Highlights from the Cook County Commissioners’ January 28 meeting include the following:
*Some 49 local election judges for the 2020 Presidential Nomination Primary were approved by motion. The auditor’s office serves as a polling place and all of the auditor’s staff have been trained to serve as election administrators and judges.
Citizen election judges are paid $12 per hour for training and service. The state reimburses counties for a substantial portion of the costs.
*A resolution was approved to seek funding for election equipment from the state Voting Equipment Grant. The county is seeking $5,005 from the state in a grant that requires matching cash from the county. The grant had to be submitted by January 31, 2020.
*Commissioners approved purchase of a 2018 Caterpillar 305.5E2H2R Mini Excavator for $62,675.06 to replace a 2017 mini excavator that was totaled in an accident October 2019.
In her report to the board, Cook County Highway Engineer Kristen Foster stated, “thankfully, no one was injured when the mini excavator was damaged.” The machine had 420 hours at the time of the accident, and the replacement machine comes with 273 hours. After the deductible, insurance paid $60,430, with the remaining replacement cost to be paid from the department’s equipment fund.
The highway crew uses the mini excavator to replace small culverts and do other tasks that do not require the lifting capacity of a full-size excavator.
* The board approved purchase of a new x-ray machine for the courthouse entrance at a cost of $16,274 because the current machine is no longer working. The annual service charge—which doesn’t go into effect until next year, is $3,450 annually.
* Commissioners approved renewing a contract with Lake County for Shared Public Health Nurse Services. Jailers need specialized training to meet DOC 2911 rules.
Also signed was an agreement with Lake County Jail to provide inmate medical services for Cook County residents housed in the Lake County jail if those services are needed.
Currently, when an inmate from Cook County needs medical attention and is housed in the Lake County jail, an officer from Cook County drives to the Two Harbors’ jail and then takes the patient to the Two Harbors’ hospital for treatment. The average time is four hours to provide this service, and the deputy is often on overtime. Lake County has agreed to take any ill Cook County patients to the local hospital for $120.65 an hour, billed in 15-minute increments.
* The following people were re-appointed to serve on the Parks & Trails Commission: Linda Newman (District 1); Mickey Brazell (District 3); and Tim Kennedy (Grand Marais); all having a term expiration date set for January 2022. The purpose of the Parks & Trails Commission is to serve as advisors to the Commissioners for short-term and long-term planning of the parks and trails.
* Commissioners agreed to terminate a revolving loan agreement for $52,505.87, and release Nick Hingos from the personal guaranty under the contract and approve a new loan of $52,505.87 with Gary Nesgoda LLC. Nick and Gary have ended their partnership in their Firewise business.
Following a review and approval by the planning commission of 10 gravel permits operating in 2019 in the county, the commissioners approved the ten gravel permits for operation in 2020.
* Nelson Machine Products and North Shore Waste each received an annual Solid Waste Haulers license for 2020.
*William Hohle was hired to fill the Highway Engineer Technician position.
* Cook County Emergency Management Director Mike Keyport was approved as an alternate to the Northeast Minnesota Emergency Communications Board (ECB) and approved as a representative to the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) with Rowan Watkins selected as an alternate to the RAC for 2020.
* The county board approved and authorized signature of the Natural Resources Block Grant ((NRBG).
Each year the county submits the NRBG report to the state to show how the money was spent for the prior year.
In his report, Cook County Land Manager Tim Nelson stated that the county uses the block grant to help fund our wetlands, shore land, water plan management, and septic programs.
* Scott Smith, Devil Track Lake, requested a conditional use permit to rent up to two units of his duplex. For six months of the year, he will be on-site, and for the other six months the two units may be used for vacation rental with a manager overseeing the operation. Smith’s request was granted.
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