Cook County Commissioners met via Zoom on Tuesday, August 25 and covered a wide array of topics.
Central to the meeting was a public hearing held at 9:30 a.m. for proposed fee changes.
The auditor’s office proposed changing the bond issue information request from $150 to $250 and charging $25 for an E check issued with insufficient funds. Currently there is no charge for bouncing an E check. The bond information fees have not changed in approximately 15 years and do not reflect the time involved by staff to provide the Auditor’s Certificate.
E check payment refusals are similar to non-sufficient funded (NSF) checks and are becoming more common, although they are slightly less work to process than a NSF check.
Cook County Land Services proposed raising 2020 land use permit fees $50 for each size of tier of structures, as well as adjusting the subdivision ordinance fee from $200 to $500. Late penalties would double in the new Land Use Fee schedule.
It was noted in the proposal that there had been no change to the fee schedule since 2005/2006.
Two new fees were also proposed, a vacation rental license of $300 and a tower structure land use construction permit of $300.
It was noted that each of the listed fee increases still do not reflect the cost of the reviews required due to the complexities of the applications. “These proposed fees try to maintain the balance between covering the costs of the reviews, and the desire to encourage people to obtain the proper permits by keeping the costs low.”
After hearing the presentations from department heads the county board approved all of the fee changes.
Cook County Law Enforcement 2021 budget proposal
Cook County Sherriff Pat Eliasen presented the 2021 law enforcement budget. In his proposal was a request to create a new position, a full-time Sheriff ’s Technician.
Eliasen said that with the constant advances in technology, complexity of office accounting duties, management of data requests (some of which are very large and very time consuming), processing of firearm permits, Minnesota Permits to Carry paperwork, background checks, checking for completeness and preparation of reports for attorneys, processing civil papers for service and for financial institutions, coordinating the security and release of evidence from the evidence room, assisting jail with female inmates, and administration of various software applications for public safety, the current sheriff technician position is becoming overwhelmed with mandatory duties.
“To provide relief of the single person who is responsible for fulfilling all of the duties listed above, it is my request that another sheriff ’s technician position be created for this office. This will allow for a healthier work environment, with improved response and enhanced job performance without the risk of burnout. No increase to the budget for this position is anticipated.”
Eliasen said funds could be used from the ARMER Radio fund and from eliminating the part-time bailiff position to pay the $70,554 salary of a full-time sheriff ’s technician.
Eliasen said Melissa Rexrode, who is now tasked with accomplishing all of the above duties, has agreed to share her office with a new hire.
“She carries a lot of burden on her shoulders and the work keeps piling on. We don’t want to lose her,” said Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk.
Eliasen also proposed hiring a seasonal Recreation Deputy to increase the level of public safety and community based police functions. This position would be paid from unused grant funds the sheriff ’s office receives annually from a variety of governmental agencies (USFS, Stonegarden, Federal Boat & Water, Mn ATV, and Aquatic Invasive Species) that are now going unused because of staff shortages.
The position would be paid $20,500 for 554 hours of work.
As far as the law enforcement budget for 2021, Eliasen presented a zero increase in his budget for next year.
No action was taken at this meeting on the sheriff ’s proposed requests or 2021 budget.
Highway 2021 proposed budget
Using a Power Point presentation, Lisa Sorlie presented the 2021 proposed highway department budget. At $14,250.088, the 2021 proposed budget is about $5 million more than 2020, but that’s due to the number of projects the county is working on, she said, and it is not uncommon for the budget to vary that much.
That said, the highway department is proposing no levy increase for 2021.
Sorlie said the county has six road and bridge projects underway with engineering and design in the works for two upcoming bridge projects.
No action was taken on the 2021 highway department budget proposal.
Motions approved:
* At the request of Maintenance Supervisor Brian Silence, commissioners approved purchase of a Gartner Temperature Control, which will upgrade the existing web servicer controller. The cost for labor, materials, and upgraded JACE controller is $5,474.
* Silence also requested and received permission to have ComfortView insulate the exterior walls of the courthouse with TruSoft Cellulose at an estimated cost of $15,592. The work will keep the walls warmer in the winter.
* A septic loan in the amount of $79,700 was granted by motion to Jeremy and Kate Keeble to replace a non-compliant septic system with a new septic system.
The county board must approve loans for individuals exceeding $25,000 and businesses exceeding $50,000 before authorization can be given.
* Commissioners scheduled a public hearing for September 8 to consider the establishment of a subordinate district for the maintenance of Little Ollie Road and a portion of the intersection from the Lima Grade Road to the intersection of Little Ollie Road.
* Commissioners accepted the resignation of Joe Zallar with regrets. Zallar has been employed at Cook County Law Enforcement since 2004. His resignation is effective September 1, 2020.
* Eric Robley was hired as a Maintenance II worker for the Cook County Highway Department.
* Winter maintenance contracts for Subordinate Governmental Service Districts (SGSDs) were awarded to the following: Mike Rose Excavating for Evergreen Road; Greg Gecas for Mile-O-Pine; Cory Christianson for Voyageur’s Point; LaBoda Grading, Inc. for Irish Creek, and W Labor, LLC for Kelly’s Hill, Rosebush Hill and West Rosebush Lane.
Leave a Reply