Planning and Zoning Administrator Bill Lane came before the county board on Tuesday, December 1 with two requests for conditional use permits (CUPs).
After discussion, the board approved an amendment for a CUP to the Croftville Row Homeowners Association.
Part of that agreement stipulates that the association has its septic system inspected. Cook County’s Environmental Health Officer Mitch Everson sent the association a letter stating that while the new sewage treatment system was completed in 1999, the system hadn’t been inspected since then.
Lane said rules state “a certificate of compliance is valid for five years from the issue for new construction.”
“This was an uncomfortable process that shouldn’t have taken place,” said Lane.
There are eight lakefront cabins that are owned by individuals in the association, said Lane. The Homeowner’s Association architectural committee, said Lane, thought it had precedence over Cook County zoning laws and allowed some modifications like decks and patios to be added to the cabins without getting permits through the county. All of the additional decks and patios will receive “after the fact” permits, said Lane, and fees and penalties will be sent to the homeowners.
At this point in time, said Lane, the Homeowners Association was working in good faith with the county to resolve their issues.
Lane also presented a request for a CUP to allow the Gloria Noren house to be used as a duplex. The house has been sold to Lutsen Mountain Corp (LMC) and was designed so it could easily be turned into a duplex, said Lane. Lutsen Mountain Corp wants to use it to house workers with families.
Lane said Noren applied for a variance from the R-1 zone requirement to allow a duplex on property that has less than two acres. Her property is a little over one acre. Both the Planning Commission and Office of Planning and Zoning supported the request and urged the board of commissioners to support the zoning change.
Lane said 21 nearby homeowners/ property owners were notified, “And no one objected to the change.”
“Is there any reason why we shouldn’t grant this change?” asked Commissioner Frank Moe.
“No, there is no reason you should deny this,” said Lane, and with that the board voted unanimously to grant the variance.
Sick leave conversion request tabled
Commissioners tabled a request by Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen to convert Judy Sivertson’s sick leave bank to her health care savings account. Currently those hours are “frozen” and the only way she can take advantage of them is if she gets sick.
Eliasen said, “I was allowed to convert my sick leave (186 hours) to paid leave hours as part of the last contract negotiation. I was the only union member with sick leave. Since Judy is not a member of a bargaining unit, we are requesting from the board to allow Judy to convert her sick leave hours to her health care savings account in the same fashion to provide uniformity for everyone at the Sheriff ’s Office and the rest of the county employees who still have hours accrued. There are five other non-union employees and seven union members with sick leave.”
Commissioner Garry Gamble said he was concerned with setting a precedent, adding his concern had nothing to do with the individual making the request. Moe agreed with Gamble and said before the board set a precedent for one individual the matter should be looked into further. County Administrator Jeff Cadwell said he would look into it and get back to the board with a clear answer by the board’s next meeting.
Joint powers agreement aids mentally ill
Cook County commissioners signed a joint powers agreement for Cook County to join with St. Louis, Lake and Carlton Counties to pursue commitment of people who are in imminent danger of hurting themselves or others due to mental illness or chemical dependency.
The agreement will pay for legal representation for individuals who are committed so an attorney (no matter their income) may represent them.
Each county will pay a percentage based on the relative percent of population that needs this service. St. Louis County will bear the brunt of the $29,085 payment ($16,669.20) to attorney Francis X Hughes of Virginia, Minnesota, while Cook County’s share is only $848.70 for 2016.
County administrator seeks commissioner feedback
With his six-month anniversary coming up, County Administrator Cadwell said he would like to meet with the board to discuss his role as county administrator and get clear direction about his duties and responsibilities. Commissioner Ginny Storlie said, “Jeff is the best thing that has happened since I have been here.”
The board didn’t set a firm meeting date, but agreed to meet as soon as possible.
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