Mitch Everson, Environmental Health Officer and Lisa Kerr, Land Commissioner/Parks & Trail director asked for and received permission to purchase a mini-excavator and trailer for up to $33,000 at the county board’s Aug. 8 meeting.
Everson explained that his department needed to dig soil pits for septic inspections. Usually that is done by hiring a contractor but often contractors are too busy to do the job or the job is too small for them to be interested in performing the work, he said. Everson, a former septic installer, said that means hand digging the pits, and with three to four inspections per week, is impractical given the county’s short time frame to get all of the work done.
“We are proposing the purchase of a mini-excavator that we could tow around ourselves, and which would provide more expeditious response time for property owners in need of the state required soil profile verifications. We would also propose to utilize this excavator in conjunction with possible maintenance of boat landings and other environmental type projects coordinated through the Land Commissioner/Parks & Trails division of Land Services, which is why the request to purchase the excavator and trailer through Fund 85. This fund is set up for the county to be able to use specifically for environmental purposes, and there are sufficient funds available to cover this purchase request.”
PHHS vacancy posted
Cook County Administrator Jeff Cadwell was given permission to post the vacancy for the Public Health and Human Services Director (PHHS) position that recently opened up in the wake of Josh Beck’s resignation. PHHS Advisory Board members Jerry Lilja, Carla LaPointe, Jeff Cadwell, Judy Hill, and commissioners Ginny Storlie and Jan Sivertson will meet to discuss the vacancy and recommend a search process.
Wildfire plan
Emergency Management Services Director and Public Information Director Valerie Marasco gave an update on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Marasco said the Emergency Management & Public Information department in partnership with Cook County Firewise had joined to review and update the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which included risk assessments from the United States Forest Service. Of note, said Marasco, the new plan identified public infrastructure and priority concerns from the county’s nine fire departments. Commissioners approved the plan.
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