At the Cook County Board of Commissioners’ May 23 meeting County Administrator Jeff Cadwell presented a proposal by Ehlers Inc. to conduct a Capital Improvement and Financial Planning Service (CIFP) for the county. Commissioners approved the study, which is not to exceed $20,000, and Cadwell said the county could pay for the plan with money that is in the building fund.
Over a 10-year period, the CIFP will provide a budget for each fund that impacts the General Fund. These include Road and Bridge, Public Health and Human Services, General Fund, Debt Fund, Local Option Sales Tax, Transportation Sales Tax and the County Airport.
The CIFP is a long-term planning tool that will provide commissioners with a road map to help determine options and assist them in long range planning. Ehlers will work with county staff, commissioners, and the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office to develop the plan, which should take 10-12 weeks, depending on meeting schedules.
Using the CIFP will also allow the county to measure the financial impact of possible programming decisions in a way that is hard to do today.
The CIFP will also allow commissioners to look at the County’s current financial position; assist in identifying policy issues and set a framework for discussion; outline future capital needs and program requests; present options for capital project funding and timing; analyze the financial impact of each option and prepare an affordable, comprehensive financial plan.
The goal of the CIFP is to create a financial tool that will help commissioners prioritize capital improvements and set balanced budgets for the next decade.
Community Garden
Cook County Community Director Diane Booth said the Cook County Community Center Board of Trustees met recently and made a motion to approve moving forward with building a new community garden behind the center next to the ballfield.
Plans are to build the garden in three phases. The first phase would be to make four 200-square foot beds, followed by 14 150-square foot beds; 14 150-square foot beds and 10 50-square foot beds.
“We would like permission to move forward with construction of four to six garden beds this year with the idea of expanding the project over the next couple of years,” Booth said.
An on-line query was conducted to see whether anyone was interested in a community garden at the community center and within one day, said Booth, “We had 20 people on a list requesting garden space.”
The University of Minnesota Extension Committee has committed $1,000 and the Northwoods Food Project another $300 to begin this project. “We are not requesting funds from the county. We are requesting use of the land,” Booth said.
Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Recycle gets new bins/trailer
Tim Nelson, Land Service Director, brought forth a request to purchase 10 bins and a new recycling trailer for $18,459. The new trailer, which was approved for purchase, will replace one of the six trailers now in service because it is in bad condition.
Jail study okayed
Cook County’s jail is too small and outdated for current needs, said Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen who brought forth a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit bids to study expanding jail facilities in Cook County.
Currently, inmates can only be held for 72-hours before they have to be transported to Two Harbors or a jail even further away. The cost to the County to transport and house Cook County inmates elsewhere comes to about $250,000 annually, and Eliasen is looking at keeping those dollars, and creating new jobs, in the county. There is also the human cost. By keeping residents here who have broken the law—and many of them are young—it will allow their families to visit them and doesn’t put a financial/ time strain on those families who would otherwise have to travel to see them.
Commissioners approved the RFP which will take several months to complete. Once the study is done, commissioners will review options to improve or expand the current law enforcement facilities.
MCIT annual report
Commissioners listened as representatives from the Minnesota County Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) presented the annual report for the organization. MCIT, which represents 81 of 87 counties, provides a variety of insurance services to the county, which includes property, automobile, workers compensation, and liability.
Consent agenda
Commissioners set a loan policy for organized towns and unorganized volunteer fire departments that will allow the county to provide loans of up to $100,000 for equipment and buildings at no interest. Loans above $100,000 will be charged and an interest rate of two basis points below the ten-year T-Bond rate, but no less than one percent. Loans up to 2 years will be made on a case-by- case basis.
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