PolyMet land purchase on McFarland off– conservation easement on
Some people are happy to hear that companies like PolyMet Mining are working on launching non-ferrous mining operations on the Iron Range because of the boost it will bring to Minnesota’s economy. Others are vehemently opposed to such operations because of concerns over potential environmental damage. Some might feel indifferent over the matter if it doesn’t directly affect Cook County. […]
100 City legal fees going up
Grand Marais city councilors wrapped up the year with a brief meeting Dec. 29. It was the last meeting for Mayor Sue Hakes, who will move on to her new job as a Cook County commissioner, and Councilor Kay Costello, who also ran for the county commissioner position and was therefore not eligible for re-election to her city council seat. […]
Limit on public comment at county board meetings?
Cook County Commissioners expected a quick organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 4, 2011. However, instead of simply divvying up committee and board assignments, the board had impassioned debate over possible changes to the way public comment to the county board is accepted. Following the board and committee appointments, County Attorney Tim Scannell suggested adding public comment period to the agenda […]
Distributing duties for the new year
The first Cook County commissioner meeting of 2011 began with the oath of office for newly elected government officials—County Commissioner Sue Hakes and re-elected commissioners Bruce Martinson and Jan Hall, as well as Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers, County Attorney Tim Scannell, Recorder Dusty Nelms, and Sheriff Mark Falk. After Cook – Lake County Court Administrator Diane Herrick-Schmidt conducted the swearing-in ceremony, […]
Public comments should be welcome
The first meeting of the Cook County commissioners each year is normally not a very interesting event. New or re-elected commissioners and other government officials are sworn in and the county board spends about an hour on housekeeping matters. The most exciting part of the meeting is usually the nomination and election of the new county board chair. However this […]
What will 2011 bring?
I wonder about 2011. One hopes that this New Year will bring better things and brighter times, but I wonder. I believe this country and its people are now too damaged to prosper in any way. We have borders we have not and cannot control. We have shelters full of discarded people; shelters full of discarded animals; United States military […]
County should seek alternatives to owning hospital
As a Cook County property owner and a current Minnesota hospital chief executive officer I am concerned over the projected financial losses at the Cook County Hospital and Care Center. My foremost concern is that residents and visitors have access to primary and emergency care. This includes family practice physicians, ambulance and first responders, and a well-staffed and equipped emergency […]
