Dakota County Board: June 16, 2009

Summary of Proceedings

Dakota County Board of Commissioners

July 7, 2009

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners met at 9:12 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in the Boardroom, Administration Center, Hastings, Minnesota. All County Board members were present. The minutes of the County Board meeting, held June 16, 2009, were approved as presented and entered in Commissioners’ Record MM.

Chair Gaylord asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to address the County Board on an item not on the agenda or any item on the consent agenda. The following appeared and addressed the Board: Item 16.2 – Discussion Of Access Management Along Cedar Avenue: Dick, Joe and Mark Stranik, representing Stranik, Inc. (Midas); John Anderson and Peter Coyle, representing ADE Leasing (Jiffy Lube) and Item 16.3 – Request For County Board Action Related To Byllesby Dam Lease: Charles Alsberg and Bill Harris, North American Hydro Holdings, Inc.

Regional Extension Director Jayne Hager Dee introduced the William and Randy Sorg Families from Hastings as the 2009 University of Minnesota Extension Services Farm Family of the Year and highlighted their farming operation and activities. William and Juanita Sorg and family, Randy and Kelly Sorg and family, and Marian Sorg were present and received the award.

Environmental and Natural Resource Director Michelle Beeman and Land Conservation Manager Al Singer presented the 2008-09 Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention for the Farmland and Natural Areas Program and recognized the following staff for their contributions to the program, present: John Selvig and Troy Springer, Sentence-To-Service; Cathy Undem and George Kinney, Water Resources; and Lisa West and Bob Peterson, Parks and Open Spaces; not present: Brad Becker and Brian Watson, Soil and Water Conservation District.

ATTORNEY

Ratified submission of a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Office of Justice Programs for Crime Victim Services.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Public Health:

Approved the State Health Improvement Program plan and authorized execution of a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health for the Program and amended the Public Health budget. Authorized execution of the following contracts: 1) Association for Non-Smokers MN, to work with multi-housing owners and managers on tobacco-free housing; 2) Gardening Matters, to oversee community gardens; and 3) Related grant agreements/contracts for biking/walking, health eating interventions, Safe Routes to School, healthy eating activities, and breastfeeding interventions.

Social Services:

Ratified the grant application submitted to The Saint Paul Foundation for outreach, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing services.

Authorized execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with Community Housing Development Corporation and BDC Management Company for Chancellor Manor support services.

OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET

Operations Management:

Authorized execution of the contract with Collaborative Design Group, Inc. for the design of the new Fleet Storage Building in Empire Township.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Administration:

Environmental and Natural Resource Director Michelle Beeman introduced Item 16.3 – Request For County Board Action Related To Byllesby Dam. The following individuals appeared to address the Board regarding the lease with North American Hydro Holdings, Inc.: Charles Alsberg and Bill Harris, North American Hydro Holdings, Inc. (NAHH). Assistant County Attorney Jay Stassen responded to questions from the Board regarding the lease between Dakota and Goodhue Counties and NAHH. Authorized giving a 60-day termination notice of the Lease Agreement with NAHH and Neshkoro Power Associates (Neshkoro) and related parties of these companies, to vacate the Byllesby Hydroelectric Facility contingent upon Goodhue County Board of Commissioners’ approval. The Counties elected the option to purchase the non-leased equipment at the Byllesby Hydropower Facility. Rejected the June 12, 2009, settlement offer by Neshkoro to resolve Counties of Dakota and Goodhue v. NAHH claims and directed staff to work with the current Lessee to continue operation with a new operator.

Transportation:

Authorized execution of the following: 1) Agreement with the Metropolitan Council to receive state bond funds for professional right of way acquisition services for Cedar Avenue Transitway and amended the 2009 Dakota County Transportation budget; 2) Contract with Carl Bolander & Sons Company for County Project (CP) B 56-03 (Mississippi River Regional Trail) based on their low bid; 3) Century Fence Company for CP 97-90 (rumble strips & profile stripes) based on their low bid and amended the 2009 Transportation Capital Improvement Program budget; 4) Maintenance Agreement with South St. Paul to maintain County Roads; 5) Contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. for right of way acquisition services for Cedar Avenue Transitway, CPs 23-59, 23-64, and 23-70; 6) Agreement No. 94608-R with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to revise existing maintenance and operations of traffic signals at the intersections of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 50 (Kenwood Trail) and Jubilee Way in Lakeville and CSAH 56 and Dale Place in South St. Paul; and 7) Agreement with Lakeville for final design for Cedar Avenue Transitway Roadway Elements, CPs 23-59 and 23-70.

Transportation Director Mark Krebsbach introduced Item 16.2 - Discussion Of Access Management Along Cedar Avenue Transitway Corridor. Mr. Krebsbach responded to questions from the Board regarding access management on Cedar Avenue. The following individuals appeared to request that the access located 700 feet north of 155th Street remain open and to express other concerns with the Cedar Avenue Transitway project: Dick, Joe and Mark Stranik, representing Stranik, Inc. (Midas); John Anderson and Peter Coyle, representing ADE Leasing (Jiffy Lube).

PUBLIC SERVICES AND REVENUE

Assessing Services:

Approved a change in tax status as recommended by the County Assessor.

Property Taxation And Records:

Approved the following: 1) Tax Increment Financing Agreement between Dakota County and the South St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and 2) Christ Lutheran, Eagan plat approved by City Council and submitted it for recording.

COUNTY BOARD/COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

Administration:

Held the following Closed Executive Sessions: 1) County Of Dakota v. Rupp Industries, Inc., Et Al. (Nearco, LLC). Approved the settlement agreement for Parcel 47(311) (County Project 42-91); 2) Correction Of Error In Easement Agreement With Daniel Lee in Sciota Township; and 3) Conducted a mid-year evaluation of the performance of the County Administrator.

Communications:

Ramsey County Communications Director Art Coulson provided introduction and demonstration of the East Metro Recovery Website (Agenda Item 15.1), outlining economic recovery and stimulus efforts in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington Counties. Operations, Management and Budget Director Jack Ditmore provided an update on County Recovery Act funds.

Employee Relations:

Adopted the modifications to Employee Relations Policy No. 3300 Human Resource Development.

The County Board meeting was adjourned at 5:07 p.m.

The next regular Dakota County Board meeting will be held July 21, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.

The full text of the official proceedings of the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is available for public inspection at County Administration, Administration Center, 1590 West Highway 55, Hastings, Minnesota.

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