June 27, 2017 – Following are highlights and key priorities covered at the Tuesday, June 27 Board of Commissioners Meeting:

Rod Roy, airport administrator, brought a resolution to the board to accept approximately $59,000 of additional DEED (MN Department of Employment and Economic Development) funds for the completion of the airport terminal project.

Sheriff Pat Eliasen addressed the Board with several staffing changes resulting from resignations to retirements within the Department. He asked the Board to support his plan to add an additional Deputy to provide vacation relief, fill in for prisoner transports and help with Courthouse security. While the new position increases the number of deputies from 10 to 11, the number of FTE positions within the Department remains constant as we are not planning on filling the Transport and Courthouse Security positions at this time.

Scott Harrison and Mary Somnis gave an update on planning for the Lutsen Rental Housing Project. Final sources and uses of funds for the project are being completed by One Roof Housing. Final rating by the County prior to the issuance of the pre-paid tax abatement bond of $1.6 million will be completed this week. Permitting for the project is scheduled for the July Planning Commission meeting.

Sale of bonds to provide for construction capital for the Lutsen Housing Project, is scheduled for July 17, with the Board of Commissioners awarding the bond sale on July 18. The authorization to sell the bonds for this project was given in February. Selling the bonds and awarding the bond sale are technical terms and the final steps in a complicated 12-month-process.

Olya Wright gave a presentation of the local Nordic Nature Group’s efforts including local cleanups and education about the need and opportunity to reduce individual and community carbon footprints. George Wilkes gave a presentation about Citizens Climate Lobby and their efforts to support a carbon-fee and dividend program at the federal level. He asked Commissioners to consider a resolution in support of that legislation.

Administrator Cadwell gave an update on the process for the annual Administrator Review, an update on the hospital parking lot construction and the remaining steps involved in implementing the Keystone Compensation Study.

Contact: Jeff Cadwell, Cook County Administrator, 218-387-3687 or [email protected]