The June 19 county board meeting began with some apologies and two bouquets of flowers.
At the previous county board meeting, Molly Hoffman complained that commissioners did not made enough effort to publicize results of a 2009 study on the feasibility of a new community center facility in Grand Marais. Commissioner Fritz Sobanja took issue with some of her statements and called her “a liar.”
This week, Hoffman spoke again, saying that she took issue with being called a liar. Such an accusation is damaging for her reputation both personally and as a volunteer in the community, she said. She did offer a truce, however, saying, “I will apologize for pushing your buttons.”
Commissioner Sobanja capitulated, saying, “I sincerely apologize, Molly, for what I said—for calling you a liar.”
Hoffman then produced two bouquets of flowers from her garden and presented them to the board. She said she still didn’t know why the board didn’t bring results of the feasibility study more into the public eye.
As she left, Sobanja said, “Have a good day, Molly!”
In other county news:
. Sprinkler vendor refund
At the request of wildfire sprinkler system vendors Michael
Valentini, George Carlson, and Jim Stortz, the county board
agreed to return the $10,000 they had been withholding
from each vendor. The vendors had been required to
deposit these funds to protect the county and property
owners who have taken advantage of FEMA grants for
installation of sprinkler systems in heavily wooded, remote
areas of the county.
The county had planned to reserve the money until one
year after the three-year grant program ended. It would be
used if a vendor failed to complete a project or installed a
defective system. The program was extended one year and
will now end this fall.
“Without question we have demonstrated our commitment
to the program and the high integrity of the system we
have installed,” Valentini wrote in a letter to the board. “We
are well established businessmen in this county, we have
stood by our products, and we are not going anywhere. Our
reputations, the quality of our products and our relationships
to our customers should no longer be in question.”
Apparently the county board agreed.
. Property tax computer system upgrade
The board agreed to contribute a total of $50,835 over three
years to the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust,
a partnership of 13 counties, for modernization of several
of their computer systems, including the one related to
property taxes.
Cook County Assessor/Land Commissioner Mary Black
said the system they have been using is very outdated
and cumbersome. The new system will be easier for both
employees and the public to use, Black said.
The funds will come out of the county’s information
technology budget. “I told you these computers were going
to cost a lot of money!” Commissioner Sobanja said.
“It depends on how you look at it,” said Commissioner Jim
Johnson.
. Security upgrade cost revision
The board approved a revised cost of $36,495 for remodeling
the entrance to the county attorney’s office area to improve
security. In March they had authorized an expenditure of
$29,400 to install a bulletproof glass enclosure outside the
office area. The original specifications have been modified to
save on costs, County Attorney Tim Scannell told the board.
ORB Management, overseeing the county’s 1 percent
infrastructure and recreation sales tax capital improvement
projects, will manage the project at no cost as a donation
to the county. “The total project cost is a guaranteed, fixed
number,” said ORB President Tom Wacholz.
Builder Rick Crawford will do the work.
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