May 16, 2018 – Following are highlights and key priorities covered at the Tuesday, May 15 Committee of the Whole meeting. 

US Forest Service
Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak, United States Forest Service (USFS) Tofte District Ranger, introduced herself and gave an overview of USFS Environmental Review procedures for requests ranging from timber sales to easements to private property to permits for special-use projects. The National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process is being reorganized to start with public input and data gathering.

Wold Jail & Law Enforcement/County Space Needs Study
John McNamara and Jonathan Loose, Wold Architects and Engineers, presented a preliminary assessment of countywide space needs as a part of the Master Planning process. Wold was engaged in November 2017 to conduct a Master Plan for the Cook County Jail Needs and Law Enforcement spaces. Early on, they recommended conducting a countywide assessment of program and space needs, so that any recommendations they would eventually make would be tied to overall County needs. Board materials included summary data on current space usage, recommendations on space standards for offices, workstation and public spaces, as gathered through departmental surveys and interviews. The materials also included projections on County population, and projected needs for jail space. Wold will continue to refine the physical data that they have gathered and integrate that with County Board direction and consultation with the core planning group to provide a final Master Plan that will include options for future design development. A final Master Plan will be on a future Board agenda in June or July of 2018. Any potential projects or capital improvements will be developed on its own merits within countywide budgeting and prioritization.

Full details of Committee of the Whole Meetings are available through Agendas and Minutes at  www.co.cook.mn.us. All meetings are open to the public.

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