Alison McIntyre
The search to replace Josh Beck, former Cook County Public Health & Human Services director who resigned in July, is over. Commissioners approved Alison McIntyre to fill the position. McIntyre was recommended by the Hiring Committee, which was formed to help find a replacement for Beck.
Employed by Cook County since 2012, as of late McIntyre has been working as the PHHS financial assistance supervisor with a crew of six employees to supervise. She also serves on the Public Health and Human Services leadership team.
Commissioners approved Anita Jeziah to fill a 30-hour-per week Social Worker 1 position left vacant since July when Olivia McGee left for another job. Jeziah will be the county’s In-Home Support coordinator.
Commissioners approved the Crime Victim Services Grant (CVSG) for fiscal years 2017-2019.
The board passed a resolution authorizing execution of a cooperative agreement between the county and the Office of Justice programs in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
The grant is for $96,000 over that period which includes an $18,504 matching requirement.
The grant helps to pay for the crime victim services provided by the County Attorney’s Office, including 25 hours per week of the Paralegal/Victim Witness Coordinator position.
Commissioners approved a reclassification for Cook County Chief Deputy Recorder Dusty Nelms from B-22 step to C-41 step 10. Judy Hill, the Human Resources generalist, said Nelms had been making decisions and managing data beyond the B-22 level for quite a few years. Hill added that Keystone Consulting, who reviewed the position last year, recommended the raise. Hill also said the personnel committee reviewed and approved the request to reclassify the job to a C-41 and place it at step 10 to reflect Nelms’ 15-plus years of service.
Cook County Land Commissioners/Parks & Trails director, Lisa Kerr, received permission to form the Sawtooth Bluff Steering Committee. The committee will work in conjunction with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission on the Sawtooth Bluff Recreational Project Master Plan.
Members of the committee include Cook County Commissioner Myron Bursheim, County Administrator Jeff Cadwell, Kerr, David Demmer, a member of the County Parks & Trails Commission, City of Grand Marais Administrator Mike Roth, City of Grand Marais Parks Manager Dave Tersteeg, and Susan Abrahamson, a member of the original “Old Ski Hill Committee.”
A STAR Grant through the Lake Superior Coastal Program for $7,500 and an equal amount split between the city and county will be used to develop a Master Plan for the Sawtooth Bluff project.
Both the city of Grand Marais and the county have joint ownership of 640 acres of land that will be used for the project. The property is north of the water tower on the Gunflint Trail and the Old Ski Hill Road.
The first meeting of the committee and ARDC took place September 28 to begin the visioning process. Public meetings will follow where input and comments will be sought during the Master Plan development. Once finished, the final draft will be placed online on the county’s website.
Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers presented the county’s six volunteer fire department levy requests. Proposed unorganized levies are part of the overall county levy and have to be certified by September 30 of each year, said Powers.
Fire levies approved for 2018 were: Colvill, $42,000; Grand Marais ext. $44,831; Gunflint Trail, $80,000; Hovland, $80,000; Lutsen Extension, $23,752; Maple Hill, $73,640.
All told the unorganized fire levies added up to $344,233 for 2018, a reduction of $353,201 from 2017.
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