The Polk County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday morning at the Polk County Government Center.
CONSENT ITEMS
The board began the meeting by approving the Auditor Warrants, which they approved unanimously.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES-JON STEINER
The board was then approached by Environmental Supervising Administrator Jon Steiner who came forward with a roll-off hauling contract with Lenes Sand & Gravel that was expiring on December 31 and was requesting bids for another contract for 2023-25. Steiner explained that the contract includes service for material hauling between the Crookston Transfer Station, Gentilly Landfill Complex, and the Fosston Resource Recovery Facility, with services including ash, leachate, fines, and demolition debris hauling. But, he reported that they had not received any bids at their opening bid date on Monday, November 28, so they needed to find alternatives for completing the work. “We’re currently looking at alternatives, whether the county gets into the hauling business and we buy some trucks or hire some drivers, whether we rebid, or if there’s some other relief that we can do with a direct quote with our existing contractor,” Jon Steiner explained. “That’s still being determined by the County Attorney and our review.” Steiner noted that if they opened bids again, they would have to go through the bidding process again and would not have them ready until January 2023.
MSW Landfill Phase 14 Project
Steiner then came forward with a Change Order for the Polk County Landfill awarding the Phase 14 MSW Landfill project to R.J. Zavoral & Sons for $2,026,489.90. He explained that the project had three parts, for the New MSW Cell #14, the final cover over closed MSW LF areas, and install a new Leachate Collection System (pumps/control panel/tank). Steiner reported that Zavoral had encountered issues connecting the below-grade culvert as it was located out-of-line with the new work and had several areas obstructing the water flow. So, they put together a Change Order to remove the damaged culvert and allow them to install a new culvert in the proper location for $11,000. The board approved the order unanimously.
PUBLIC HEALTH-SARAH REESE
The board then heard Polk County Public Health Director Sarah Reese on a request to enact an American Rescue Plan Distribution. She explained that the Health Department initially wished to distribute $232,672 for 2022, but they had only spent $88,270.63 after events from the first three quarters of the year and after receiving additional federal funds specifically related to COVID funds. She reported that $14,157.73 had gone to COVID-19 Vaccinations and $7,881.07 went to COVID-19 Testing, which was $1,863.07 over their budgeted amount. She also reported that Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing Homes, Schools, etc.) used $2,286.86 and $810.96 for Personal Protective Equipment. They also used $639.50 for Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses and $62,494.51 for Payroll costs for Public Health, Safety, and other Public Sector Staff responding to COVID-19. She also reported that they were planning to allocate another $35,000 for the final quarter of the year to make them distribute $123,270.63. The board approved the distribution plan unanimously.
Proposed 2023 Public Health ARP Partners
Reese then came forward with a report of the Public Health Department’s proposed 2023 ARP Partners, where she reported that $386,000 would be distributed to several categories and partners with the department. She reported that $330,000 would go to School districts and private schools for nurse, health aide, and administrative staff payroll costs involved in responding to COVID-19. Another $6,000 went to the Community Coordinator organizations that connect Polk County’s communities to COVID testing, vaccination, communications, and COVID-19-related food/housing resources. $30,000 went to mental health and wellbeing services/substance use services, and $20,000 went to the food bank and food shelves for food insecurity.
Opioid Settlement Advisory Council members
The final item Reese brought forward was a list of the multi-sector partners and community member applicants who applied, were reviewed, and recommended for the Polk County Opioid Settlement Advisory Council that had been presented to the board a month ago. The list of current members included
- Polk County Attorney Greg Widseth
- Polk County Sheriff James Tadman
- Molly Paulsrud
- Sarah Shimek
- Kirsten Fagerlund
- Abdirisak Duale
- Abdirashid Jama
- Aeisso Schrage
- Andrew Larson
- Cassie Heide
- Catherine Johnson
- Crookston Police Department Chief Darin Selzler
- Elizabeth Boucher
- Jackie Hanson
- Jacob Dahle
- Jodi Ramberg
- Laura DeLage
- Malissa Burnette
- Marley Melbye
- Shannon Kronlund
- Shayla Solberg
- Polk County Public Health Director Sarah Reese
She noted the council included several members with lived experiences, law enforcement, and all parts of Polk County but noted there were still some applications in the review process. “We have done our initial review of the applications and recommended a series of individuals who geographically represent all parts of Polk County, a variety of disciplines, and community members as well. We’re excited to have individuals be willing to share their time, talents, and lived experience,” Sarah Reese explained. “We will, as Public Health, be working with this group of individuals to get information and for them to provide us with direction on how to best use the funds.”
Reese explained that the county had received a National Opioid Settlement fund of about $1.9 million and had parameters they had to follow for using the fundings based on prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies and would work with the board on how best to utilize them. Reese noted that the council is looking to add additional members in the future, and if anyone wished to submit their name for the future, they could contact Polk County Public Health to submit their applications. The board approved the list of members unanimously.
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE-GREG WIDSETH
County Attorney Greg Widseth then approached the board with Public Health Director Sarah Reese, Polk County Sheriff Jim Tadman, and Assistant Environmental Services Administrator Jacob Snyder to discuss preparing a possible THC Edibles Moratorium Interim Ordinance for a temporary ordinance placing a moratorium on the sale of hemp-derived of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) food and beverages within the county.
Public Health Director Sarah Reese came forward to show some effects of THC on youth and its impact on families. She also voiced that while she understood that it didn’t have harmful effects on people’s bodies like other drugs such as tobacco, she was concerned about its impact on people driving, like how people are affected when they drink alcohol.
Polk County Sheriff Jim Tadman reported that the deputies used tests for impaired driving for alcohol and other forms of THC, but they had no way of testing the levels of the edibles if they pulled a driver over.
Widseth noted that the ordinance could still change drastically in the future with how the enforcement of the law could be addressed, and much of it was up to the counties. After much discussion, several board members voiced their support for the ordinance and requested for Widseth and his department to begin work on a moratorium. “A lot of counties and cities are considering or have passed Moratoriums,” County Attorney Greg Widseth explained. “We were looking for the direction of the board and if it was something that they wanted to do, and they indicated that they did, so our staff will put together a proposed moratorium ordinance, bring it before the board, and they can make a determination if they want to pass that or not.”
SANDHILL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The board added one item to its agenda, which was that the Sandhill Advisory Committee made a request to reappoint two members to their committee, which the board approved unanimously.
The Board of Commissioners will next meet on Tuesday, December 13, at the Polk County Government Center.
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