County begins move into old city hall

After more than a year's wait, two Carlton County departments are being moved from the Courthouse to the former city hall building in Cloquet. At the regular meeting Tuesday, May 26, the Carlton County board of commissioners unanimously approved moving the Economic Development office and the county coordinator/human resources/property management office led by Dennis Genereau to the old City Hall office space at the corner of Cloquet Avenue and 14th Street.

"This is a first step," Genereau said. "This move would take little renovation and minimal county funds. We are making every dollar count as we see how much the future county budget is affected by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic."

The space freed up by the move will provide needed office areas for the local public defenders and court administrative staff. The possibility of conference space for the courts, probation and general government functions is also a goal.

Discussions continue regarding other departments using the old city hall space. Renovations for the Assertive Community Treatment program to use the building came in higher than expected. The federal government had originally provided funding for upgrade work at the current rental property the ACT team uses; the county board approved another year for that building lease.

Access to the Carlton County Courthouse is still limited, with a deputy posted at the east entrance. Residents are encouraged to schedule appointments by phone before coming to the courthouse. Face masks are encouraged inside.

Carlton County will have a limited hiring freeze on a case-by-case basis with all refills requiring board approval. Major funding comes from federal and state sources and the impact on next year's budget is unknown.

In other county board actions:

-The Brillion seeder and the interseeder, once under the local Minnesota Extension umbrella, are now temporarily transferred to the Soil and Water Conservation District. It is the plan to have a local qualified vendor, after a bidding process, act as a rental agent for the equipment. Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure Carlton County residents have first option to rent the equipment. The transfer is for a five-year period with annual reports given by the SWCD.

• Marlyn Halvorson was hired as the new emergency management director. Coming from Itasca County, Halvorson has 22 years in law enforcement, 11 years as a paramedic and 20 years as a firefighter.

• Land commissioner Greg Bernu got permission for a public hearing on June 22 for changes in Soo Line Ordinance #14 and a new ordinance of the Soo Pit in Moose Lake. Use of the pit will be restricted from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The public is encouraged to view the proposed ordinances and changes on the Carlton County website under the tax-forfeited land subsection.

• The land department has participated in two certification programs for county forestland: the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The participating loggers who buy county wood were for dropping both certification programs.

Bernu said the mills were interested in some certification because it helped them compete in international markets. The county board gave Bernu authority to negotiate with the mills to see if they were willing to cover the cost of certification and he will come back with a recommendation.

• Another hangar is being constructed at the Cloquet Airport. The building is being constructed by a private individual who will pay $1,680 for leasing the spot and will also pay property taxes on the building constructed.

• United Way of Carlton County has been chosen to receive $40,401 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county, under the Emergency Food and Shelter Board Program and the CARES Act.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must 1) be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to complete a simple form to apply.

The local board will determine how awarded funds are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.

Carlton County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously to the Salvation Army, Moose Lake Food Shelf, and the Tri-Community Food Shelf. Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Ali Bilden Camps, United Way of Carlton County at 218-879-8404, or [email protected] for an application. The deadline is June 5.