September 26, 2017 –  Following is a summary of highlights and key priorities from the September 26 Cook County Board Meeting:

Sawtooth Bluff Recreational Project Steering Committee
Land Commissioner/Parks & Trails Director Lisa Kerr appeared before the Board to establish membership for a Sawtooth Bluff Steering Committee. This committee will work with ARDC to develop a Master Plan for the Sawtooth Bluff Recreational Project. The Master Plan will be funded by a Lake Superior Coastal Program STAR Grant.

Public Health & Human Services Director
Alison McIntyre was named the new Public Health & Human Services Director upon recommendation of the Hiring Committee formed to fill that important vacancy. McIntyre has been employed by Cook County since 2012, and has been promoted several times in those years. Most recently she was serving as the Financial Assistance Supervisor, responsible for the work of a team of six people and serving as one of the five supervisors on the PHHS leadership team.

Personnel Changes
A change to the Deputy Recorder classification was approved as recommended by the Personnel Committee. The need for a classification change was recognized during the 2016 Classification Study. In the absence of the County recorder, the Chief Deputy recorder essentially functions as the Recorder.

Anita Jeziah was approved by the Board to fill a 30-hour-per-week Social Worker I position as the In Home Support Program Coordinator. This position partially replaces the vacancy left by Olivia McGee when she left the County for another position in July.

County Fire Department Budget
County Auditor Braidy Powers brought a final version of the County fire department levy requests to the Board for approval. The eight county fire departments requested a total budget of $344,233 for 2018, which is down from $353,201 in 2017.

Full details of Board Meetings are available through video footage, agendas and minutes atwww.co.cook.mn.us. County Board Meetings are open to the public.