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Pipestone County Commissioner Meeting
December 27, 2022
The Pipestone County Commissioners met with Chairman Les Nath, Commissioners Chris Hollingsworth, Luke Johnson, Dallas Roskamp, and Dan Wildermuth. County Administrator Steve Ewing was also present. Chairman Nath called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
AGENDA
Motion by Roskamp, seconded by Wildermuth to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Hollingsworth to approve the consent agenda as follows:
1. Approve Truth in Taxation Minutes: 12/12/2022
2. Approve Commissioners Warrants in the amount of $173,494.58
3. Approve Auditors Warrants 12/16/22, 12/27/22
4. Approve Hospital Warrants $857,261.81
Motion carried unanimously.
As per Minnesota Statute 375.12 the following Commissioner Warrants information is presented:
Johnson Controls, Inc (vendor name), 59,970.27 (amount paid)
Regents of The University of Minnesota, 27,737.25
Murray County Sheriff’s Office, 25,998.96
Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, 14,468.97
Chandler Co-Op, 9,680.48
Lincoln County Treasurer, 7,918.04
Erickson Engineering Co Inc, 5,890.00
American Solutions For Business, 2,452.64
Redstone Technologies Inc, 2,250.00
Pipestone County EMS Education Program, 2,200.00
Warrants over $2,000, $158,566.61
Number of Claims under $2,000, 28
Warrants under $2,000, $14,927.97
Total, $173,494.58
ROAD AND BRIDGE ITEMS
Engineer Nick Bergman recommended awarding the 2023 Box Culvert Contract #1 bid to R & G Construction pending State approval. Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Johnson to award the 2023 Box Culvert Contract #1 bid to R & G Construction pending state approval. Motion carried unanimously.
Engineer Bergman requested the board approve the extension for any blizzard personal leave hours earned by Highway employees covered by the AFSCME union contract, to be used by the end of 2023, due to the short time frame before the end of the current calendar year. Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Hollingsworth to approve the extension of blizzard personal leave hours and allow Highway employees to take the blizzard personal leave earned prior to December 31, 2023. Motion carried unanimously.
Engineer Bergman requested approval to purchase cutting edges. Engineer Bergman stated that they are on the Auditors Warrant list but wanted the board to be aware as it is a high cost item. Motion by Roskamp, seconded by Wildermuth to approve the purchase of cutting edges. Motion carried unanimously.
Engineer Bergman reported on maintenance updates including a lot of snow plowing in the past week.
NON-UNION 2023 COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT
County Administrator Steve Ewing requested the board approve a cost-of-living adjustment for non-union staff. The recommendation is to approve a 2.50% increase. Motion by Hollingsworth, seconded by Wildermuth to approve a 2.50% cost-of-living adjustment to the 2023 pay plan. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMISSIONER 2023 SALARIES
County Administrator Steve Ewing requested approval of 2023 Commissioner Salaries. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Roskamp to set the 2023 Commissioner salary at $23,302.00, a 2.5% increase from 2022. Yeas: Johnson, Nath, Roskamp. Nays: Hollingsworth, Wildermuth. Motion carried.
PERSONNEL
Human Resources Coordinator Cathy Feste reported on the following new employees: Austin Underdahl started as a full-time Highway Maintenance Worker on December 19, 2022, Grant Budden started as a part-time EMT on December 20, 2022, and J.D. Wallenburg will be starting as a full-time Paramedic on January 5, 2023.
HR Coordinator Feste reported that there is an employee on a leave of absence in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office, and they may reach out to some previous employees or applicants to fill a temporary position.
FMLA POLICY
Human Resources Coordinator Cathy Feste requested approval of a revised Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Policy effective January 1, 2023. Motion by Hollingsworth, seconded by Wildermuth to approve the revised Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Policy effective January 1, 2023. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION 59-45-22 POLICE AND FIRE MEMBER TRANSFER
HR Coordinator Feste requested approval of Resolution 59-45-22 for Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Police and Fire Member Transfer. Quentin Johnson is a member of the PERA Police and Fire Plan as a part-time Deputy Sheriff with Pipestone County. Johnson is also a full-time employee with Pipestone County Highway department and a member of the PERA Coordinated Plan. The recommendation is that the board adopt the Resolution 59-45-22 to allow Mr. Johnson to remain a member of the Police and Fire Plan covering his part-time Deputy hours worked with the Sheriff’s Department until date of termination for the position. Johnson is working for the same governmental subdivision, Pipestone County. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Roskamp to approve Pipestone County Resolution 59-45-22. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION 59-46-22 BENEFIT CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAFETERIA PLAN ARRANGEMENT
Human Resources Coordinator Cathy Feste presented Resolution 59-46-22 Pipestone County Benefits Contributions and Cafeteria Plan Arrangement which outlines required minimum participation for full-time employees and employer funding for insurance plans. Effective January 1, 2023, the County cafeteria contribution shall be $11,100 per year for employees who elect single health insurance, and $17,400 per year for employees who elect family health insurance. Motion by Hollingsworth, seconded by Wildermuth to approve Resolution 59-46-22. Motion carried unanimously.
LES NATH RECOGNITION
A recognition ceremony was held for Commissioner Les Nath for his past eight years of service. Commissioner Nath has served as District 2 Commissioner since January of 2015.
BUDGET DISCUSSION FOR INTEREST INCOME
Auditor/Treasurer Amanda Sandy joined the meeting. County Administrator Steve Ewing asked the board if they would like to raise the budgeted amount for interest income, since interest rates for investments have increased recently. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Roskamp to add $86,000 to the budget line item for interest income in 2023 for a direct levy reduction. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTIONS 59-43-22, 59-44-22 2023 TAXES PAYABLE LEVY AND BUDGET
Motion by Roskamp, seconded by Johnson to adopt Resolutions 59-43-22, 59-44-22 to set the 2023 Taxes Payable Levy at $8,514,333.00 and setting the 2023 budget as follows: Revenues: $11,607,605.00 and Expenditures: $20,737,090.00. Motion carried unanimously.
10:00 A.M. FUEL BID OPENING JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 2023
County Engineer opened bids for 2023 January through June Fuel Bid Opening. Bids received were as follows.
Click here for PDF version www.pipestonestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/County-commissioners-Graph-for-12-27-minutes.pdf
Motion by Roskamp, seconded by Hollingsworth to accept the low bid for both gasoline and diesel fuel from Chandler Co-op for January through June 2023. Motion carried unanimously.
HVAC CHANGE ORDER
County Administrator Steve Ewing reported that a component of the HVAC upgrade has failed testing for freeze protection. Johnson Controls proposes to flush and fill the cooling system piping and fill with new freeze protection glycol. Cost of the proposal for flushing and filling 550 gallons is $13,694.00. Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Johnson to approve the Change Order from Johnson Controls in the amount of $13,694.00. Motion carried unanimously.
PER DIEM AUTHORIZATION FOR FEMA MEETING
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wildermuth to authorize a per diem for Commissioners who attended the FEMA Consultation Coordination Officer (CCO) meeting on November 30, 2022. Motion carried unanimously.
NATURE ENERGY BIOMASS PROJECT MEETING
County Administrator Steve Ewing requested board approval to host a special meeting with Nature Energy on January 17, 2023 at 2:00p.m. to meet with representatives from Nature Energy on a proposed biogas plant. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Hollingsworth to schedule a Commissioners Special Meeting on January 17, 2023 at 2:00p.m. to hear a presentation from Nature Energy regarding a biogas project. Motion carried unanimously.
CITY OF PIPESTONE EDA CENTRAL SCHOOL LOT REQUEST
City of Pipestone Mayor Myron Koets joined the meeting. Koets gave a brief review on the success of the City of Pipestone and Minnesota West Carpentry program partnership in which Carpentry students have rehabilitated several dilapidated properties within the city of Pipestone. Koets described Minnesota West’s need for their Carpentry students to build new houses in order to learn about new construction techniques. Since there aren’t many City-owned lots in the City of Pipestone, Koets is requesting the County consider a partnership with the Pipestone EDA for developing the South lot of the Central School property, due to a need for workforce housing within Pipestone County. Minnesota West students would build several 900-1,000 square foot houses on the lot. Koets said the EDA’s objective is to obtain the property at as low of a cost as possible. Commissioners will consider their request, run it past County Attorney Damain Sandy, and follow up with the City at a later date.
RESOLUTION 59-42-22 COMMUNITY SUPERVISION WORKGROUP
Motion by Nath, seconded by Roskamp to approve Resolution 59-42-22 Endorsing the efforts of the Community Supervision Work Group and urging the legislature to pass a new funding formula and significant appropriation during the 2023 legislative session. Motion carried unanimously. Administrator Ewing will forward the approved Resolution to AMC.
Chairman Nath adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
Les Nath
Pipestone County Board Chairman
ATTEST:
Steven Ewing
County Administrator
