By MaryHelen Swanson

A unanimous board decision last Wednesday night, April 6, found the Chisago County commissioners in agreement calling for a public hearing on the adoption of a road reconstruction plan.

Part two of that motion, calls for the issuance of general obligation bonds, in an amount not to exceed $10 million, to fund the plan.
The county is up against a time line, of sorts, because, as financial consultant Carolyn Drude noted, the state legislature has introduced a bill that says county can't sell bonds after May 31 of this year if a tax levy is needed to repay them.

After a road tour earlier this year, commissioners Rick Olseen and Mike Robinson worked, as the board's transportation committee, with the county highway department to find a way to make much needed road improvements in the county.

"This is a good start," said Olseen last week.

Drude, of Ehlers and Associates, presented the board with five options for structuring the issuance of bonds.

The board did not pick an option but would like to find one that will keep the tax increase as low as possible.

Commissioner Lynn Schultz agreed that roads needed improvement, but said they were not the only needs in the county. She said she'd like to see the bond amount closer to $6 million.

The board was reminded by Drude that it has to be a unanimous vote on the bond issue, according to the law.

Robinson, concerned that that unanimous vote would not be there, suggested a $6.5 million bond now, with more added later. Schultz said she did not want to delay the projects, but was just concerned about the amount.

A unanimous vote was had to hold the public hearing on April 27 at 10:30 a.m.

In other business, the county board:
ï discussed commissioner assignments again, with two assignments being officially added to Commissioner Schultz' list: Juvenile Substance Abuse Court and the agriculture committee at the Association of Minnesota Counties. During this time, Commissioner Olseen turned to Chairman Bob Gustafson and said he felt it was appropriate for him (Gustafson) to remove himself from the county park board because of a conflict of interest. Gustafson schedules the use of county ball fields as part of the park board and also runs a summer recreation program. Olseen's motion was seconded by Montzka. Then Schultz offered a motion to table action until April 27 so she could talk to the park board people. She said she's seeing two sides of inappropriate behavior and wanted more information. The motion was seconded by Robinson and passed 4-1, with Montzka opposed.

ï provided reports of committees and assignments.

ï discussed a possible policy on per diem payments. Olseen said he would like to see one put together detailing what is and is not allowed. It hasn't been clear, he said. The board agreed to have staff develop a formal policy.

ï discussed creation of a policy on bill payments. Montzka moved that no bills be paid until approved by the board, his motion died for lack of a second. The county already has an adopted resolution, as pointed out by Olseen, that says bills can be paid upon approval of the county administrator.

County Administrator John Moosey said it was more appropriate for the auditor's office to deal with this issue. The board directed Moosey to work with Auditor Dennis Freed to develop a bill payment system that will work.

ï began the discussion on a policy on the use of county property, particularly buildings. Montzka brought this item to the board. He said, in response to a recent meeting of a recreation group in the board room, that use of the building should be suspended by commissioners until the issue can be worked out.

Olseen said personalities had to be taken out of the picture, and suggested a fee schedule and policy such as school districts use for use of buildings.

Gustafson said county commissioners should be able to hold meetings in the buildings, the public is paying for them, he said. He reviewed the history of the recreational group going back 15 years and said he had been allowed by past county boards to have his office (as rec director) in the government center and that he has always held meetings there and the boards knew about it. About this time several people in the audience stood in silent protest. One county resident came forward and was told to sit down by County Attorney Kathryn Johnson.

In the midst of the disruption, Robinson moved to adjourn the meeting, Schultz made the second and the board meeting came to an abrupt end. Montzka was left in the middle of trying to make a motion on a building use policy.

The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. April 20.

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