On the third day of January 2012, the Cook County Board of Commissioners was busy planning its assignments for the upcoming year. With previous board chair Jim Johnson taking some time off for medical treatments out of the area, board members graciously agreed to take on numerous extra tasks.
Longtime commissioner Jan Hall was designated the new board chair, with Bruce Martinson vice-chair. The four commissioners at the meeting divided up representation on over 90 boards and committees that meet at various intervals both inside and outside Cook County.
Once again, the Cook County News-Herald was designated the county’s official newspaper. Editor Rhonda Silence thanked the board for its business and for its positive working relationship with the newspaper over the last 120 years. The board designated its own website, www.co.cook.mn.us/, as the county’s official website.
Security State Bank was named the county’s official depository. Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers said the local financial institutions have the opportunity to bid on the county’s accounts every three years.
The mileage reimbursement rate will be the IRS rate of 55.5 cents per mile. Meal per diems will remain the same as they have been for at least the last couple of years: $10 for breakfast, $12 for lunch, and $15 for supper.
Cook County Highway Engineer David Betts was designated the county’s agriculture inspector once again. Personnel Director Janet Simonen said he has to get training for this, and Betts said he handles grants and attends meetings related to managing invasive species.
The board approved the same meeting schedule for 2012 as it has been following, meeting the second, third, and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 8:30 a.m.
EDA vacancy
Vacancies on numerous county-related boards and committees were recently advertised in the Cook County News-Herald. An application for one of those vacancies was submitted by Greg Koschinska of Schroeder, who was interested in filling one of four county-appointed positions on the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) board. The position would replace Jim Hall of Lutsen, who fulfilled the maximum number of consecutive terms allowed.
Koschinska is a CPA and business consultant with many years of experience and has served on the Sugarloaf/North Shore Stewardship Association board of directors and the Schroeder Area Historical Society Finance Committee.
Auditor-Treasurer Powers suggested to the board that they consider interviewing applicants to the EDA board, since it is an important position and since the EDA is in charge of Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course, a large business enterprise. Commissioner Sue Hakes liked that idea and made a motion to have the full board conduct interviews for open EDA positions.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson said he thought an interview process might intimidate applicants and discourage them from applying. He expressed concern for what it might be like for them to be “drilled” by the board.
“It’s an important position,” Commissioner Hakes said. “We should know who we’re appointing. …Let’s make it professional.”
Commissioner Sobanja said that while EDA problems do take up their time, so would interviews, and it would be difficult to project through an interview process whether someone would keep the EDA out of trouble.
“The authority we have over the EDA is who we put on the board and the budget,” Commissioner Hakes said. “This is a big deal. …This is where we have a chance for input. Let’s take advantage of it. …This is where we get to help the EDA be stronger, better, more effective.”
Local resident and Broadband Commissioner Pat Campanaro asked, “Isn’t it really important to know what skill sets you’re missing on the board?” She recommended that they look for individuals who complement those already on the board, suggesting that someone with marketing expertise would be a good addition.
Commissioner Hakes’ motion passed unanimously. As of press time, the board had not yet set a time for EDA board interviews. EDA board members receive a stipend.
Beargrease permit
The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was granted a special event permit for its annual race to take place from Duluth to the Gunflint Trail between Sunday, January 29 and Wednesday, February 1. A shorter race will end in Tofte.
The race organization will be responsible for liability insurance and organizing and paying for traffic control. Trained personnel will be stationed throughout the race, including ham radio operators, the Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department, and the Air National Guard.
Mailing list request
The board voted to send a letter to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints requesting that the commissioners be taken off their mailing list. Each commissioner has received multiple mailings from the church led by President Warren Jeffs, in prison in Palestine, Texas for criminal sexual conduct.
The mailings contain warnings written by Jeffs, who claims they are messages from God. They are being mailed “to all nations, to all leaders of nations, to governing authorities in every state” and they warn of impending doom to governments and people who oppose polygamy and fail to oppose other things such as abortion. The warnings claim that failure to heed the messages will result in the judgment of God in the form of earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis, disease, pestilence, famine, and war.
The most recent mailing contained an 8×10-inch book that is 149 pages long.
Community members are needed to fill vacancies on the following Cook County committees. Whom to contact is also listed:
Arrowhead Library Board Braidy Powers, (218)387-3640, braidy.powers@co.cook.mn.us
Extension Committee Diane Booth, (218)387-3015, diane.booth@co.cook.mn.us
Community Center Board of Trustees Diane Booth, (218)387-3015, diane.booth@co.cook.mn.us
Public Health and Human Services Advisory Committee Sue Futterer, (218)387-3620 ext. 106, sue.futterer@co.cook.mn.us
Interested citizens could also contact Cook County Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers at (218) 387-3640 or braidy.powers@co.cook.mn.us.
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