Cook County Attorney Molly Hicken and Inger Andress, a leadership advisor (Kai-Zen Solutions, LLC) in the community who has worked to bring awareness and solutions concerning social justice to the schools and county, presented information about the Restorative Justice program to the board.
When it’s up and running the Restorative Justice program will operate through the County Attorney’s Office to address harm after a crime has occurred, working with both the offender and injured party to repair the damage done.
What is restorative justice? It is a process through which parties with a stake in a specific offense collectively resolve how to deal with the aftermath of the crime and implications for the future.
Under the traditional system, offenders often suffer from the stigma of the offense, have low self-esteem, and can’t internalize what has happened and have little or no connection with the community
The program follows some basic principles. It focuses on the harm that was done and then works to repair that harm. It engages and empowers the victim’s offenders and communities. The communication process used restores trust and relationships.
Ninety (90) studies in seven countries have shown that victims and offenders are satisfied with the progress made through these sessions. These countries have found that through restorative justice there is lower recidivism and it is less costly to operate.
A restorative justice training will be held September 7-8 at Cook County Higher Education in Grand Marais. Commissioner Myron Bursheim was appointed to the Restorative Justice Committee with Commissioner Ginny Storlie agreeing to serve as the alternate.
Regionally, Pine and Carlton counties have both been using this program and report good results.
Mountain bike trail
Tim Kennedy of the Superior Cycling Association (SCA) and Land Service Director Lisa Kerr, along with Cook County Attorney Molly Hicken, requested the board sign an amendment to the Scope of Legacy Grant for the Tofte to Lutsen Connector Mountain Bike Trail, which the board agreed to do.
The amendment would allow the funds to be used to pay for completion of 7.3 miles of the proposed 15.5- mile route that will run from Britton Peak to Lutsen Mountains.
Initially, it was hoped there would be enough funds to pay to build the entire length of the trail, but the bids came in higher than expected.
Kennedy said the SCA would continue to seek additional grants and other funds so they can complete the remaining 8.2 miles of trail.
The low bidder was Rock Solid Trail Contracting, a single-track trail building company from Copper Harbor, Michigan.
In a separate motion, the county entered into a cooperative project management services agreement with the SCA, who agreed to help the county with the management of the project. SCA will assist with inspections and give updates about the progress of the trail as it is being constructed.
The 7.3-mile expansion will end at the intersection of the North Shore State Trail, giving the single-track riders a chance to take the North Shore state trail or turn around and ride back to Britton Peak.
The total cost of this trail build-out is $465,000, with the funds coming from the Federal Recreation Trails Grant ($140,625) and the rest coming for the Minnesota Legacy Funds.
Consent agenda
An advertisement for bids for the purchase and blending of 1,500 yards of winter sand was let. Submissions will be opened August 8.
Commissioners approved the Heck Epic Bike two-day bike event. Participants will bike from Two Harbors to Grand Marais on Saturday, July 21, and then camp overnight and race back to Two Harbors on Sunday, July 22. The roads used for the race are mostly gravel.
IT Director Rena Rogers laid out the reasons why the county should sell the 8×8 equipment shelter at Lutsen Mountain that was used to store tower communication equipment. The equipment shelter housed the county’s paging equipment, which is now located in the Great River Energy equipment shelter.
In her memo to the board, Rogers said the shelter was in marginal condition, and if it weren’t sold, the county would have it removed.
The sale of the equipment shelter to a current tower tenant would result in a couple of benefits to the county. The sale of the building would allow the county to move forward with a land lease with the building tenant and it would eliminate a liability associated with the shelter as well as cost to remove it.
Cook County Highway Engineer Krysten Foster received a motion of support from commissioners to hire Erickson Engineering to complete the design and permitting services and construction administration for the replacement of the culvert on the Two Island River bridge.
The estimated cost of the contract is $55,255 for both design and engineering with expenses eligible for state-aid reimbursement.
If more design work is needed and it is determined that a bridge, and not another culvert, is required to replace the current culvert, then the costs are estimated to increase to $104,237.
Foster said this contract will prepare Cook County to replace the Two Island bridge in 2019 through its state-aid program.
Based on next season’s construction outlook the county will pave CSAH 17 and make improvements to the Gunflint Trail near Trout Lake as well as upgrade South Shore Drive.
Next Foster brought forward a request to authorize to hire the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) to develop a 20-year Cook County Transportation Plan at the cost of $29,821. The motion passed 4-1.
Foster next asked the commissioners to review the liquid calcium chloride budget for the year. In April the county board approved the Tri-City Paving, Inc. bid of $96,100 to supply the county with 100,000 gallons of liquid calcium chloride. No decision was made about adding or subtracting the amount of liquid calcium chloride to the budget.
Revolving Loan
Hedstrom Lumber Company received subordination from the Cook County Revolving Loan Fund so it could refinance a loan for $500,000 from the Lake County Bank in Two Harbors.
Subordinated debt is a loan or security that ranks below other loans or securities about claims on assets or earnings. Subordinated debt is also known as a junior security or subordinated loan.
New system to set agendas
County Administrator Jeff Cadwell presented a system that will help to set agendas for various county boards.
Called Icompass Agenda Management, the system(s) is used by boards or county employees whose agendas and minutes are available for the public.
The Icompass Agenda Management system makes the process simpler and more efficient to get this material to the public, said Cadwell.
The cost for the Icompass Manager Pro version is $3,850 per year, and the Board Manager system is $1,500 per year. Commissioners voted 4-1 to purchase both systems.
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