Dave Eckel knows how to work in a safe manner and keep those around him safe while he is performing his many maintenance duties at various Cook County buildings. For his exemplary work and attention to detail, Eckel, who has 39 years, 7 months on the job, was awarded the county’s first ever Safety Achievement Award at the Cook County Board of Commissioners Jan. 23 meeting.
Cook County commissioners approved a three-year labor contract with the Cook County Employee Association (CCEA) that calls for a 2.5 percent wage increase over the next three years, as well as a change in cost-share health benefits with the county picking up 80 percent of the costs while the employees pay 20 percent of their health insurance.
The contract was ratified at the board’s January 23 meeting.
Other measures in the employee contract include adopting the recommendations made in the Keystone Class/Compensation study and synchronization of paid time off accrual schedules. There was also a longevity incentive for those who have served 10, 15, and 20 years of service. Cook County Community Center Park
Cook County Community Center Director Diane Booth brought forth a request for additional funds of $194,000 from the Cook County Amateur Hockey Association.
The CCAHA, which has $32,000 to contribute, is asking for an expansion of facilities as well as putting in concrete curbs for the outdoor ice rink.
Estimates to remove the hockey rink’s current concrete, re-grade the rink areas, pour new concrete and install curbs and footings as well as re-attach newly faced board, and reinstall fencing on ends will cost $185,000.
Included in the new estimate is building a 36-foot by 65-foot (2,300 square foot) building that would include room for a more substantial warming house, a Zamboni garage, a place for a skate sharpener, storage for hockey equipment, skate rental storage, etc.
“This has changed our bonding request considerably,” said Booth. “We had planned to keep our outdoor ice rink/warming house costs within allocated funding from dedicated 1 percent funds ($60,000), CCAHA ($42,000) and the hockey rink settlement ($132,700). Their plans are much more expensive then we planned.”
Booth said she realized the request was coming in late, so she appreciated the board’s consideration.
Initially, the CCC Park Board requested $183,713 to replace the 5-12-year-old playground and fenced area. Also asked was $22,000 to make a gravel parking lot behind the Community Center from recycled pulverized concrete removed from the hockey rink base that will be replaced.
With the new request from CCAH, the bonds needed to pay for improvements at the Community Center park total $400,013.
After some deliberation, the commissioners passed a motion to add the requested funds to the proposed Transportation Tax & Capital Project Bond. When the bonding list is complete, there will be a public hearing to gather comments on the proposed general obligations bonding projects. Following that meeting commissioners will set the 2018 bonding projects. Eckel receives safety award
For his dedication to employee and workplace safety, Rachel Espe and Judy Hill, gave David Eckel a plaque on behalf of the Safety & Wellness Committee. Eckel, a long-time maintenance department employee, is the first recipient of the Safety Achievement Award.
In other County business:
. Brody Smith, who has been working on a temporary basis over the last couple of months, was hired to fill the permanent part-time position as the Tofte Transfer Station facility attendant.
Smith will be paid $15.60 per hour, maintaining his existing wage pending the results of the negotiations with the Cook County EA.
. Following the recommendation of the Cook County Community Center Board of Trustees, commissioners appointed Frances Jarchow to a second three-year term on the Cook County Community Center Board to run from 1-1-2018 to 12-31-2020. Dick Swanson was named to fill the remainder of Bill Hennessy’s term. Hennessy resigned from the board with one year left. Judi Barsness was appointed to the first term of three years, which runs concurrently with Jarchow’s second term.
. Bids were approved to be advertised seeking a contractor to build the Tofte to Lutsen Connector Mountain Biking Trail. The trail is 16 miles long.
. Scott Harrison was appointed to another term on the Cook County/ Grand Marais Economic Development Association (EDA) board.
. The planning commission approved 10 of the 12 gravel pits reviewed by Land Services and other commissions involved in the process. Land Services asked for more time to address the Laboda/Kemp and Mathisen Cliff Creek pits at a later time as landscape conditions allow.
. A permit application to hold a raffle by the Cook County Ridge Riders at the South Shore Devil Track maintenance building on February 3 was approved.
. In light of the county board eliminating their regularly scheduled third monthly meeting where the board would approve payment for bills, Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers was passed by resolution to make payments for those bills. This will allow vendors who are on a tight schedule to be promptly paid.
. Interim Highway General Forman Charlie Sawyer was approved to fill the modified general foreman position within the highway department.
Also approved was the modified maintenance supervisor job description as reviewed by the personnel committee. The maintenance supervisor job, which was just opened up after the retirement of Russell Klegstad, will be posted to fill the vacancy.
. Following the recommendation of the Cook County Planning Commission the commissioners approved a rezoning of six parcels from FAR-1 to FAR-3 on properties near Camp 20 Road. The properties affected are from 5 to 15 acres and have been in place since 1946.
The change in zoning (FAR-1 is a minimum of 20 acres) allows property boundaries to be fixed between some of the owners who discovered that some of the cabins were on wrong property. By changing the zoning the property owners will be able to adjust the land boundaries without moving cabins or making other adjustments on what is now known as Hong Hill.
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