Cook County Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Coordinator Amanda Weberg came before the county board on April 25 with a 2016 AIS summary and asked the board to approve some amendments to the AIS Task Force bylaws, which the board approved.
A summary of the 2016 report: Last year volunteer monitors surveyed 33 lakes for spiny water flea. Only Devilfish Lake was found to have the water flea. No “spinys” were found in Tait Lake in 2016—two were found in nets in 2015— so it was removed from the infested waters list.
Five inspectors completed 646 boat inspections in 2016, with Caribou (90), Brule (85), Sawbill (50), Devil Track (47) and East Bearskin (43) leading the way. An on demand water heater was installed at the North Shore Car Wash, and for $5 a boat can be washed so invasive species can be removed.
During 2016 billboards, advertisements, and posters highlighting the dangers of AIS were placed throughout the county. Classroom visits, news articles, advertisements, radio interviews were conducted, and Weberg attended and sometimes presented at conferences outside of the county.
Marasco receives new job classification
Following a short presentation on a job classification change for Valerie Marasco from Administrator Jeff Cadwell, the board voted to approve ending the Emergency Management Director C42-2 position in the Sheriff’s Office and making Marasco the Office of Director-Office of Emergency Management and Public Information officer. Marasco’s job classification was raised to D61-2. She will now work under the direction of Administrator Cadwell but will also remain at the Sheriff’s Office and continue her work with law enforcement.
According to the job summary, the director of the office and emergency management and public information, “Directs and administers the overall activities of the county’s Emergency Management and Public Communication program including: Emergency Operations Plan, provides services to meet emergencies, and coordinates the county’s overall emergency preparedness.”
The director also, “Plans, develops, directs, and evaluates emergency services programs, determines the nature and extent of emergency service needs of the population, and develops procedures, standards and services to meet priority needs. The director leads the county’s emergency operations control group and manages the emergency operation center and can act as the incident commander when required during emergencies.”
Marasco will also provide strategic communications advice and recommendations to the county administrator, the board of commissioners, sheriff, communications committee and MAT team, on sensitive and significant issues of management, as well as anticipate and manage issues of organizational and community concern.
Consent agenda items approved
. Commissioners agreed to have the county act as a legal sponsor and fiscal agent for the 2018 application for the Minnesota Trail Assistance program for cross country ski trails in Cook County. Jan Sivertson, the board chair, and Auditor- Treasurer Braidy Powers were given the authorization to sign all of the documents.
The trails and organizations covered under the application include the Banadad Trail Association, Bally Creek Ski Trails, Norpine Trail Association, Pincushion/North Shore Ski and Run Club, and the Sugarbush Trail Association.
. A grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for $150,000 that will be used for the county airport arrival/departure building expansion and remodel was given the okay. The project won’t be completed this year and is estimated to cost $778,866.50. The cost to pay for the remodel and expansion is split three ways with the federal share at 23.17 percent, the state share 19.26 percent and the local share 57.57 percent.
. Bev Wolke was given a temporary out of class appointment from B23 Step 3 to B23 Step 5 for a period not to exceed six months, retroactive to this appointment on 12/13/2016. Bev is filling tasks performed by a worker who is out on medical leave.
. A request from the Sheriff’s Office for the county to become a fiscal agent for a Safe Harbor Grant was approved. If awarded, the Safe Harbor Grant would provide funds for a position and service that would be utilized by the Sheriff’s Office, Public Health and Human Services, and the Violence Prevention Center to investigate human trafficking, provide care for victims and shelter for victims.
. A special event permit was granted for the Le Grand du Nord cycling event that will be held May 27. The short race will cover 50 miles while the longer race will cover 100 miles.
. KGM Contractors, Inc. was the low bidder at $163,400 to provide a stockpile of Class-1 aggregate to the county.
. Northern Business Products submitted a bid of $12,710.12 to reorganize and update the outer office of the Land Services Department, which was accepted. Money to pay for this will be drawn from the Building Fund.
The goal is to reorganize the two work stations in the outer office so the secretary can see the customers entering the door and the Land Commissioner/Parks & Trails director can have a more efficient workspace.
. MSA Professional Services’ proposal to design CSAH 17 (the Mineral Center Road/Old Highway 61) at an estimated fee of $209,964.28 was approved subject to the review of the contract by the county attorney.
Pavement on CSAH 17 is beyond restoration or maintenance, said county highway engineer Dave Betts. The county’s proposed work scope of reclamation and resurfacing with a new base of aggregate appears to be the best cost effective solution. A 12’ x 14’ box culvert will replace the steel pipe arch culvert at Hollow Rock River that was installed in 1963 and rehabilitated in 1968.
All of the work that will take place on CSAH 17 will be coordinated with Grand Portage and Bureau of Indian Affairs. All told the project is estimated to cost $2.5 million and the tentative date of construction is summer of 2018.
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