Cook County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers. Photo provided 

From Cook County, MN - April 3, 2026

By Braidy Powers, Cook County Auditor-Treasurer

After 2 years of discussions, public hearings, and ordinance establishment, there is a new special assessment appearing on tax statements beginning in 2026 titled Solid Waste Fees. Residential properties will see a $50 assessment, and Commercial/Industrial properties will see a $100 assessment on their tax statements. The purpose of the assessments is to pay county costs of construction, future improvements, and maintenance of Solid Waste Transfer facilities in Grand Marais, Hovland, and Tofte.   

In 2025, the County determined that there was an urgent need to construct a Transfer Station in Grand Marais and make improvements to the transfer sites in Hovland and Tofte. These improvements are necessary to provide efficient movement of waste to the landfill located in the Duluth area and to protect groundwater at the three transfer sites. In 2025, Cook County issued $6.2 million in Solid Waste Bonds for construction costs.  The County also received $3.25 million in grants from the State for construction costs. The Solid Waste Fees will be applied to the $450,000 annual payment on the Solid Waste bonds. 

Discussions between Cook County and North Shore Waste began a few years ago. North Shore Waste was facing pressure from the MPCA to move operations indoors to mitigate environmental issues.  The costs to transport waste to Duluth, and beyond, with trucks designed for collection, not long-distance hauling, were becoming unsustainable. The County recognized its overall responsibility for management of waste generated within the county to ensure that it is disposed of in an efficient and environmentally sound manner.

The new facility is designed to eventually take over recycling, due to handling efficiencies built into the new structure. The County decided the most effective way to finance the construction was to own the building and issue non-taxable Solid Waste Bonds. A lease was designed for North Shore Waste to operate and maintain the facility with provisions that preserve the non-taxability of the bonds. The County weighed the options for how to pay for the Solid Waste Bonds over several meetings. They considered increasing the County levy, increasing trash collection fees, or establishing special assessment fees. County Commissioners ultimately chose to follow what many counties have done and establish a solid waste annual special assessment fee.  Below are some of the steps the County took in establishing the fees:

• Aug. 20, 2024- Solid waste fee discussion with Land Services, Clearwater County example. 
• Nov. 19, 2024- Presentation by bond consultant with sample schedule of solid waste fees.
• Jan 21, 2025- County Board looked at several fee structures, including parcel count, primary classification, and parcel zoning. The Board considered complicated structures using multiple factors versus simple structures. 
• Jan. 28, 2025- County Board approved using the primary classification of properties for the fee structure.
• Feb.11, 2025- County Board adopted a resolution setting a public hearing about establishing a solid waste service area.
• Feb. 15, 2025- Published notice of public hearing to establish solid waste service area.
• Feb. 25, 2025- Public hearing held on service area creation. Adopted resolution approving the service area.
• Mar. 1, 2025- Published notice of intent to enact an ordinance on establishing rates for solid waste services.
• Mar. 11, 2025- Public hearing held and ordinance adopted establishing rates and charges for solid waste services.
• Mar. 15, 2025- Publication of the ordinance.

The purpose of the special assessment fees is to pay for the solid waste bonds and future improvements the County may make to transfer facilities. These fees are not for costs related to trash collection, hauling, or operation of the facility. Operational costs will be paid by North Shore Waste under the terms of the lease. North Shore Waste will continue to collect fees for its services to customers. 

Thank you to the public for your participation in the two-year process resulting in these fees, ensuring access to responsible trash collection and hauling.

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service