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Commissioners held a public hearing at their Tuesday, February 14 board meeting to hear concerns about the draft ordinance that would call for banning wakeboarding on Caribou Lake. Wakeboarding is defined as “the untethered use of a surfboard behind a watercraft.”
Only one member of the public came forward; Carl, a member of the Caribou Lake Association, went before the board and explained that caribou lake is not really a lake; it’s several narrow channels and bays, it’s relatively shallow, over 60 percent of the lake is less than 14 foot deep, and wakeboarding affects the clarity of the water, among other things.
The ban on wakeboarding won’t restrict water skiing, tubing, or horsepower on the lake, just a narrow restriction on wakeboarding. The boats generate a wake of three to five feet, and wakeboarders ride those wakes, which can cause problems on a lake as shallow as Caribou.
Caribou Lake has four bays, like four smaller lakes, and the lake is shallow.
Last fall, a representative from the Caribou Lake Association board came before commissioners and said 75 percent of landowners on the lake had signed the petition asking for a public meeting to ban wakeboarding on the lake.
Administrator James Joerke explained that the county board’s role in this matter was to set up the public meeting and gather public feedback, but the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources would make the final decision.
Commissioners unanimously approved the draft ordinance, and the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources has 120 days to review the ordinance and approve or disapprove it.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners accepted the retirement of Greg Thompson with regret. Greg has worked for the Cook County Highway Department for 36-plus years.
“We are grateful for the exceptional service that Greg Thompson has provided to the people of Cook County for over 36 years. We are going to miss seeing “Little” each morning but are excited about his new chapter beginning.”
Greg’s last day will be February 24. Greg wrote in his letter to the board, “I’m excited about my anticipated retirement, but I wanted to take this moment to be thankful for the comradery, experiences, and opportunities I’ve had while working with the department.”
Benjamin Hadley was promoted to Highway Maintenance Worker lll (heavy equipment operator).
With regret, commissioners accepted April Zimmer’s resignation as the Cook County Administrator’s Executive Assistant. April’s last day was February 17, 2023.
In her letter to the commissioners, April explained, “It is with a heavy heart that I must resign my position as Executive Administrative Assistant with Cook County. This was not an easy decision to make, but after careful consideration, my family and I have decided to move on. I sincerely appreciate the opportunities I’ve had here to learn and grow throughout the last several years.”
Vehicles for sale
The Highway Department has two vehicles for sale based on the replacement schedule and new vehicles acquired. A 2003 Sterling LT 9511 and a 2000 Ford F550 will be sold on the Minnesota Department of Administration Surplus site (minnbid.org). The anticipated sale price for each vehicle is over $4,000 with a commission rate of six percent (maximum of $750. The money raised will be put towards new Highway department purchases.
With a bid of $891,053, well below the engineer’s estimate of $1,240,074, Northland Constructors of Duluth, Inc. was the low bidder for the Flute Reed Bridge Replacement. County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass said his department was awarded a $952,000 Bridge Replacement Off System (BROS) federal grant, which requires a 20 percent match. Hass informed commissioners that he had secured state Motor Vehicle Lease Sales Tax monies for the 20 percent match.
Next, commissioners approved the purchase of a used Trackless MT6 municipal tractor with attachments for $79,500. The county clears approximately two miles of sidewalks on CSAH 7 (5th Street), CSAH 15 (5th Avenue West), and the new Safe Routes to Schools multi-use trail. With the construction of 5th Ave W, there will be another mile of sidewalk to clear. Currently, the county uses a skid steer with a mounted blower or brush attachment to remove snow from the sidewalks. A municipal tractor will allow the crews to clear the sidewalks safely and efficiently. Cost of a new Trackless municipal tractor is between $180,000 and $200,000. The expectation is that the new-used vehicle will last at least 12-20 years and is on the schedule to be replaced in 2036.
Finally, Hass asked the board to write a letter of support for his submission for a RAISE grant that, if approved, would help resurface about 36 miles of the Gunflint Trail and make other improvements along the wilderness road. Hass said if the grant is approved, the soonest any work would be done would be 2028, so there is time for more public engagement. Go to the highway department website to learn more about the proposed project. Commissioners agreed to write the letter of support.
Administrator James Joerke asked the board to approve the transfer of $700,000 of County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to the Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The county received $2,039.902.62 in ARPA dollars last October, which can be used for a “broad range” of government activities except for lobbying.
Commissioners have talked about using ARPA money to improve county buildings and mitigate the levy impact of pay increases the board approved after setting the 2023 budget. Those raises were approved to align the county pay scale with other counties in the state.
Board Chair Ann Sullivan noted that HRA Director Jason Hale was in the audience and invited him to come forward and update the board on projects he is getting off the ground. Hale spent about thirty minutes answering questions, but as he repeated, it was very early in the process, and he couldn’t give specific answers to all of the board’s questions.
Concerning the ATPA dollars, Hale said the ARPA funds would be used to help leverage other fund resources like the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) which makes grants but often asks for matching funds when they donate money to projects.
Commissioners approved the request to give $700,000 to the HRA, and the remaining $1,339,902.62 ARPA dollars, will be available for county improvements mentioned above.
Linda Newman was appointed to replace Jerry Hiniker on the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments. Jerry resigned because he moved from the county.
Commissioners approved an Agriculture Best Management Practices septic loan of $144,500 for Elsie’s Cabins. Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers told commissioners it was the county’s policy that the county board must approve loan requests for multi-connection systems that exceeded $100,000. The purpose of these loans is to assist property owners with the cost of replacing failed septic systems to ensure clean water in the county.
The original estimate for the work was $228,152. The septic loan committee met and agreed to recommend a loan equal to half the estimated costs. The property owner was able to meet with the contractor and get the price down to an estimated $199,734.50.
The loan is funded through the Department of Agriculture through the county.
David Drown Associates received a three-year contract for $10,550 per year to assist in reviewing and updating job descriptions, and they will conduct a market analysis in 2025. Administrator Joerke said this contract would allow the county to update all job descriptions by next year, “if not sooner,” and it ensures that the workers are getting the salaries they deserve.
Commissioner Stacey Hawkins said she has long had a problem with the county job descriptions, and she added that if “it takes that long to do job descriptions, maybe we should rethink the process we use.”
Leah Ekstrom came forward and explained the process the county uses to update job descriptions. Joerke said if things change and the level of turnover at the county slows, the contract with David Drown could be terminated, and the county could use a different approach. Hawkins thanked them and added she would like the county to “streamline” its process for job descriptions similar to what other counties do.
Commissioners approved Administrator Joerke to solicit bids and contracts for custodial services for the YMCA for the remainder of 2023 in an amount not to exceed $82,000. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
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