October 28, 2025

The Lake of The Woods County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, October 14,2025 at Lake of the Woods County Government Center in the Commissioners’ Room.

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Jon Waibel called the meeting to order at 9:00a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners: Cody Hasbargen, Joe Grund, Buck Nordlof, and Jon Waibel. Joining by Phone: Commissioner Ed Arnesen. Also present was County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: Tobin Fisheries, Auditor’s Office Work Session, and Approve Final Payment: SAP 039-599-004 & SAP 039-599-005.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the official minutes of October 14,2025.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously by roll call approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $8,769.00; Commissioners Warrants $3,096.44; Commissioners Warrants $21,220.29.

MFIP Biennial Service Agreement

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) Biennial Service Agreement as presented by Social Services Director Amy Ballard.

Public Works

Case Conclusion Letter-MPCA

County Engineer Anthony Pirkl reviewed correspondence from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding the completion of requirements in the MPCA Stipulation Agreement.

Tobin Fisheries

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously by roll call with Commissioner Buck Nordlof abstaining to make an offer for the Tobin Fisheries building in the amount of $10,000.00 and for the county to remove the building, all contingent upon the County Attorney’s approval. 

Approve Final Payment

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the final payment of SAP 039-599-004 and SAP 039-599-005 for Korby Contracting Co. Inc. of Fergus Falls, MN in the total amount of $1,003,687.90 and hereby authorize final payment of $120,477.56.

Auditor/Treasurer

Claims

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $43,651.06; Road & Bridge $61,108.27; Joint Ditch $8,300.00; Solid Waste $106,970.49; EDA $1,550.00.

WARRANTS FOR PUBLICATION

Warrants Approved On 10/28/2025 For Payment 10/31/2025

Vendor Name Amount

Accurate HD Ltd. 46,805.50 
American Engineering Testing, Inc.   4,731.70 
Greenview Landscaping, Inc               20,900.00 
Hoffman, Philipp & Martell, PLLC     8,325.00
Integris LLC     2,023.71 
John Deere Financial                 4,104.54 
Larkin Hoffman Attorneys   23,315.00 
Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC     5,635.43 
LOW Highway Dept   59,625.22 
Marco Technologies LLC     2,765.65 
Titan Energy Systems, Inc     3,079.92 
Titan Machinery – Roseau     2,043.89 
U.S. Bank Equipment Finance                   6,268.50 
Ziegler, Inc   15,285.00 

27 Payments less than 2000 16,670.76

 Final Total: 221,579.82

Further moved to authorize the payment of the following auditor warrants: October 16, 2025 for $14,490.51; October 23,2025 for $394,805.04.

Con-Con Fund Application Review

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, Seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously by roll call to make allocations to the following organizations from the Con-Con funds, Payable 2026:

Lake of the Woods County Development Year 2026

Williams Arena Assoc-$7,000.00; Baudette Community Foundation-Grand Theater-$7,000.00; Friends Against Abuse-$2,500.00; LOW Humane Society-$7,500.00; Williams Sr Center-$4,000.00; Williams Potato Day-$1,000.00; Joint Powers Natural Resources Board-$1,000.00; LOW Sr Fishing-$1,500.00; Take A Kid Fishing-$2,000.00; Auditing Fees-$4,000.00; Rinke Noonan/Drainage-$2,400.00; Scouting America Troop 62-$1,000.00; Scouting America Pack 4062-$1,000.00; Lake of the Woods Senior Citizens Council-$5,000.00; Depot Preservation Alliance-$5,000.00; Baudette Community Foundation-Fireworks-$5,000.00.

Land & Water

Set Public Hearing

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously by roll call to set a public hearing for IUP #24-02IU on November 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

Maintenance

Quote Approval-Replacement of Condensing Coil

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the quote from Naylor Heating & Refrigeration in the amount of $3,596.02 for the replacement of a condensing coil in the AC unit on the roof of the county courthouse building.

Quote Approval-Fire Alarm Cell Dialer

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the quote from Summit Fire Protection in the amount of $1,800.00 to provide a cell dialer for the fire alarm panel in the public works building.

Invoice Approval-Troubleshooting the Fire Alarm System

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the invoice from Summit Fire Protection for troubleshooting the fire alarm system in the public works building in the amount of $1,913.00.

Contract Approval

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the contract between Lake of the Woods County and Trane for the Tracer SC+ web-enabled Network Controller upgrade project.

Emergency Management

Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program (CWDG) FY25

Approval to Apply and Begin RFP Process

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously by roll call to approve the request to apply for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program (CWDG) FY25 and begin the RFP process.

Sheriff

Stonegarden Sheriff Salary

Resolution

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the following:

AMEND COUNTY SHERIFF SALARY

Resolution No. 25-10-03

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Homeland Security has asked local law enforcement agencies along our Nation’s border to step up border monitoring, pursue joint objectives, and enhance their capabilities for providing border security; and,

WHEREAS, in an effort to assist local governments in fulfilling this request, the Department of Homeland Security through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, offered “Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant; and,

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office is a successful recipient of an Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant; and,

WHEREAS, the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff has undertaken, as additional duties, the responsibility to avail himself and his officers for additional training, or to provide such training for his officers’ himself, for border protection and border security, and the additional duties of improving the distinct capability of the sheriffs’ office as a whole with regard to border security and border patrol as part of a joint mission; and in addition, as and for additional duties, the sheriff will necessarily devote more of his own time to border patrol and border enforcement; and,

WHEREAS, the Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant given to assist the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office in its efforts to secure the border includes the sum of $123,750.00 and $117,090.00 of this grant is for salaries.

WHEREAS, it is estimated that these additional border security duties will necessitate that the Sheriff expend on average another eight (8) hours per week; and,

WHEREAS, the Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant given to assist the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office in its efforts to secure the border includes the sum of $108,900.00 and $53,900.00 of this grant is for salaries and benefits.

WHEREAS, it is estimated that these additional border security duties will necessitate that the Sheriff expend on average another 8 hours per week; and,

WHEREAS, through the Operation Stonegarden 2023 and 2024 grants, all of the additional overtime worked by officers devoted to border security issues is fully reimbursable under the grant, including the cost of officer overtime pay, PERA, Medicare and worker’s compensation, so that the net cost of the additional homeland security duties to Lake of the Woods County is fully reimbursed by the grant.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the resolution setting the sheriff’s salary, as originally set by this board on December 17, 2024 was $109,306.80 and fringe benefits were $20,932.25, was amended for the 2023 Stonegarden Grant and the sheriff’s salary was increased by the sum up to $16,752.00 and fringe benefits were increased up to $3,208.01 commencing January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, has now ended and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, now amending the sheriff’s salary for the 2024 Stonegarden Grant so that the sheriff’s salary be amended and increased by the sum of up to $4,188.00 and fringe benefits are increased up to $802.00 commencing October 25, 2025 through December 31, 2025, with the increase funding from the Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant contingent upon the following:

1. That the Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant funding was available; and is now completed;
2. That the Sheriff worked, in addition to his regular duties, eight (8) hours per week of said Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant.
3. That the Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant funding be available;
4. That the Sheriff works, in addition to his regular duties, eight (8) hours per week of said Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant.

At such time that the Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant funding is no longer available and/or if the Sheriff is unable to complete the additional eight (8) hours per week of Operation Stonegarden 2023 grant work, and that at such time the Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant funding is no longer available and/or if the Sheriff is unable to complete the additional eight (8) hours per week of Operation Stonegarden 2024 grant work, the Sheriff’s salary shall return to the original balance set by the board on December 17, 2024 in addition to the accumulated Stonegarden wages earned based on Stonegarden funding available and actual hours worked.

Set Work Session

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously by roll call to set a work session for November 12,2025 following the regular board meeting.

Adjourn

Motion

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Jon Waibel and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:43 a.m.

Attest: Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson

November 12, 2025

Chair Jon Waibel