CONSENT AGENDA: removed sheriff’s request to enforce county rubbish ordinance; added approval of mylars

ELECTED OFFICIALS/DEPARTMENT/STAFF REPORTS:
-Sam Albrecht, County Manager, introduced Justin Klassen as new Director of Administration. Revised EC Organization Chart presented - Facilities & Fairgrounds is now under the Director of Administration; addition of Asset Management under Director of Administration; GIS, Compliance and Economic Development in planning stages but not yet authorized for staffing

PUBLIC COMMENT:
None

DISCUSSION ITEMS:
—Stranded properties - Sam Albrecht reported that there is a list of 92 (some are just for things like mineral rights) such properties; county will be verifying insurance coverage for liability purposes; making sure values match up with auditor’s numbers. Commissioner Thayer believes liquidating or maximizing benefits of these properties will provide “a pot of money that will benefit the county.”

—Sheriff Shayne Heap then spoke about 1122 Belgrade regarding rubbish; he wants to take it to court. Moved to grant authority to sheriff to issue summons.

—CDS Update - Albrecht reported on planning department pipeline: 3 preapplications coming, 11 preapp meetings already held, 25 past preapp meeting stage. Planning Commission will be meeting twice monthly.
Master Plan has gone to Design Workshop - preparing first draft (targeting late May or early June to BOCC).
Zoning regulations - refocusing on clearing out backlog and overlay (first draft due in June). Aligning building, zoning and subdivision regulations. Compliance patch update proposed to zoning regs that gives county more authority for enforcement (to PC on February 6 and to BOCC on February 14). Economic Development Zone Overlay is a change to zoning regs - allows commercial development in defined areas (to PC on February 6 and to BOCC on February 14). Fees - comparing our fees to neighboring counties.
CDS director search has closed - forming search committee; plan to make an offer in February; Baseline Engineering is working in county 3 days per week. Building regulations update - reviewing codes for compliance. Permit guidelines/fees being reviewed (Chris Pratt, building inspector, spoke to this issue).

—Gallagher Amendment Impacts - Commissioner Richardson explained purpose of Gallagher (to keep property taxes stable). Gallagher requires state-wide ratio of 45% residential and 55% non-residential for property tax collections. In EC, 67% of revenue is from residential. To maintain constant revenue in EC, residential must increase by $467 million or commercial property value must increase by $115 million. To diversify, EC must identify and correct assessment of commercial business use of residential properties, properly value commercial property, and encourage commercial development of undeveloped land. Public comment - Lance Bakemeyer, realtor, encouraged county to finish overlay; has commercial clients interested in doing business in EC. Citizen Susan Shick commented on Gallagher info on county website; she pointed out that on the county website there were 2 different documents; questioned if assessor’s office is correctly assessing properties; requested future presentation to public about Ag zoning - different types of and how determined; reiterated the importance of maintaining our rural character. Commissioner Thayer spoke to “gypsy businesses” - assessments of properties need to reflect what’s allowed per zoning.

—GIS contractor - almost finished selection process. Currently being done by employee in assessor’s office. Public comment - Linda Kraussert spoke to the accuracy of Sun Country tax increases regarding roads.