I do not want someone sitting on the board that is 100% for something when more information is coming down the line. County Commissioner Fritz Sobanja
At its second meeting of the year, Cook County commissioners expressed eagerness to be involved in a wide variety of boards and committees both in and outside of Cook County.
Three of the commissioners wanted to be involved as county liaisons to the U.S. Forest Service. Last year, Bruce Martinson was the primary liaison and Fritz Sobanja was the alternate. Jan Hall said her district has a lot of land issues and asked the board to consider designating her as a liaison.
The board came up with a creative solution by allowing Martinson to remain the primary liaison and designating Sobanja as a secondary liaison, with Jan Hall an alternate. Because having three board members at the same meeting could violate the open meeting law, Hall will attend only when one of the others cannot.
New board member Sue Hakes expressed a desire to be named to more boards. The assignments of her predecessor, Bob Fenwick, had been meted out to various members of the board. As of the board’s January 4 organizational meeting, she was the primary designee to 17 boards or committees. Fritz Sobanja was the primary designee to 19, Bruce Martinson to 23, Jim Johnson to 25, and Jan Hall to 28. Commissioners receive $100 a day when they attend approved meetings outside of regular county board meetings.
“For me, it’s not about the per diems,” Hakes said. “It’s about having some influence and doing some work. …I have some big concerns about my role. …My list is shorter.”
Both Hakes and Martinson had been assigned to the Broadband Task Force at the organizational meeting, but at this meeting, the board realized that that task force is defunct. Martinson, however, got the Fiber Optic Network Commission assignment, and that group is active. He pointed out that expanding broadband coverage is a bigger issue for people outside Grand Marais, half of which is Hakes’ district. Hakes said she believes her job is to do what’s best for the whole county. “I’m willing to be the alternate,” she said, “but I’m disgruntled about it and disappointed in it. …Next time it might not be so easy.”
Commissioner Sobanja asked Commissioner Hakes if she is “for” broadband. “I do not want someone sitting on the board that is 100% for something when more information is coming down the line,” he said. Both he and Hakes were talking at the same time, and Board Chair Johnson pounded the gavel, bringing an end to the discussion. Commissioner Martinson offered to switch places mid-year, with her becoming the delegate and him becoming the alternate. Salary for chair sub
The board discussed a suggestion that the vice chair be paid the $125 per month in extra salary that the chair would otherwise get if he or she fills in for the chair for three or more consecutive meetings. Commissioner Johnson, who just replaced Fritz Sobanja as chair, goes on vacation for several weeks each spring.
A motion allowing the vicechair to get the chair’s extra compensation during such circumstances passed by a vote of four ayes, with Sobanja casting the sole nay vote. Library addition
Commissioner Sobanja, liaison to the Grand Marais Library Board, reported that the projected cost of expanding the library has grown to about $900,000, up about $100,000 from previous estimates.
The architectural firm is recommending a more square shape for the building rather than the L shape originally proposed. “It’s a better-looking building and it takes up less green space,” Sobanja said, adding that it would also provide better sight lines for librarians and allow more flexibility in shelf placement.
The library board is looking for sources of funding beyond the county’s 1 percent sales and use tax, Sobanja said. The library board is also wondering how willing the county board would be to devote more than the $700,000 discussed by last year’s 1% Committee, which included the library expansion in its list of projects.
County Attorney Tim Scannell said he hoped the expansion might include room for the computer station and law library books currently located in the courthouse.
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