While County Engineer Shae Kosmalski works to maintain quality roads for Cook County residents and visitors, the Cook County Soil & Water staff is working to maintain quality routes for aquatic organisms. Sometimes the two goals are met in the same projects.
On Tuesday, December 1, 2009, the county board agreed to write a letter of support for Soil & Water Conservation District grant applications to the Minnesota Board of Water Resources Clean Water Fund (for $80,000) and the Lake Superior Coastal Program (for $30,000). The grant applications propose completion of an inventory of all streams crossing county-owned roads and replacement of two culverts known to be deficient.
A November 24 letter from Soil & Water Conservation District Technician Tristan Beaster to the county board states, “The replacement projects will improve county infrastructure, reduce risk of road failures, facilitate passage of aquatic organisms, and improve water quality in sensitive trout streams.
“…The proposed project represents the next step in a process that began with a grant from the Coastal Program that funded an inventory of stream crossings on Cook County roads near Lake Superior,” Beaster wrote.
Beaster told the county board that culverts on Cascade Beach Road and the Colvill Road (CR14) are known to be failing and would be considered priority projects.
The Clean Water Fund grant would require a county match of $18,000.
Kosmalski said her department evaluates culverts every spring, but this grant would save her staff some time. She and her staff would assist with the proposed project if Soil & Water were awarded the grants.
The county’s match could be provided through staff time, cash, or equipment use. “In return for this match,” Beaster wrote, “the county would receive approximately $110,000 in engineering services and construction project funding.”
Commissioner Bob Fenwick seconded a motion by Commissioner Jim Johnson to write a letter of support for the project. “I certainly agree with Shae,” Fenwick said, “that it would be money well spent. It’s worth it.”
The board also agreed to send a letter of support for a $15,000 grant application to the Lake Superior Coastal Program to complete projects yet undone in the Cook County Water Management Plan. Those projects include incorporating new water quality data into ordinances, an educational outreach program with local media, and identification of potential septage disposal sites.
This grant would require a $5,000 local match. Water Plan Coordinator Cindy Gentz suggested in a November 24 memo to the county board that 65% of the match come from Soil & Water staff time, 15% from Planning & Zoning staff time, and 20% from citizen input.
On November 24, the county board authorized the county’s continued participation in the state’s Natural Resources Block Grant Program. Funding from this program goes to the Soil & Water Conservation District and the county Planning & Zoning Department. The program will bring $39,882 to the county from the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources. Thecounty must provide a levy match of $4,413 for the Soil & Water Conservation District and an in-kind match of $19,573. This funding source is available every year but must be approved annually by the county board.
Leave a Reply