MINUTES OF THE OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Government Services Center, Commissioners Room 515 W. Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN 9:30 a.m. Call to Order The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners convened at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday,, at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls, MN, with Commissioners Lee Rogness, Chairman; Doug Huebsch, Vice-Chairman; Wayne Johnson, Roger Froemming, and John Lindquist present. Approval of Agenda Chairman Rogness called for approval of the, agenda. Motion by Lindquist, second by Froemming, and unanimously carried to approve the Board of Commissioners agenda of, with the following additions: Outstanding Conservation Award Crop Show Awards, U of M Extension City of Fergus Falls Parking Lot at the Regional Treatment Center Closed Session Attorney-Client Privilege: New Life Communications Discussion Consent Agenda Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist, and unanimously carried to approve Consent Agenda items as follows: 1. January 26, 2016, Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes with the addition of the acronym MRCC within the minutes regarding the MN Rural Counties Caucus 2. Warrants/Bills for (Exhibit A) 3. LG220 for Exempt Gambling Permit (Raffle) Requested by MN Deer Hunters Association at Playtime Sports Bar & Ballroom, Rush Lake, MN for an Event on April 2, 2016 4. Employee Committee Bills Outstanding Conservation Award Otter Tail County Commissioners will receive an Outstanding Conservation Award at the 43 rd Annual West Otter Tail County Crop & Forage Show on February 3, 2016. Motion by Johnson, second by Froemming and unanimously carried to approve that Lindquist attends the Crop Show and receives the award on behalf of the Commissioners. Greater Minnesota Gas Inc. - Natural Gas Expansion Greg Palmer, President and CEO, and Nikki Kusper, Marketing Manager/Business Development, of Greater Minnesota Gas, Inc., (GMG) provided a presentation on the benefits of natural gas in rural Minnesota. Greater Minnesota Synergy, Inc., is the parent company for GMG and Greater Minnesota Transmission, LLC, (GMT). GMG provides natural gas service directly to customers and GMT partners with local entities who serve communities to collaboratively supply natural gas. Mr. Palmer discussed projects serving agriculture operations and lake regions within rural Minnesota and described their rural model for reducing energy costs and improving local economies. Coal Impacted Communities Grant Nick Leonard, Tourism and Economic Development Director, briefed Commissioners on changes with regard to the Federal EDA funding though a Local Technical Assistance grant application. The total grant asking amount has changed from $100,000, of which the Commissioners authorized $10,000 to be contributed by Otter Tail County, to a total asking amount of $55,000. Motion by Huebsch, second by Johnson and unanimously carried to rescind Otter Tail County Resolution No. 2015 63, and adopt the following Resolution:
Page 2 THE PARTNERSHIP FOR OPPORTUNITY AND WORKFORCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVITALIZATION (POWER) INITIATIVE GRANT RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT & FINANICAL COMMITMENT Otter Tail County Resolution No. 2016 09 WHEREAS: The closure of the Hoot Lake Power Plant in Fergus Falls, MN in 2021 will have a significant economic impact on the City of Fergus Falls (hereafter referred to as the City ) and County of Otter Tail (hereafter referred to as the County ), AND WHEREAS: The City is applying for Federal EDA funding through a Local Technical Assistance grant application, AND WHEREAS: The total grant asking amount is $55,000 with a dollar for dollar matching requirement. The City is submitting the grant and has preliminarily received matching funds from local partners such as the Fergus Falls Economic Improvement Commission, Otter Tal Power Company and the City itself, AND WHEREAS: If awarded, the grant will provide necessary resources to research and plan for the economic, environmental, and land use impacts of the plant closure as well as plan strategically to best mitigate those impacts, AND WHEREAS: As authorized under Minnesota Statute, Section 375.83, a county board may appropriate money out of the general revenue fund of the county to be paid to any incorporated development society or organization of this state which, in the board s opinion, will use the money for the best interests of the county in promoting, advertising, improving, or developing the economic and agricultural resources of the county. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Otter Tail County by this resolution supports the grant application by the City of Fergus Falls and will contribute up to $10,000 to be designated to matching fund grant application from the General Revenue Fund of Otter Tail County. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Huebsch duly seconded by Commissioner Johnson and, after discussion thereof and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor: Commissioners Huebsch, Johnson, Lindquist, Froemming, and Rogness and the following voted against the same: None Adopted at Fergus Falls, MN this 2nd day of February 2016 Dated: OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Attest: Larry Krohn, Clerk By: Leland R. Rogness, Chair
Page 3 Otter Tail Lakes Country Tourism Association Nick Leonard, Tourism and Economic Development Director, provided that the Find your Inner Otter campaign was nominated for an Excellence in Tourism Award through Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT). Mr. Leonard will be attending the EMT conference this week in Bemidji, MN. Mr. Leonard updated Commissioners with regard to the Otter Tail Lakes Country Tourism Association reorganization. There will be continued marketing of the County as a tourist destination, but there will also be additional focus on promoting the County as a great place to live and work. Regional Treatment Center Parking Lot 99-year Lease County Attorney David Hauser reported the City of Fergus Falls response regarding allowing the County a 99-year lease for a portion of the parking lot that is located on city property at the Regional Treatment Center adjacent to the Government Services Center. The City suggested that the property can be deeded to the County and the County would assume responsibility for all costs associated with its purchase. Motion by Johnson, second by Huebsch and unanimously carried to purchase the parking lot adjacent to the Government Services Center and paying for costs associated with this acquisition. County Attorney Hauser will author a letter to the City of Fergus Falls in this regard. Recess & Reconvene At 10:18 a.m., Chairman Rogness declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a committee meeting. The meeting was reconvened at 10:25 a.m. MN Rural Counties Caucus Discussion (MRCC) Dan Larson, MRCC Administrator, thanked the commissioners for the County s charter membership which started in April of 1997. Mr. Larson discussed the benefits of the County remaining an MRCC member as well as the direction MRCC is progressing, which includes the possibility of developing a resource group that is more specific to the needs that Otter Tail wants to address. MRCC is planning to prioritize issues including transportation funding for local roads. They are also working on a legislative bill with regard to economic development including attracting potential residents for the County. MRCC would like to elevate the profile of greater MN counties because they are finding that 30 to 40-year-olds either desire to return or have returned to rural areas. MRCC intends to put a platform on the statewide level to attract residents by marketing the regional assets of an area, followed by communities, industries, jobs, schools, and businesses. They would also like to work with businesses and high school students in mapping, potentially as part of a STEM program to develop relationships with the students, and familiarize them with businesses in their communities. Chairman Rogness declared this discussion tabled until February 9, 2016. Lindquist and Froemming will further consider the benefits to remaining an MRCC member and provide a recommendation to the Board at that time. Buffalo-Red River Watershed District Peter Fjestad, Otter Tail County s representative on the BRRWD Board, advised commissioners that the BRRWD Board voted to not approve the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Authority s fiscal year 2016 budget, totaling $237.5 million. Mr. Fjestad reported on the discussion that took place leading up to the vote and indicated that the BRRWD was very concerned that it has not received information as to how this budget would be financed. There are also concerns that property owners upstream from the project have suggested other courses of action, but these are not being considered. Mr. Fjestad also reported that the BRRWD has funding available for the Otter Tail River realignment from Orwell Dam to Breckenridge and they will be having public hearings for that project. Phelps Mill Fish Passage Preliminary Design Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist and unanimously carried to approve of the Scope and Fee Proposal provided by Houston Engineering, Inc., of Thief River Falls, MN, for the Phelps Mill Fish Passage Project, which will be funded by the DNR, as submitted by Public Works Director Rick West.
Page 4 Star Lake Resort and Casino Rick West, Public Works Director, reported that he was involved in a conference call with Cunningham Group, which is the contractor for the Star Lake Resort and Casino Project. During the conversation, County Shoreland Ordinances were discussed and White Earth Tribe indicated that they would be preparing an Environmental Review as part of the project. Closed to the Public At 11:15 a.m., Chairman Rogness declared the Board of Commissioners meeting closed to the public to discuss attorney-client privileged matters involving potential litigation over the reconciliation on the C.A.R.E. Facility lease and potential litigation with New Life Communications. The closed session is authorized under Attorney-Client privilege, M.S. 13D.05, Subd. 3(b). Present were all five seated Commissioners, County Attorney, County Administrator, County Auditor-Treasurer, Acting Board Secretary, Facilities Operations Manager and Facilities Operations Supervisor. At 11:40 a.m., Chairman Rogness declared the meeting open to the public. Food and Lodging Ordinances County Attorney David Hauser reported that the County s Food and Lodging Ordinances need to be updated. A Public Hearing for the Food and Lodging Ordinances is scheduled for March 8, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. Adjournment At 11:45 a.m., Chairman Rogness declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners adjourned until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls, MN. Dated: Attest: Larry Krohn, Clerk OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS By: Leland R. Rogness, Board of Commissioners Chair CB/nh
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