A typical county board meeting can include a dizzying array of topics. County commissioners covered a lot of ground on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, discussing a variety of issues and approving a number of motions. Here are some of this meeting’s highlights: . The board approved a request to replace two Sheriff ’s Department squad cars. Sheriff Mark Falk plans to replace two Chevy Impalas with Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, because the department had had some problems with the Impalas, according to Deputy Sheriff Leif Lunde. One of the Impalas is a 2007 model with 99,839 miles, and the other is a 2008 model with 91,448 miles. The total cost for the two Crown Victorias is expected to be just under $67,000, including tax, delivery, and law enforcement equipment. The department has money for the cars in its budget.
Kevin Johnson of the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) updated the board on the progress of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail being constructed in segments along Highway 61 between Two Harbors and Grand Marais. Eventually, the trail will provide a safe 85-mile route for bicyclists, in-line skaters, walkers, and joggers. Twenty-five miles are already complete.
The board approved a conditional use permit (CUP) amendment allowing KGM Contractors to store 40,000 cubic yards of rock at the abandoned Tofte airport instead of the estimated 30,000 cubic yards approved in the original CUP in February 2010. The amount of rock was 30,000 cubic yards before it was taken out of the ground, but when it was piled up, the air in between the rocks resulted in the stockpile being 40,000 cubic yards. . Planning & Zoning Director Tim
Nelson reported that a committee will be working through July to review the county’s solid waste management plan, which must be redone every 10 years. All kinds of waste management will be reviewed, including hazardous waste, recycling, and electronic waste.
The review will be done in-house instead of hiring a consultant, Nelson said, because that is more efficient. . The board approved a recommendation to name Johnathan W. Smith of Croftville to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is still in need of one more member. . Commissioner Jim Johnson corrected a misstatement he had made about the length of the Cook County Airport runway. It is currently 4,200 feet, not 3,500 feet as he had stated in a recent county board meeting.
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