PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 9:30 a.m.
Place: Commissioners Room, Courthouse, Caledonia, MN
*Virtual Meeting Held due to Peacetime Emergency Declaration in response to COVID-19 Pandemic.
Members Present: Eric Johnson
Via Telephone: Teresa Walter, Jack Miller, and Robert Burns
Others Present: Administrator Babinski, Reporter Moorhead, Finance Director Lapham, Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Larissa Erickson
Via Phone: Sue Schwebach, John Pugleasa, Theresa Arrick-Kruger
Call to order.
Presiding: Chairman Johnson
Call to order. Pledge of Allegiance.
Walter moved, Burns seconded, unanimously carried to approve the agenda, with amendments. (D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:Y, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
Walter moved, Miller seconded, carried to approve the Minutes from the March 10 Board Meeting. (D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:abstain, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
Walter moved, Miller seconded, unanimously carried to approve the Minutes from the March 17 Work Group Session. (D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:Y, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
Public Comment: None at this time
Walter moved, Miller seconded, unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following items after removal of items 5.ii.2 and 5.ii.3:
(D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:Y, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
1)File No. 1 – Approve payment of the license center and Human Services disbursements and the following claims
County Revenue Fund $256,965.21
Road & Bridge Fund$186,938.13————–
Total$443,903.34
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2)Approve budgeted purchase of 2,800 tons of salt through the Cooperative Purchasing Venture.
3)Approve low quote for Wildcat Park portable bathrooms from A1 Precision Plumbing in the amount of $521.02 per month (includes sales tax) for budgeted annual contract.
4)Accept two donations to the Sheriff’s office in the amount of $200 with thanks to Caledonia Haulers and a private donor for support.
5)Affirm the following personnel actions:
i.Environmental Services
1.Rehire Ron Osborne as a Drop-Site Supervisor, casual employee, Drop-Site wage scale, Step 5, effective March 25, 2020.
ii.Public Health and Human Services
1.Hire Rebecca Larson, as a probationary Case Aide, B22, Step 1, effective April 27, 2020, conditioned upon successful completion of background check.
The following Consent items were tabled for further consideration after Miller proposed consideration of a hiring freeze as we face the uncertainly of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Burns questioned how the work was currently being performed. PH&HS Director Pugleasa explained the position requirements and highlighted the technical clerk level replaced a higher position vacated by a retirement.
5.ii.2. Reassign Susan Tostenson to the position of probationary Accounting Clerk, B23, Step 1, and effective April 27, 2020.
5.ii.3. Approve a search for a Public Health Case Aide, B22 (position vacated by Susan Tostenson for reassignment to Accounting Clerk position) Put this on hold?
Johnson thanked the Caledonia Haulers for their donations to the Sheriff’s Office.
Walter moved, Miller seconded, unanimously carried to approve Resolution 20-20, Peacetime Emergency Declaration in response to COVID-19 pandemic. (D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:Y, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
RESOLUTION NO. 20-20
State of Emergency – COVID-19 Pandemic Event
WHEREAS, the Novel Coronavirus Disease SARS-CoV-2 virus, commonly known as COVID-19 poses an eminent and serious threat to the residents of Houston County, and;
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, beginning on January 27, 2020, and;
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a National Emergency, and;
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-01 declaring a Peacetime State of Emergency to authorize any and all necessary resources to be used in support of the COVID-19 response, and;
WHEREAS, the White House, Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have recommended drastic measures and restrictions on group gatherings and social distancing practices in all settings, and;
WHEREAS, The significant community, organizational, institutional and business responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to compromise the provision of essential public services, including a reduction in the size of the workforce due to school closures, isolation, or quarantine, and;
WHEREAS, the necessary resources to respond to and recover from this pandemic, as well as to mitigate the significant business disruption experienced within the County, will exceed resources within the County, and additional resources will be needed from Houston County, and state and federal sources; and
WHEREAS, the Chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, under the authority given in Minn. Stat. Sec 12.29 Subd. 1, declared a local emergency exists within Houston County, effective retroactively to March 18, 2020,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by Houston County Board of Commissioners that pursuant to Minnesota Stat. Sec 12.29, the Declaration of Local Emergency by the Board Chair shall remain in effect as long as the State of Minnesota peacetime emergency declaration remains in effect or until revocation or further action by the Houston County Board of Commissioners, and hereby authorizes and directs the Houston County Administrator, Sheriff, County Attorney, County Staff, Public Health and Emergency Management officials (Leadership Team) to undertake all actions necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Houston County, including through the judicious exercise of the powers and responsibilities provided in Minn Stat Sec 12.37, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Houston County Board of Commissioners further directs the County Administrator and Leadership Team to immediately review ordinance and regulatory requirements, operations, civil and legal proceedings, events and resources that can and should be adjusted, modified, or suspended to support Houston County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Administrator and Leadership Team shall act collectively to request and coordinate appropriate aid and resources from surrounding jurisdictions, the State of Minnesota and the federal government, as needed, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, under Minn Stat. 13D.021 and Minn. Stat. 373.052 Subd. 1b., the Chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners further directs the County Administrator and Leadership Team to take all right and prudent steps necessary to amend, suspend or otherwise adjust public access to County facilities, and normal locations, days and hours of County activities, operations and programs, in order to comply with the guidelines set by the White House, CDC and MDH for gatherings and social distancing, as well as based upon available County staffing and resources during this COVID-19 pandemic.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, under Minn. Stat. 13D.021, the Chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners declares further in-person meetings of the County Board of Commissioners and other public bodies of the County to be impractical or imprudent during the COVID-19 pandemic, under the guidelines set by the White House, CDC and MDH for gatherings and social distancing, thus leading the Chairman to direct that:
– Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13D.021, in-person meetings of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and other boards and commissions of Houston County are not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 health pandemic and the emergency declared by Governor Walz pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 12.
– Meetings of the County Board, the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and other County boards and commissions may be conducted by telephone, video conferencing or other electronic means.
– In-person public attendance at meetings of the County Board, the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and other County boards and commissions is not feasible, except by limiting in-person public attendance to as few people as possible for the necessary conduct of the public’s business in the meeting room, with social distancing guidelines enforced, or as otherwise limited by recommendations and guidelines from state and federal authorities.
– County staff shall take such action as may be necessary to allow for such meetings to occur via telephone, video conferencing, or other electronic means as well as live streamed via the County’s website pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, § 13D.021, until such time as it is determined that in-person meetings may resume.
– County staff shall take such action as may be necessary to limit in-person public attendance to as few people as possible for the necessary conduct of the public’s business in a meeting room and enforce social distancing guidelines, or otherwise limit such attendance as may be directed by the County Administrator based on recommendations and guidelines from state and federal authorities.
– County staff shall take such action as may be necessary to provide electronic access (conference call, live-stream video when available) to meetings where in-person public attendance is limited in order to allow members of the public who wish to attend the meeting to hear all discussion and testimony and all votes of the members of the board or commission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this Declaration of Local Emergency, additions or changes to this declaration, the eventual termination or expiration of this declaration, and any and all official communications pertaining to the same, shall be given prompt and general publication, including on the County’s website and social media sites, and immediately filed by the County Clerk.
Burns moved, Walter seconded, unanimously carried to approve a 120 Hour Voluntary Furlough Extension Policy. Arrick-Kruger shared this policy change extends the normal 40 hour furlough opportunity to 120 hours during the declared emergency to provide qualified employees flexibility in caring for self and/or family during this period. (D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:Y, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
Walter moved, Miller seconded, carried to approve a Policy on Advancement of Paid Leave during a Declared Public Health Emergency. Arrick-Kruger recommended this policy to provide flexibility with sick leave primarily for new employees, by allowing the advancement of up to 120 hours of paid sick leave after exhausting any earned leave. Arrick-Kruger explained further that these two leave policies were drafted prior to the announcement of new Federal leave programs. Based on the wording of the Federal leave acts, those programs would be applied first before the new county leave/furlough policies are applied. Burns expressed concern with policy language related to application of the Federal policies. (D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:N, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
Walter moved, Miller seconded, unanimously carried to approve Resolution 20-21, EDA Loan Deferments. (D1:Y, D2:Y, D3:Y, D4:Y, D5:N/A)
RESOLUTION NO. 20-21
State of Emergency – COVID-19 – EDA Loan Deferments
WHEREAS, the Novel Coronavirus Disease SARS-CoV-2 virus, commonly known as COVID-19 poses an eminent and serious threat to the residents of Houston County, and;
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, beginning on January 27, 2020, and;
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a National Emergency, and;
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-01 declaring a Peacetime State of Emergency to authorize any and all necessary resources to be used in support of the COVID-19 response, and;
WHEREAS, the White House, Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have recommended drastic measures and restrictions on group gatherings and social distancing practices in all settings, and;
WHEREAS, The significant community, organizational, institutional and business responses to the COVID-10 pandemic have the potential to compromise the provision of essential public services, including a reduction in the size of the workforce due to school closures, isolation, or quarantine, and;
WHEREAS, the necessary resources to respond to and recover from this pandemic, as well as to mitigate the significant business disruption experienced within the County, will exceed resources within the County, and additional resources will be needed from Houston County, and state and federal sources; and;
WHEREAS, the Chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, under the authority given in Minn. Stat. Sec 12.29 Subd. 1, declared a local emergency exists within Houston County, effective retroactively to March 18, 2020, and;
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-15 to make more resources available to businesses impacted by Executive Orders 20-04 and 20-08, authorizing local units of government or lending partners that have revolving loan funds that were provided by the State Minnesota Investment Fund program appropriations or Minnesota Investment Fund Disaster program appropriations, may over the next 90 days issue loans to retail and services providers within local revolving loan fund guidelines, and;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by Houston County Board of Commissioners that the Board directs the County Administrator and Leadership Team to review Houston County Economic Development Loan Guidelines and implement changes needed to comply with the
Governor’s Peacetime Emergency Declaration and Executive Orders, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by Houston County Board of Commissioners that all payments on current Economic Development loans provided through the County are deferred for the next three (3) months and the loan maturity dates be extended three months without change to interest or payment amounts.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Administer Babinski share details of the current operations of the County, with most operations continuing, but with public access to facilities limited to essential appointments only. He shared the Township association cancelled their meeting for March 31. He stated the special election scheduled for April 14 was still planned to occur as scheduled.
Walter: attended the EMS meeting, and attended the Workforce Development meeting; there is a pilot program in Houston County to help past the first year of working, also helping Dads working and child support.
Burns: nothing to add
Miller: nothing new to add at this time. Thank you to all our employees.
Johnson: wants to thank all the employees, I am proud of them.
No additional public comment.
There being no further business and the time being 11:08 a.m., motion was made by Burns, and seconded by Johnson and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting. The next advertised meeting being a Board Workgroup Session on Tuesday, April 07, 2020.
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 HOUS-TON 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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