» A 40-foot Ham radio tower will be put up on the garage
behind the Cook County Law Enforcement Center with funds from a 2005 Homeland Security grant. The tower will improve coordination of countywide efforts during disasters and emergencies. Local volunteer Ham radio operators have traditionally assisted law enforcement
agencies communicate in remote areas during times of
greatest need.
» A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources grant
has been awarded for improvements to the Banadad and Deeryard/Cascade ski trail systems. The surface of 2.1 miles of Banadad trails will be upgraded at a cost of $9,000, half paid by the grant and half by the county. On the Deeryard/Cascade trails, flood damage will be repaired and culverts and bridges will be constructed at
a cost of $50,000, half paid by the grant and half by the
county.
» T he county continues to move step by step toward airport
runway improvements. The board approved paying its 5% share of a $49,800 bill for an environmental assessment required before making any engineering plans. The assessment leaves the airport commission, along with whatever engineering firm they might hire in their next step of the project, to decide which alternative would be best. According to Commissioner Jim Johnson,
the county board has not committed to the total project
but has approved each step along the way so far.
» County commissioners, Judge Kenneth Sandvik, County
Attorney Tim Scannell, Health and Human Services Director Sue Futterer, and Social Work Supervisor Grace Bushard discussed the judge’s previous directive that the county should pay legal fees for parents whose children are deemed in need of protection (“CHIPs” cases). According to Scannell, two Minnesota counties are refusing to pay and are involved in a lawsuit regarding their responsibilities.
So far this year, the county has paid out almost $6,000 in legal fees for parents. Commissioner Bob Fenwick expressed concern over the county’s lack of control over the amount that could go into legal fees. He also pointed out that, by paying parents’ legal fees, the county is playing the role of both prosecution and defense.
Bushard said her social workers try to resolve cases before court intervention is needed, but sometimes it’s necessary in order to protect the children involved.
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