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Bruce Kimmel of Ehlers met with commissioners to discuss options for financing the county’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Cook County anticipates spending as much as $13.4 million over the next five years to upgrade buildings nearing or exceeding expected lifetimes.
In a past column Administrator James Joerke pointed out, “By catching up on deferred maintenance and adopting regular equipment replacement schedules, we can operate and maintain our buildings in a more predictable and cost-effective way that will benefit County taxpayers.”
The CIP Ehlers introduced includes plans for addressing a shortage of workspaces for deputies, garage bay space, and space for evidence processing and storage in the Law Enforcement Center.
The CIP also addressed plans to address a lack of office space in the Courthouse.
Financing to pay for the improvements will come from a variety of sources but Mr. Kimmel was not able to give much definitive advice to the county board. Mostly he said the county has a lot of options for structuring the debt including how much cash the county uses but more is needed to know about the capital improvement plan commissioners will choose. Also unknown at this time are revenue sources such as the reappraisal of BWCA lands, the 2023 state legislative results, how much fund balance the county may decide to use, and any sales tax revenue that may be available to us in the future.
In other county news:
Commissioners received the 2023 Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) report at the board’s May 22 meeting.
MCIT provides Minnesota counties and associated members “cost-effective coverage with comprehensive and quality risk management.
MCIT is a public joint powers entity dedicated to helping members manage risks so they can carry out their public service to citizens of Minnesota. MCIT is not an insurance company focused on profits.”
The report was informational only.
A temporary liquor license was granted to the Superior Cycling Association for use at the Lutsen 99er bicycle event that will be held June 23 and June 24.
The commissioners accepted the resignation of Lori Erickson, Fiscal Supervisor for Public Health and Human Services, with regret. Her last day is June 15, 2023.
Bill Hansen, former owner of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters who has served on numerous boards and commissions over the years, was appointed by commissioners to serve on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board.
Commissioners approved a resolution for the Airport Maintenance and Operation Grant Contract for fiscal years 2024 and 2024.
The two-year grant runs July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025, for up to $82,960 of airport maintenance and operations. The grant will reimburse the county for one hundred percent of telecommunications and seventy five percent of other eligible expenses.
TNT Aggregates, LLC of Grand Rapids, Minnesota was the low bidder for the crushing of 20,000 yards of Class 1 gravel in two gravel pits. TNT bid $147,000, 18.78 percent under the county engineer’s estimate of $181,000. Louis Leustek & Sons, Inc. was the high bidder at $196,000.
Commissioners approved four property tax abatements. One was for a “disaster abatement” for Harlan Schwab’s Devils Track Lake homestead in the amount of $442. Harlan’s house recently burned down.
A second abatement application was for a clerical error on Caribou Lake where an additional 100 feet of lakeshore frontage assessed in 2022 for $738.
Two parcels for ALLETE for $24,042 and Great River Energy (7 parcels) for $12,622 were corrected. The requested abatements were examined by the Assessor’s office and County Auditor and approved. For taxpayers who have experienced hardship or disaster the county Abatement Policy provides relief.
An agreement between Arrowhead Electric Cooperative and Cook County was reached allowing the county to share high resolution aerial imagery, analysis tools, and applications with Arrowhead Electric. Arrowhead will reimburse the county for expenses incurred in gathering data up to but not exceeding $8,578.75. This cost sharing agreement has been going on since 2017 between Arrowhead and the county.
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