Revolving loan fund approved for Birchbark building renovation

The Cook County Commissioners met Tuesday, April 11 with a wide variety of subjects to tackle.

Cook County Commissioners approved a revolving loan for $175,000 to the Cook County Real Estate Fund for the renovation of the former 6,500 square foot Birchbark Books and Gifts building.

The loan is for 20 years with interest at market rates.

The loan is contingent upon approval of the county attorney and completion of borrower documents including personal guarantees, a promissory note and borrower agreements.

Once the renovations are complete the First & Second Thrift Store will take half of the building for its operations. A law office will move into the other front space in the fall, and six offices will be for rent behind the law office, with entrances in the side and back of the building.

The Cook County MIS Department is donating a Dell Power Edge R340 server to Cook County I.S.D. 166 at no cost. The MIS department recently replaced the server with a new one. MIS Director Rowan Watkins said transferring the server to the school district would benefit both parties because the school wouldn’t need to buy a server and the county wouldn’t need to store and ultimately recycle the server. Cost of the server on eBay is $500 to $800.

To fill a vacancy Brenda Port was hired as a Social Worker 1-Substance Use Disorder Treatment Coordinator Case Manager with Cook County Public Health and Human Services.

Dana Logan was hired as a Mental Health Worker for Public Health and Human Service to fill a vacancy in the department.

Negotiated lease contracts for equipment on county towers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were approved. The county owns the land and tower at MidTrail while the DNR owns the building and pays utilities. The county owns the land, tower and building at Bogus Lake and the DNR has agreed to pay $300 per year for utilities.

Commissioners agreed to send a letter of support for a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs for $60,000 to improve access to dental care for the county’s 423 (or more) veterans.

County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass presented a Local Road Improvement Program Grant Agreement and Resolution asking commissioners to formally accept a grant for $835,000 that will be used for the 5th Avenue West Reconstruction project that will take place this summer. Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution accepting the grant.

Jeff Lee, Lutsen, was appointed to fill an open position on the Cook County Planning Commission effective immediately. Lee participated in drafting the county Stormwater Ordinance and helped in the development of the environmental review for the Caribou Lake area as a consultant.