PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 9:00 a.m.
Place: Commissioners Room, Courthouse, Caledonia, MN
*Virtual Meeting Held due to Peacetime Emergency Declaration due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
Members Present via Computer: Eric Johnson, Teresa Walter, Jack Miller, Robert Burns, and Greg Myhre
Call to order: 9:00 am
Presiding: Chairman Johnson
Walter moved, Myhre seconded, unanimously carried to approve the meeting agenda.
Burns moved, Miller seconded, unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following items:
1) Approve payment of the License Center and Human Services disbursements and the following claims
County Revenue Fund $193,126.17
Road & Bridge Fund $69,684.81
Total $262,810.98
2) Approve amended Resolution 20-48 General Election Absentee Ballot Board
RESOLUTION NO. 20-48
AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH ABSENTEE BALLOT BOARD
AND UOCAVA BALLOT BOARD FOR 2020 GENERAL ELECTION
Updated October 20, 2020
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Houston County Board of Commissioners, hereby authorizes the establishment of an Absentee Ballot Board and a UOCAVA Absentee Ballot Board under Chapter 203B.121, Subd 1 of 2017 Minnesota Statutes, pertaining to Ballot Boards; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that these Boards will meet on an as needed basis as determined by the Houston County Auditor-Treasurer during the 46 calendar days prior to each election; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that a minimum of any two people from different major parties can constitute a quorum for a meeting; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that these boards will Accept or Reject absentee ballots and process ballots throughout the Absentee voting period, and
BE IT RESOLVED, that these board will follow all statutory requirements enacted by the Minnesota Legislature and count the absentee ballots after the polls close rather than deliver absentee ballots to the polling sites;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Houston County Board of Commissioners approves the establishment of an Absentee Ballot Board and a UOCAVA Absentee Ballot Board and appoints the following election officials to these boards for the November 3, 2020 General Election: Donna Trehus, Polly Heberlein, Mary Gulbranson, Diane Imhoff, Amy Sylling, Annette Christian, Jeanne Feldmeier, Nikki Konkel, Julie Schleich, Celeste Abbot, Dylan Felton, Mary Betz, Michelle Werner and Jeff Babinski.
3) Affirm the following personnel actions:
1. Auditor/Treasurer
1. Hire Kathlene Barnet as a probationary Deputy Auditor/Treasurer – License Center, B-22, Step 1, effective October 21, 2020, conditioned upon successful completion of background checks.
2.
Walter moved, Miller seconded, carried 3-2 (Johnson, Myhre opposed) to re-nominate Theressa Arrick-Kruger to the SSC Board of Directors. Johnson and Myhre expressed concern of conflict of interest related to SSC and the county’s insurance program.
Walter moved, Myhre seconded, unanimously carried to accept a grant agreement from the Center for Tech and Civic Life to be used for the purpose of planning and operationalizing safe and secure election administration. Auditor/Treasurer Trehus shared the opportunity for this grant to help offset some of the extra costs with the 2020 election.
At 9:30 am, Burns moved, Myhre seconded, unanimously carried to enter a closed session pursuant to MN Stat. 13D.05, Subd. 3, (b) Attorney/Client Privilege to discuss Mound Prairie Township v. Houston County et. al. The closed session was attended by Commissioners Miller, Johnson, Burns, Walter and Myhre, Attorney Jandt, Administrator Babinski, Engineer Pogodzinski, Justin Conway, and Attorney Kuboushek. At 10:19 am, Burns moved, Miller seconded, unanimously carried to end the closed session. Administrator Babinski provided a brief summary that the board reviewed the current case status with Attorney Kuboushek and no board action was required at this time.
The board discussed and subsequently requested Administrator Babinski cancel the regularly scheduled workshop session on November 3, 2020 in deference to Election Day activities and reminded everyone to exercise their right to vote.
There being no further business and the time being 10:21 a.m., motion was made by Walter, seconded by Burns, unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
HOUSTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA
By: Eric Johnson, Chairperson
Attest: Jeffrey Babinski, County Administrator
THE ABOVE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COM-MISSIONERS IS ONLY A SUMMARY. THE FULL TEXT IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE HOUSTON COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE AS WELL AS ON THE HOUSTON COUNTY WEBSITE LOCATED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: http://www.co.houston.mn.us/
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