Two sets of RV owners received authorization for interim use permits (IUPs) at the June 26, 2012 county board meeting. “You’re going to see more and more requests for interim use permits,” Planning & Zoning Administrator Bill Lane told commissioners.
County government has taken a stand against using RVs as permanent dwellings, but that doesn’t mean people don’t want to use them as such. The Cook County Land Use Guide Plan limits the duration of RV use with a two-year temporary RV permit that can then be extended with an interim use permit. The temporary RV permit can be issued by the Planning & Zoning Department, whereas the Planning Commission and the county board must approve the interim use permit. The duration of an IUP is up to the governing bodies but generally lasts two to three years and can be extended.
Documents prepared by Administrator Lane for the county board in regard to Lyle and Carol Blair’s application for an RV IUP in Hovland and Mark Linne’s application for an RV IUP at Seagull Lake on the Gunflint Trail state, “By limiting the duration of RV use, local government’s intent was to encourage the construction of permanent dwellings in the county. Given that framework, RV use may be viewed as a ‘bridge,’ allowing landowners to stay on their land during the build-out phase of property ownership. … Perhaps the most important consideration of permitted or non-permitted RV use is septic treatment.”
Any structure that receives pressurized water from an outside source is required to have a septic system. Lane said he thinks pressurized water is being delivered all over the county to structures that don’t have septic systems, but they usually rely on the honesty of the people applying for permits regarding the absence of pressurized water to the structure.
The Blairs, who own 238 acres dedicated to the Woodland Stewardship Plan, a program intended to facilitate the long-term management of forested lands in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, have a Port-a- Potty on their property. Mark Linne has a pump and necessary equipment to draw water from the lake but has promised not to hook it up to his RV.
Commissioners talked about the importance of enforcing ordinances as fairly and consistently as possible.
Both permits were approved and will be good for three years.
In other county news:
. Commissioner Sue Hakes said a website has been set up for those affected by the flood that hit the North Shore on June 20: www.minnesotarecovers.org. The website said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management were scheduled to tour Cook County on June 25 to assess for damage to public infrastructure.
. Commissioner Jim Johnson reported that Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Inc. and the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) worked out issues regarding the wording of a county energy plan just completed and presented to the board on June 12. Revisions will be made and the plan will be brought back to the board for adoption.
The plan is intended to help all sectors of the county move toward sustainable, affordable, clean sources of energy.
. The board passed resolutions accepting Minnesota Department of Natural Resources grants on behalf of the Banadad Trail Association for the purpose of purchasing an easement and moving the trail 1/3 to ½ mile ($7,500 with a $2,500 match) and the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee for maintaining wilderness trails ($23,000 with a match of 1,440 volunteer hours at $16/hour).
. The board approved a work order that will be used to apply for a Federal Aviation Administration grant for repairs to the Cook County Airport runway. The county would pay $7,500 of the cost and the state would pay $10,000. The federal government would pay $166,500.
Airport Manager Rodney Roy said some pilots no longer fly to this airport because the runway is so bad. The cracks are wide and airplane tires are narrow. “It’s one of the worst runways in the state,” said Roy. When applying for the grant, he flew officials to the airport so they could experience a landing for themselves. His strategy apparently worked.
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