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Now that most of the road working contractors have put away their machines, it’s time to make plans for the next summer’s road work.
With that in mind, Cook County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass came before the county board and requested that LHB be given the contract to design the CSHA 8/Devil Track Road improvement project for $110,159.
The portion of the road targeted for upgrading is located three miles from the end of Devil Track Road to County Road 27 (Ball Club Road) to where the pavement ends.
According to documents submitted by LHB, the project may involve shoulder widening and some ditching in addition to an overlay. Before any work begins in 2024, there will be a public meeting to get more input on the project.
Commissioners voted to unanimously award the design project to LHB. The work is scheduled to start in 2024.
Commissioners also approved hiring Erickson Engineering Service to design the Pine River bridge replacement at $68,631. The bridge is located at the end of the Arrowhead Trail/UT 97 over Pine River. Work will commence in 2025.
Erickson Engineering was awarded the contract to design the Spruce Creek bridge replacement at the cost of $62,771. Construction of that bridge on the Cascade Beach Road/UT 97 over Spruce Creek is targeted to begin in 2024.
Last, MSA Professional Services, Inc will be paid $64,713 to design improvements for the Tofte Town Park Road (Country Road 21). Transportation sales tax proceeds will be used to help pay for this job. Work is slated to begin in 2024.
In other county news:
Commissioners okayed a 20-year lease with the US Customs and Border Patrol, which has critical communication equipment on county-owned towers. The towers are located at Gunflint (Magnetic) and the second on Mount Maud, which is a county-owned tower on Grand Portage Tribal Land. The county will be paid $300 per year for utility expenses for both locations.
A public hearing was set for December 13, 2022, at 9 a.m. to consider changes to the county fee schedule. On November 22, commissioners will consider proposed short-term rental license fee changes, which could also be addressed on December 13.
With regret, commissioners accepted the resignation of Cody Scott, Cook County Sheriff ’s Office Public Safety Telecommunicator/Jailer.
Ali Iverson was hired as the new Public Safety Telecommunicator/Jailer to fill the vacancy left by Scott’s resignation.
April Jensen was also hired as a Public Safety Telecommunicator/Jailer at the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office to fill a vacancy.
Commissioners signed a proclamation of support for Operation Green Light for Veterans. In observance of Operation Green Light, “the county is encouraging citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying a green light in a window of their place of business or residence.”
Wage study
Commissioner Dave Mills said he wants the public to know that Administrator James Joerke isn’t pushing for the wage and compensation study, but Joerke is facilitating the study at the request of the county commissioners.
The county is currently evaluating job descriptions and pay rates and looking at how much other counties pay their employees for similar or the same jobs. Mills said the board, not the administrator, makes the final decisions about projects like the study. He added that Joerke was building a culture of trust between employees and department heads at the courthouse, and he applauded the administrator for his work.
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