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Theresa Luther-Dolan
My late husband, Joe, and I built our home in Colvill 33 years ago, after being small business owners of a deli/convenience and live bait store in Chisago County. We enrolled our daughter in school at ISD 166 for her primary and elementary school years. We considered ourselves pioneers, as we built our home and hobby farm complete with horses and goats and a German Shepherd dog breeding business. We were the local dog obedience trainers and many folks in Cook County took our classes. Over the years, I have been very active on local boards and committees from being Chair of the Cook County Extension Board and Chair of the 4-H Leaders Federation, as well as being an active member on the Grand Marais Playhouse Board, North Shore Collaborative, and multiple committees including my involvement in the planning and development of the Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Adopt-a-River Program with the Pollution Control Agency and Community Education Youth Development programs.
My work background has included adult education, education administration, youth development, Community Education Director, retail management and business owner, employment & training, State of MN Dept of Corrections, and State of MN Dept of Education. Our careers took us out of the county for a few years and I moved back 4 years ago after I retired from the State Dept of Corrections Education and Reentry. While living in other small-town communities, I have always been active on boards and committees as well as belonging to the professional state and national organizations. Most recently, I was on the national Commission on Adult Education Reentry Transitions Board for incarcerated individuals. I’m currently working part-time for AEOA (Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency) as an adult educator and employment & training counselor.
I knew when I was 13 years old after my first trip to the North Shore with my mom & dad, that I would live here one day. I have lived on lakes most of my childhood and married life and enjoyed the outdoors from water skiing and boating, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and gardening, to hiking. I am an experienced dancer and musical theater choreographer and for several years I taught dance and exercise in the Twin Cities. I have a degree in speech, theater, and education and a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Community Education, which means I have taught all ages from birth to senior citizens. In retail management and corrections, I trained teachers and managers and developed training manuals and adult education curriculum.
Q- Why are you interested in serving as a Cook County Commissioner?
A- Anyone who has worked with me appreciates my honest and clear communication, leadership adaptability, support, diligence, and follow-through on any project I may be involved in. I want to help build positive relationships by actively listening to our stakeholders and community members to ensure our county remains fiscally responsible. I care about our aging population. Before we can meet their long-term care and housing needs, we must first secure skilled, qualified employees and accessible housing for these workers to live here and care for our aging population. I not only support responsible recreation and stewardship of our public lands, but I also want to maintain a strong, vibrant arts community for future generations. Being a county board representative is an opportunity for me to assist with strategic planning and goals, and to build community relationships, partnerships, and collaborative arrangements with disparate and diverse stakeholder groups.
Q- The county is currently conducting a comparable wage study with other counties. Presumably wages will go up for county workers. Many of the same jobs or similar jobs are done by private firms who pay less and have less benefits. How does the private sector compete with the county for workers?
A- It’s important to thoroughly evaluate our current wages and workers’ responsibilities. I would make sure that we not only rely on the results of the wage study with other counties. I believe we need to review the current responsibilities, tasks and roles of our own county employees and make sure that we are using comparable data for making decisions regarding increased wages for our employees. A “comparable wage study” is only one piece of the process before determining wage increases. Having run a business in the private sector, I know how difficult it can be to ensure that wages are in line with the other jobs in the county. This process needs to be carefully executed and should include an opportunity for citizens in the county (especially private business owners) to share their input regarding wage increases.
Q- Cook County Public Health and Human Services needs more space for its staff. Would you vote to build PHHS a new building, add onto the current courthouse, or seek to have some employees work from home as they have done during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A- Before the county addresses the “need for more staff space” it first must look at where there is space not currently being used to its fullest potential capacity. We have learned that some work can be done from home efficiently and economically. In fact, I worked from home with the State Department of Corrections during COVID-19 and that is how I was able to move back to my home in Colvill. The state headquarters in St. Paul, downsized their office space from a 3-floor building to one floor and decided that it was a huge cost savings, so they permanently made some departments remote. There needs to be more research into all options before making a hasty decision to build more workspace in brick-and-mortar buildings.
Q- The county owns quite a few properties and buildings it can’t properly maintain due to lack of staff and finances. Would you be in favor of selling or donating some of these to townships or individuals?
A- There are some properties and buildings not being used properly within the county but why is that? How are these properties and buildings being used now and why do they exist? If after analyzing and researching this more, we learn that these buildings do in fact, need to exist then the county will have to decide if the budget should be adjusted accordingly so that there are funds set aside for maintenance and staffing as needed. If the county determines that some buildings are not necessary, then I would be in favor of selling or donating to the townships first. I believe that the county should be reaching out to the community and stakeholders using these buildings for their input before making any decisions.
Q- Should Cook County place a limit on Airbnb’s?
Until possible zoning changes for additional housing has been determined, I don’t feel that any limits should be made regarding Airbnb’s. For some property owners the income from Airbnb’s is their livelihood, their primary business and it should not be the county’s decision to take away their business income. However, the county should be addressing the taxes for operating this kind of business in the region to ensure that we are maximizing on possible funds for supporting county infrastructure expenses such as sewer, water, roads, etc.
Q- A lack of affordable housing is a big issue for the county. What can the county do to help solve that? Or should this be left up to the private sector?
A- There is a lack of housing and being affordable is one issue but there is also the issue of finding available land for more housing. The county should reevaluate zoning regulations, taxes, and incentives for current and potential new property owners to aid in making building options feasible. It isn’t a question of leaving this up to the private sector. The private sector has been faced with roadblocks from the county especially when they are limited on what they can build within the current zoning laws. Solving this problem should involve more than just county commissioners and a single housing committee. There are many knowledgeable, talented, skilled, and interested members in the community with ideas for solutions. Community members should be invited to share their ideas through different venues from open forums to write-in suggestions, townhall meetings, etc., until all ideas are on the table so that the county has the support and has heard the best possible solutions for making decisions regarding how to solve the housing issues.
Q- Given the time commitment and responsibility of the job, should county commissioners be paid more?
A- This is a part-time, professional job. It should be paid accordingly. I am not running for this position for the money. Unless I continue to work for a state agency such as when I was working for the Dept of Corrections remotely, I cannot expect to make the same income as other full-time professional positions in this county and realize the sacrifice I need to make to live and work in this county.
Q- Why should someone vote for you?
A- I’m well prepared to provide leadership, attention to detail, research, and analysis, build business relationships, facilitate committees and meetings, and interact with other systems and departments. I have a broad perspective and history on which to help make sound decisions. I will foster positive, productive discussions and use my knowledge to lead our county.
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