Board will decide on $7 million in relief

Carlton County will receive almost $7 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, county economic development director Mary Finnegan reported at the board of commissioners committee of the whole meeting Feb. 1. There are nearly four years allowed to plan and spend the funds, she said.

Local governments, including cities and townships, have been given their own share. This opens the possibility for the local governments to partner with the county with some of the money, Finnegan said.

The county board and department heads requested local townships discuss needs at annual meetings March 8 and at the Carlton County Association of Township Officers spring meeting in April. The results of those meetings would be then shared with county decisionmakers.

“We have time to think through wisely how to spend this money,” board chairman Gary Peterson said. “Let us make our decisions wisely.”

It has taken most of a year for the guidelines for spending the money to be crafted.

“It was anticipated that the guidelines would be much like those that had been written for the CARES Act monies received earlier,” Finnegan said, but that wasn’t the case. “The guidelines as set down now are much more liberal.”

Projects now being considered for rescue plan funds are in the county roads and bridges area as transportation costs are eligible, some costs for the planned justice center/jail, and new voting machines.

The roof of the Carlton County Courthouse also needs replacement. Heavy storms force water into the elevator shaft there. Construction estimates are around $1 million, which otherwise would have to be covered by taxpayers.

Some funds have already been spent: $265,000 went for a hookup charge for the new Twin Lakes Township waterline, which will benefit the new jail and courts facility. A total of $836,000 was added to the county’s transportation department budget for 2022 and 2023 to finish the 14th Street project in Cloquet and scattered road projects in districts represented by commissioners Peterson and Mark Thell. Some $200,000 was put into the county attorney’s office for additional staff to take on the backlog of court cases due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finnegan said the $7 million is likely the last financial package to expect in response to the pandemic.

In other board matters:

• County Highway Engineer JinYeene Neumann reported that the new estimate for the reconstruction of the intersection of Minnesota Highway 210 and Highway 61 (also known as the Carlton Junction) is about $750,000. The county’s share will be $223,000 for the work, down from the previous estimate of $291,000. It is anticipated the project will be done in 2023.

• Thell asked if the county policy on hearings was due for an overview. This was in response to the large turnout of Kettle River residents to the public hearing about the plan to close the county garage there. County coordinator Dennis Genereau said the current policy permits just a short three minutes per attendee if that person has signed up to speak on a list. He said the policy would be reviewed.