Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen and IT director Rena Rogers returned to the county board on Tuesday, August 18 with a request to replace the law enforcement center’s existing camera system with a new one at a cost of $99,339.00.
The system will be purchased from Electric Design Company. As part of the deal the county will also pay to receive a three-year service plan for repair and replacement of hardware at a cost of $6,957.
Eliasen said the current system is 18 years old and had failed three times in the last couple of years. The most recent failure was a complete crash of the system a few weeks ago, and Eliasen said it could die at any time.
The system monitors inmate cells, the booking area and other interior and perimeter areas of the facility. It also integrates with other controls that are operated by dispatchers (doors opening and locking, etc.).
Rogers said the IT department would run the necessary cabling for the new system and that would save the county $17,885.00. The board approved the request but will look for ways to finance it that won’t impact the general fund.
Next Eliasen brought forth two bids for a prisoner transport vehicle. The commissioners authorized Eliasen to purchase a 2015 Chevrolet Express for $55,387 plus $12,000 to install four-wheel drive on the vehicle.
The vehicle is big enough and partitioned so both female and male prisoners can be transported out of the county. Usually they are taken to Two Harbors or Aitkin for long-term incarceration while awaiting trial. Cook County can only hold someone for three days in its jails Highway department striping and signs
Highway Engineer David Betts presented two bids for intersection signing and epoxy marking projects with the low bid by H & R Construction of Dalton, Minnesota for $48,197. While the low bid was about $8,500 higher than engineer estimates, Betts recommended awarding the contract. Betts said 90 percent of the work will be paid for by the federal Highway Safety Improvement Fund and 10 percent through State Aid Funds. Commissioners voted unanimously to award the contract pending a review by the county attorney.
Betts asked commissioners to approve a contract with Parsons Electric of Duluth to install lighting at the County Road 8 and County Road 12 intersection for $38,116. Three bids were received, said Betts, with the bid from Parsons being the lowest.
Once again the project will be 90/10 percent paid by Highway Safety Improvement Program funds and State Aid. The board approved the contract subject to review by the county attorney.
When asked when road signs would be put up warning vehicles of ATV traffic in two approximately two-mile stretches of road near the middle of the Gunflint Trail, Betts said they should be in place sometime in November.
The board recently gave authorization to ATV riders to drive Class 1 ATVs on two stretches of the Gunflint Trail. Signs will be put in place to warn other motorists of possible ATV traffic in those areas. County to meet with city regarding library budget
Commissioners discussed a recent 2016 budget request from the Grand Marais Public Library. The library is adding one more full-time staff person and is requesting $22,000 from the county to help pay that salary. The City of Grand Marais has already committed $22,000.
Before voting on the matter, commissioners decided to discuss the matter with representatives of the city. A letter will be sent asking for a representative to come to an upcoming county board meeting to discuss the request further.
In other business
. Commissioners approved a 2014 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety of $51,788.44. The county must match the grant with $12,947.11, which was paid in labor, and not dollars. The grant will be used to pay costs associated with an Integrated Emergency Management course that will be held in Grand Portage this September.
. The board approved a lease of $500 per month to the Cook County Visitor’s Bureau to rent office space for Amanda Weberg, the county’s grant-funded Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) coordinator. Weberg will be able to answer questions from area visitors about what they should—or should not—take with them into canoe country.
. The board approved a 2016 County Veterans Service Office Operational Enhancement Grant of $7,500. The grant must be used to provide outreach to the county’s veterans; to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society; to collaborate with social service agencies, educational institutions, and other community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services to veterans.
. County Maintenance Director Brian Silence presented a quote from North Shore Oil & Propane for propane in the amount of 79 cents per gallon for one year. The board approved the one-year contract. Silence said the low price of propane this year would save the county about $14,000 in fuel costs from what was paid last year.
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