Land Commissioner Betty Schultz gave the county board an update on April 15 on its potential land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service. Schultz said the exchange is unlikely to happen until January 2015—at the earliest.
Schultz said a meeting with the Forest Service was held on April 2, 2014. She said an appraiser from Forest Service Region 9 had been assigned to determine the criteria for the appraisal; to develop a contract for an appraiser; and to select an appraiser. That is likely not to be done before June.
She said the first phase of the exchange process is to appraise all the lands on the Forest Service and Cook County exchange lists. Once the appraisals are done, probably in late September, the appraisals will be reviewed and values equalized. Then, an environmental assessment must be completed.
Schultz said the Forest Service believes a draft decision notice would be issued in mid-November. After the decision is issued, there is a 45-day comment period. “This would bring us to January 15 at the earliest. We’re hoping to get on the agenda for the land exchange board in the spring,” said Schultz.
That is, if the northern longeared bat doesn’t get in the way. Commissioner Bruce Martinson, who had also attended the meeting with the Forest Service, said that Gunflint District Ranger Nancy Larson had expressed concern that the bat would be placed on the federally protected species list this fall. Martinson said it is not sure how this would impact future Forest Service projects.
Schultz said she wanted to get more information before bringing this concern before the board. She said if a biological opinion is necessary from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that review could take 90 – 135 days. “We’ll see what happens,” said Schultz. “I’ll keep you informed.” . The county agreed to support a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) presented by Sheriff Mark Falk for $13,966 to be used for boat and water safety. . Auditor Braidy Powers presented draft resolutions for the Minnesota DNR ski trails and snowmobile trails assistance program. The county board approved both, agreeing to be fiscal sponsors for the ski and snowmobile clubs in 2015. . Commissioners agreed to pay voluntary dues to the Heart of the Continent Partnership (HCOP) in the amount of $250, which puts them in the associate partner category. Commissioners stated their support for HCOP and contemplated donating $500, which would make the county a sustaining partner, but said since this is not a budgeted item they were not comfortable with giving more. . Commissioner Bruce Martinson asked his board colleagues to send a letter of support for MN House bill HF 3167, which would enact a $450 tax credit for qualified volunteer firefighters, First Responders and ambulance attendants.
County Emergency Management Director Jim Wiinanen said he supported this bill. He said, “I hear it locally and regionally—it’s more and more difficult to get volunteers who can make the commitment to train for EMS, to take all that time away from their families.”
The board passed a unanimous motion of support.
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