On Tuesday, September 11 Cook County commissioners approved a motion to set the preliminary 2019 levy not to exceed 5.99 percent over the 2018 tax.
The motion was made by commissioner Myron Bursheim and seconded by commissioner Jan Sivertson and approved 5-0 by the board.
Commissioners will work with the budget committee, department heads and county staff to see if they can pare down the levy further, but they will not raise it higher than 5.99 percent. If the levy isn’t lowered, as it stands now it will be an increase of $553,460 over 2018.
The final draft of the levy won’t have to be completed until late December 2018, when it has to be sent to the state for certification.
Commissioners set the Truth in Taxation public meeting for Thursday, November 29.
Health insurance decreases 1 percent
Cook County administrator Jeff Cadwell presented some good news to the county board, the county’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield 2019 health insurance premium will decrease one percent from the 2018 rate.
The county staff benefit committee reviewed the current plan and recommended that the county board accept it. Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the new health insurance premium.
Administrator’s report
Administrator Cadwell reviewed the Joint Powers agreement for shared costs of the Cook County Community Center (YMCA) between the city of Grand Marais and the county.
The agreement states, “The use of the Community Center will be under the control of the county who has contracted with the Duluth Area Family YMCA pursuant to a management agreement,” while the Y will set the hours, schedules events and services to be offered to the community.
Under terms of Article (3), the city of Grand Marais agreed to contribute $10,000 to the community center improvement fund. The county agreed to manage the Capital Improvement Fund, “which shall be used for repair, replacement, and maintenance of the structural components of the community center building.”
Article four of the agreement states, “The City shall not be responsible for payment of any costs or expenses for or related to the community center except as otherwise provided in this agreement.”
In 2016, the city of Grand Marais contributed $110,000 to the county under the December 31, 2016 contract.
Administrator Cadwell sent a letter to the city of Grand Marais saying, “effective January 1, 2017, the county’s management contract with the YMCA has been modified, and the terms of support have changed. The county is no longer responsible for the operational deficit of the YMCA, but instead, the county has assumed responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the facility and the maintenance and care of the capital equipment within the facility.
“As such, the county is requesting that Article (3), cost sharing be renegotiated to reflect the current financial obligation of the county and address the actual costs of the operation of the facility. And that language throughout the agreement be updated to reflect the changes.”
Administrator Cadwell presented the county’s request at the Grand Marais City Council’s Wednesday, September 12 council meeting.
Consent agenda
Lisa Kerr, Land Commissioner/Parks & Trails director, asked commissioners to appoint Tony Swader as a new representative for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa on the Cook County Parks & Trails Commission, which they agreed to do.
Swader will replace April McCormick as the representative for Grand Portage. Due to a change in her job, McCormick was no longer able to serve on the commission.
Commissioners approved a resolution to increase the benefit level to $1,200 per year to vested members of the Colvill volunteer firefighters. This is based on their years of service as of January 1, 2019.
In a memo Auditor/ Treasurer Braidy Powers said the move to increase the firefighters’ PERA would not cost the county any money. Voluntary firefighters have to serve a minimum of five years to be eligible for the PERA.
A tower lease with the Minnesota National Guard, 148 Fighter Wing to co-locate an antenna on the new Grand Marais tower number 11 was approved.
The agreement is for five years with a renewal of four additional terms for a total of 25 years. The county will receive $6,000 per year for the lease and will also be reimbursed for $400 per year for electrical service.
Snowplowing contracts:
Cook County Highway engineer Krysten Foster recommended the county award snowplowing contracts to seven Subordinate Governmental Service District roads. Mike Rose Excavating won the bid to plow the Evergreen Road. Greg C. Gecas will take care of both the Mile-O-Pine Road and Voyageur’s Point roads. W Labor, LLC was awarded the contract to plow West Rosebush Lane, and Rosebush Hill roads, and Anders Zimmer will plow the Irish Creek Road.
PILT
County attorney Molly Hicken recommended that the county join with other plaintiffs in the Kane County versus the United States in a federal lawsuit seeking to recover Payment in Lieu of Taxes funds that are owed to the county. Hicken said there was little risk in joining the lawsuit for the county, but there was potential for financial gain. Commissioners approved the motion of support 5-0.
Tax forfeit land
Commissioners received a report and list of the county’s Tax Forfeit Land from Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers and Lisa Kerr, land commissioner. Following a presentation and explanation of the process, commissioners passed a motion in support of placing all of the tax forfeit lands on the non-conservation list. The next step will be to figure out what the parcels are worth and offer them for sale.
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