In the summer of 1995, I worked a three month internship at The Warroad Pioneer, which I'm sorry to say has since ceased operation. This was the first professional newspaper that I worked for in my career, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I had only worked at Bemidji State University's newspaper for about a year and half before landing the internship. At The Pioneer I gained experience in sports, feature, beat and government reporting. I designed pages, took and developed photographs and was responsible for community relations. The best part is that I remain friends with the owners nearly 30 years later.
July 25, 1995
By Devlyn Brooks
The Roseau County Board of Commissioners had a full slate ahead of them entering their Wednesday, July 19, meeting. However, as has happened a lot lately, the courthouse dominated the discussion once again.
Last week's discussion was over the signing of the four contracts that concern the building of the courthouse. The contracts were available for Board Chairman Doran Hunter to sign on Friday, July 14, but he refused to sign the contracts until he had discussed them with the rest of the Board.
Horner told the rest of the Board that he had a problem with the termination clauses that were included in each contract.
He said he didn't like that the clauses were entered after the Board had approved the contracts, and he didn't like how the termination clause in the Kraus-Anderson contract was worded.
"If we sign these contracts and we want to terminate them, we have to finance the contractors' lawyers and our attorneys," Horner said.
County Attorney Michelle Moren explained to the Board that the termination clauses were in place to protect the contractors from losses of profit should an injunction on the building of the courthouse occur.
Moren later explained that what Horner was concerned about was that in the case of an injunction, the county would have to pay for Kraus-Anderson's attorney fees if they had to settle with their subcontractors.
Horner did not think that it was a good idea to pay for their attorneys in the reality of an injunction.
Horner was also concerned about the fact that each termination clause was different in each contract. Moren told him that happened because each contractor negotiated differently.
"I think the contracts are good except the termination clauses," Horner said. So, he told the Board that he would sign the contracts as chairman if the other commissioners voted for it.
"We have Shelly as an attorney, and we have hired another attorney. They are responsible for these contracts," Commissioner Orris Rasmussen said. "We have to bow to their decision."
Horner answered back that it is not the county attorney who is responsible for the contracts. It is the County Board.
Commissioner Dick Jackson then spoke about the motion that the Board had passed which had said that the contracts would be used pending the county attorney's approval.
"I couldn't agree with contracts without the termination clause," Moren said. How could I put that burden on the county."
"I want to put it on the record either the Board wants to approve the termination clauses as a Board, and if we do, I want it recorded in the minutes that I am opposed to the termination clause so the people of Roseau County know that I am," Horner said.
Moren told the Board that Kraus-Anderson had had an attorney present at the federal injunction hearing who said that if construction was delayed they would sue the county.
She also explained to the Board that if Kraus-Anderson pulled out of the contract because the board took too long to sign it, that the company could sue each individual commissioner if a higher bid was accepted the second time.
Commissioner Glenn Darst seemed to end the discussion by asking Moren, "Is it in the best interests of Roseau County to sign these contracts?"
Moren answered that due to the liabilities the county was facing with the American Disabilities Act and the situation with Kraus-Anderson, she said that if the county did not sign, they could be in trouble.
"If we sign, I believe that we'll be OK," Moren said.
The Board approved a motion that Horner would sign the contracts on the Board's behalf, and that it would be noted in the meeting's minutes that Horner opposed the contracts. The vote was 4 to 1, Horner being the only one to vote no.
In other business, the Board managed to award a Moranville Township culvert project bid in the amount of $94,546 to Lian Construction of Grygla, Minnesota.
The Board also approved a solid waste contract with Mar-Kit pending some additions to it. This action has been supervised by County Environmental Officer Jeff Pelowski.
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