July 24, 2018 – Following are highlights and key priorities covered at the Tuesday, July 24 Board of Commissioners Meeting:

Agenda Approval and Adjustments
Motion was made and carried to approve the Agenda with one addition from Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers for Election judges, and two additions from Administrator Cadwell on personnel actions. 

Public Comment Period
Steve Frykman, Sharon Frykman, Michael Schelmeske, and Myra Theimer spoke regarding the proposed Interim Use Permit for a home-based business. (Item 6)

Consent Agenda
Motion was made and carried to approve the following consent agenda items and removing Items E and G for discussion.

A.  Claims
B.  Board minutes for June 26, July 10, 2018
C.  Resolution for Gambling Permit
D.  MIS System Administrator-Approve hiring
E.  Cook County Community Center Board of Trustees
F.  Ad for Snow Plowing Bids for SGSDs
G. County Administrator-Approve annual review

Agenda

Synthetic Ice Sheets 
Community Center/Extension Director Diane Booth presented an option to sell the community center’s eight used synthetic ice sheets that are sitting in storage and not being used, to a local Ice Performance company (Deb Mueller) for $800, depending upon the condition they are in. Motion was made and carried to first advertise the ice sheets for five days on the County website and local community media Boreal, then go with the highest bidder. 

Cook County Center Board of Trustees
Community Center/Extension Director Diane Booth reviewed the process of advertising and filling Community Center Board of Trustees, as a vacancy has become open. Diane advertises and accepts applications for the Board, the nominee is the first qualified and willing applicant available when a vacancy arises. The Board approved the nomination of Jim McDermott to the Community Center Board of Trustees to fill the current vacancy.

Mailbox Post Policy 
County Engineer Krysten Foster presented the proposed Mailbox Post Policy which states Cook County will provide and install swing-away Support Standard Plate No. 9350 mailbox posts within the limits of state-aid or federal-aid reconstruction or resurfacing projects. Residents may opt out of non-conforming post replacement in advance of the project. New or current property owners may purchase a conforming post form the Cook County Highway Department for $75. Motion was made and carried to approve this policy. 

CSAH 17 Reconstruction CP 016-617-001
County Engineer Krysten Foster indicated that after considerable discussion, motion was made and carried to accept the low bid from Northland Constructors of Duluth, LLC for the reconstruction project CASH 17 CP-016-617-001 (Mineral Center Rd. & Old Hwy. 61) in Grand Portage, in the amount of $4,343,695.90. Weather permitting, the project is expected to begin and finish this fall.

Interim Use Permit (IUP) Home Business FAR-3 ZD
Zoning Administrator Bill Lane presented on an application for a Home Business on County Road 44 which is a dead-end road and located in a Forest Agricultural Residential (FAR-3) Zone District. This permit is intended to facilitate public exposure to Sharon and Steven Frykmans’ art studio and gallery on their County Road 44 property. The Planning Commission passed this IUP on a 4-1 vote. After much discussion, motion was made and carried to approve by a 4-1 vote, with a report in six months on conditions of the permit. 
 
Airport Grant Agreement for Beacon & Ramp 
Rod Roy, Airport and Braidy Powers, Auditor-Treasurer, requested the Board approve FAA and MNDOT airport grant agreements for the Beacon Head and Seaplane Ramp Replacements when they are offered, and authorize the Board Chair and Auditor-Treasurer to sign the agreements, upon review and approval by the County Attorney. Motion was made and carried to approve the Beacon Head and seaplane Ramp Replacements contingent on receipt of grant funding.

Rod Roy, Airport and Braidy Powers, Auditor-Treasurer, presented a Professional Services Agreement Work Order 2018*01, with RS&H for design, bidding, construction administration, FAA closeout, FAA airport layout plan sheet update for the Beacon and Seaplane Ramp Replacement and authorize the Board Chair to sign the agreement, contingent upon receiving he grant officers from the FAA and the State.   

Contract with Rock Solid Trail Building Contractors
Lisa Kerr, Land Commissioner and Molly Hicken, Attorney requested the Board approve execution of the Agreement for Trailbuilder Work Tofte to Lutsen Connector Mountain Bike Trail with Rock Solid Trail Contracting LLC, with Superior Cycling Association and Cook County, contingent on final approval by the County Attorney and the County Administrator.  Motion was made and carried.

Capital Projects Update
County Administrator Jeff Cadwell provided an update on capital projects included in the 2018 Capital improvement Bond issue.  See separate Capital Projects Update release. 

Administrator Update
County Administrator Jeff Cadwell brought forth the following items:

• Summary of Administrator’s performance review which the motion was made and carried
• Personnel matters regarding termination of two employees. Motion was made and carried to accept
• District public budget meetings to be scheduled between Aug. 15 – Sept. 15.
• Arrowhead Regional Development Commission needs the County to name a steering committee for the transportation planning process.  Commissioner Deschampe will represent the Board of Commissioners.
• YMCA roofing projects are being coordinated with contractors working on the school project to save money on necessary repairs.   

Election Judges for Primary and General Election
Braidy Powers, Auditor-Treasurer, brought forth a list of election judges for the primary and general election. Motion was made and carried to approve the list. Powers also mentioned that there could be another list later that will also need to come for approval.

Full details of Board Meetings are available through video footage, Agendas and Minutes at www.co.cook.mn.us. County Board Meetings are open to the public.

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