Brian Silence, the county’s maintenance director, received permission to advertise for a year-round part-time maintenance position. At the Tuesday, April 14 county board meeting, Silence said an extra person is needed because of the added duties at the Cook County Community YMCA.
Janet Simonen, who is filling in as a part-time personnel director until a new county administrator is hired, said the job description used to hire the last maintenance worker would fit the part-time position as well.
While he has permission to advertise, commissioners said Silence might not get his extra help. After he has selected a top candidate, Silence will have to appear before the board which will then discuss the cost of this applicant’s hourly wage and its impact on the budget before any decision to hire is announced.
Commissioner Garry Gamble asked Silence to keep track of all of the hours the county is spending at the Y, and Silence said he would do that and log them for the board and for Auditor Braidy Powers to review.
Board Chair Heidi Doo-Kirk noted that Silence and his small crew have eight buildings (or more) to maintain and the historical society museum, which is in need of repair this summer, stretching Silence and his two full-time workers even thinner.
Electronics and communications approved
Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen requested authorization to switch mobile data computers in two squad cars from a Panasonic brand to GETAC tablets because they have more memory, a portable keyboard and an internal GPS and an air card. The price for two tablets is $5,916. Eliasen said the new tablets were not only cheaper but military grade and far more durable than units now in squad cars. Eliasen said all of the cars would be upgraded with these tablets when funds come in from an annual grant the department receives from Homeland Security.
A joint request from Sheriff Eliasen and Information Technology Director Rena Rogers to replace the outdated public safety paging system for $169,835.77 from Cordan Radio Communications was approved. The board had budgeted $250,000 for the project in the 2015 budget. The remaining funds will be used for tower installations, consulting services, and miscellaneous equipment (antennas, feed line) that may need to be replaced.
IT Director Rogers’s request to purchase a handheld/portable spectrum analyzer for $6,500 was approved. The analyzer is a diagnostic tool used to make sure pagers are on the right frequency and radio communication equipment is working properly.
The board also approved a request from Rogers to spend $3,967 to acquire a server licensing and server maintenance agreement for a period of three years.
In other county business
. The county board is closer to selecting the next county administrator. Commissioners hope to have a new county administrator in place by June 1.
. A special event permit was approved for the Grand Marais Classic Car show which will be held June 6. The car show has been held for approximately 30 years and this is the fourth year it will be held on Wisconsin Street. Between 50 and 120 vehicles will be displayed at the show.
. A special event permit was also granted to the Ham Run 5K/Half Marathon, which will be run on May 2.
. Commissioners approved eight seasonal liquor license renewals that run from May 1 to October 31for the Gunflint Hills Golf Course, Loon Lake Lodge, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, Superior National Golf Course, Trails End Café, Tuscarora Lodge and Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
. Sheriff Eliasen also announced that Deputy Dave Gilmore had turned in his resignation because he had accepted a position elsewhere.
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