Board looks ahead to 2023 budget, revenues

Carlton County commissioners got a taste of some of the challenges they will face in crafting a budget for 2023 at Tuesday’s board meeting.

“Fuel costs are at $4 and rising,” said county coordinator Dennis Genereau. “The rise of gas and fuel prices impacts everything we do in the programs we run.”

Genereau explained that the costs to run the new justice center are still in the planning stage. Another groundskeeper and at least a couple of custodians are being considered. Additional staff for the Sheriff’s Office and the court system are also on the table.

Labor negotiations for all county union employees have been completed this last year and include 2023. The settlement reached will call for a 2.75-percent across-the-board increase.

Health insurance coverage for county employees is costly and there could be a move to negotiate a deal for participating employees to pay more of the premium cost. Carlton County is one of only a handful of counties that pay for health insurance for their retirees in Minnesota. Most new employees will not be offered the same health coverage when they retire.

Genereau pointed out that the current budget had built in a 1.5-percent cushion to help with the impending new budget pressures. He surmised that the new budget may have to have an additional 1.5-percent cushion or more in the new 2023 fiscal picture.

Where will the extra money come from to help in these areas?

Assessor Kyle Holmes reported that $100 million in assessed valuation will come online from the new pipeline construction and other local utilities. That taxing base will help offset the costs of running Carlton County in 2023. Some of the excess American Rescue Plan Act money has not all been dedicated for a particular project and may be used in next year’s budget cycle.

“Give us a direction to go,” Genereau asked the county board members. “There are a lot of challenges as we work through a budget for next year.”

Presentations on the 2023 budget for each department will be held later in the summer.

New hearing rules

A Carlton County public hearings policy was updated for hearings conducted by the county board, planning commission, and the board of adjustment.

Changes include the following:

-Those attending must sign up at the door when they arrive. Only those on the list who want to speak will be allowed to. A group of citizens concerned about one particular issue is encouraged to have a spokesperson deliver a written and oral response. Each person speaking at the hearing will have a time limit of four minutes.

-Written material may be submitted in addition to any oral presentation. Prepared remarks should be submitted to the chairperson. No individual on the presiding board should be singled out.

-Individuals in county departments should not be addressed by their names, and it is suggested that people at the hearing use staff titles or departments when making comments.

Community grants

Awards from a $10,000 fund that encourages community activities and was made possible by CARES Act funding include the following:

City of Kettle River Picnic $412.50

Esko Community Education $800

Barnum Area Community Club $800

Holyoke Township $375

Wrong Days in Wright $800

Cromwell Area Community Club $800

Moose Lake School Legacy of Excellence $800

West End Flourish, Pine Knot News $800

Cloquet 4th of July $800

Carlton Community Education $800

City of Wrenshall $800

Fond du Lac Police $800

Mahtowa Hootenanny $800

Ma & Pa Kettle Christmas event $412.50

Other business

• Auditor/Treasurer Kevin DeVriendt noted that filing for public offices for the November General Election will start on May 17 and end on May 31.

• County Highway Engineer JinYeene Neumann noted by law her appointment must be renewed by the county board, according to Minnesota Statute, in May. The highway engineer is up for a scheduled evaluation, and the county board will make a decision at the May 23 board meeting after the evaluation is completed.

• The county board denied a conditional/interim use permit to LeeAnne Gibson of the Holyoke Township area. The planning commission had decided to not recommend the permit because “it was a good business but was located in a poor location.”

Gibson said they started the recycling business in the Pine County area to mitigate blighted properties. The recycling helps support the cost of cleaning up those properties. Gibson’s property where the recycling takes place is zoned A-1 and A-2, which doesn’t allow for that activity. Recycling and junkyards are located on properties zoned M-1.

Commissioner Mark Thell commented after the meeting that a solution has not been found for Gibson’s business activity, but more time is needed.