Although a preliminary levy of 12 percent has been set, the county board has stated it would work at lowering it, if possible, by December 31, the last day to set the final 2016 levy.
Commissioner Frank Moe said the county board could “nickel and dime the budget to death,” but said unless services and employees were on the table and a “real change to the way the county does business” happens there was little the board could do this year to get the levy any lower.
Moe said he realized there would be no attempt to make cuts in personnel or services for 2016, but added if the board were looking at cost cutting, these items would have to be addressed in the future. If and when that time came, Moe said the staff would have to be made aware of the talks. “We have an extremely caring and capable staff at the county,” he said. “However, we also have a commitment to our taxpayers.”
“To reduce the budget from this point,” said Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk, “We would have to remove eight employees to get down to zero.”
Doo-Kirk said she wasn’t advocating for anything like that, but asked the board if they should set up more meetings to discuss looking at ways to reduce the 2016 levy. The board agreed more meetings were needed.
Commissioner Garry Gamble said to achieve efficiency, future budget discussions should focus on segments of the budget, not the whole budget, “otherwise we will be all over the place.”
Gamble also suggested using benchmarks and the “Lean Government” application that uses lean production principles and methods to identify and then implement the most efficient, value added way to provide government services by eliminating waste.
“I still want to nip and tuck at the budget,” said Commissioner Ginny Storlie.
Commissioner Jan Sivertson said when it came to discussing any possible cuts to employees in the future, she would rather focus on possible cuts in services rather than cuts in employees. “We don’t want to cut any people,” she said.
Sheriff’s Office resignation and request for replacement
Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen came before the board with a letter of resignation from Deputy Chuck Anderson effective October 14, 2015. The board approved the Sheriff’s request to advertise for a replacement for Anderson.
When asked why Anderson was leaving, Eliasen said, “He’s been a good deputy, a good friend. He’s moving to Pine County where he has more opportunity and will be closer to family.”
The board also gave Eliasen approval to accept a grant for $9,200 that he will use to purchase a 16-foot boat and motor for the Tofte Search and Rescue Department. “In our efforts to establish Search & Rescue operations throughout the county we have applied for grants to purchase the equipment needed for each division,” Eliasen said, adding that he has been in discussion with people in the east end of the county to set up similar services and supplies there. The Gunflint Trail already has search and rescue services in place, he said.
New bridge for Lutsen Ski Hill Road
County Highway Engineer David Betts asked for authorization to solicit proposals for the design of a new bridge to replace the hybrid steel/timber frame span of approximately 40 feet in length at Lutsen Mountains near Papa Charlie’s. Betts said MnDOT did an inspection in August and his department looked at the bridge one week ago “It’s in pretty rough shape,” he said.
Commissioner Moe asked if the county’s bridge projects were addressed in order by the way they came in, and Betts replied, “We have a bridge priority list, which we need to update.”
Moe wondered if work on this bridge would take place before work on the Otis Creek Bridge in Hovland. The Otis Creek project has been under discussion for about 10 years.
Because federal and state bridge standards are used to rate bridges, Betts said the ones that are in the worst shape are fixed or replaced first.
Although she was in favor of fixing the bridge at Otis Creek, Commissioner Jan Sivertson said in terms of the county’s economy and reliance on tourism, it was imperative to fix the bridge at Lutsen Mountains as soon as possible. Sivertson noted that many people work at the ski hill and are counting on those jobs.
Betts said he anticipated using a state and local bridge replacement bond to pay for the replacement. “However, until the bridge is designed, we cannot place this bridge on the waiting list for these funds,” he said. “Because this bridge is on the county state aid highway system, these costs would be eligible for reimbursement by state aid upon completion of the project.”
County to contribute to tennis court reconstruction
As the Cook County Tennis Association’s (CCTA) representative, Rod Wannebo laid out a case for the county board to donate $20,000 to the CCTA so two of the county’s tennis courts could be reconstructed next spring/summer.
Large cracks have formed on the courts and are getting worse as time goes by, said Wannebo. Tennis court consultant Fred Kolkman was hired to make an assessment of the courts. He recommended the firm of Dermco-Lavine Construction to do the reconstruction at a cost of $121,300.
The county has $60,000 in 1 percent recreation funds for the project and Wannebo said the CCTA has been promised $17,000 upon completion of the courts by the U.S. Tennis Association. He also said the City of Grand Marais had stated it would be interested in contributing funds if the county also contributed to the project.
Doo-Kirk said there was $60,00 in the hockey fund that won’t be used until the legal dispute over crumbling cement at the hockey rink has been settled. She suggested borrowing $20,000 from the hockey fund and giving it to the CCTA for this project and paying back the hockey fund next year. The board agreed with her and Wannebo said he would go before the Grand Marais City Council with a request to match the county’s $20,000. Doo- Kirk told Wannebo that the county would do all it could to see that the courts are fixed next spring/ summer.
In other business
. The board approved a hazardous fuels reduction contract with Nesgoda Services in the Clearwater Lake Area for $45,707.
This is one in a series of contracts awarded to reduce hazardous fuels under a grant from the U.S. Forest Service. Firewise contractor Todd Armbruster, under the direction of Emergency Management Director Jim Wiinanen and the Firewise Committee, will manage the job. The work must be finished by September 30, 2016.
. The board approved an application for lawful gambling for Trail Center Lodge so they could hold a raffle for the Gunflint Mail Run on December 31, 2015.
. With approval from the commissioners, the Highway Department signed a winter maintenance agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to plow, salt, sand, and remove snow from the roadway and shoulders on Rollins Creek Road for $3,000.
. Winter plowing contracts for Subordinate Tax Districts were approved. Winning bids were Mike Rose Excavating for Evergreen Road; Greg Gecas the Mile-O-Pine road; Cory Christiansen for Voyageur’s Point Road; W. Labor, LLC for West Rosebush Lane while Allan Berglund will plow Irish Creek and Rosebush Hill roads.
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