final Plat by the County Board, and prior to recording of the Final Plat, the applicant must provide a performance bond or other method of financial assurance acceptable to the County Board to assure construction and / or installation of required infrastructure and improvements including but not limited to; roads, erosion control and drainage structures and facilities, survey monumentation, and any required traffic and/or street signs.
   

1. All required improvements must meet or exceed standards specified in the Blue Earth County Subdivision Ordinance. The Blue Earth County Engineer will certify that the improvement plans meet minimum standards and set the amount of financial assurance to be provided by the developer.
   

1. The developer may submit engineered plans for the required infrastructure to the County Engineer for approval. After the Engineered Improvement Plans have been approved by the County Engineer the developer may construct required improvements according to the approved plans.
   

1. Upon completion of the required improvements the developer may request that the improvements be inspected by the County Engineer. After the County Engineer has certified that the improvements meet minimum specifications of the Subdivision Ordinance, and upon receipt of the As-built Plans, the Final plat may be signed and recorded; and,
   

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BLUE EARTH COUNTY, MINNESOTA

WHEREAS, Blue Earth County has entered into a joint powers agreement with the City of Mankato establishing a Joint Services Bureau for the mutual benefit of both entities; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Services Bureau wishes to establish a shared public safety records management system with several counties and cities within Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Services Bureau shall act as fiscal agent for the South Central Minnesota Joint Public Safety Records Management System; and

WHEREAS, the total cost of such system shall require the expenditure of funds in excess of those presently budgeted for a records management system, thus necessitating entering into obligations for future payments; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Services Bureau must be named as the leasee under the proposed financing from Government Capital Incorporated; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes 471.59 (Subd. 11) requires such indebtedness to be valid only under express authority granted by action of the governing bodies of the governmental units establishing the joint powers entity;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners hereby elects to join the other counties and cities in establishing a joint public safety records management system, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the Joint Services Bureau to act as the fiscal agent for the South Central Minnesota Shared Public Safety Records Management System, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the City of Mankato Finance Department to manage all financial transactions relating to this project, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Joint Services Bureau to enter into agreements and/or contracts to purchase software, hardware, and professional services required to establish the shared records management system. Such authority shall include incurring future indebtedness on behalf of Blue Earth County.

The motion carried. 99-382

Commissioner Barnes moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to appoint Mrs. Sandra King, Deputy Administrator/Land Records Director, as an Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) voting delegate. The motion carried. 99-383
Commissioner More moved and Commissioner McLaughlin seconded the motion to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. The motion carried. 99-384

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10-05-99