The Polk County Board met Tuesday at the Government Center in Crookston.
SHERRIFF’S OFFICE
Mike Norland from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office then gave the monthly report and proposed a resolution to the board to provide the Sheriff’s Office with counseling for its employees in light of recent events. “We were just looking for a company to help us out for when we have situations that don’t go the way we plan, and the line of work we deal with is tough on all of us. Law enforcement/first responders, we just need a service to help us out in those times of need; if someone needs to talk to somebody, we are available,” said Norland. “They can provide training, consultation, or counseling, but we just feel it’s necessary to provide that for our officers and our staff.”
COUNTY BOARD ELECTS TO FLY OLD STATE FLAG FOR NOW
The board discussed its thoughts on the state’s new flag. Minnesota adopted the new state flag on May 11 last month. The government building has been notified that each county can decide if or when they want to replace the old state flag within their buildings. The board decided to keep/fly the original state flag for now. Several board members noted being disappointed in the state’s process of picking the new flag.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Polk County Engineer Richard Sanders discussed a maintenance request for a county ditch, awarding a roundabout project on County State Aid Highway 21 and Trunk Highway 75, and purchasing the property. The maintenance request was for County Ditch 60 in Polk County. The board approved surveying the ditch and cleaning it as needed.
As for the roundabout project, the board was not able to award it. “Next on the agenda was the possibility to award our roundabout project up on CSAH 21 and Trunk Highway 75; SP 060-070-020 because it has federal funds attached to it,” said Sanders. “There are EEO and DBE, disadvantaged business requirements, that the contractor needs to meet. All that information has been sent into MNDOT; MNDOT just hasn’t had the time to go through and clear our request yet so that we couldn’t award this morning, but hopefully, we can award on June 18.”
The Super family owns land near the Polk County Campground southwest of Mentor. They came to the county with an appraised value of $132,000 for the property. The Board agreed to proceed with purchasing the property. Sanders, the administrator Chuck Whiting, and the county attorney will collaborate to finalize documents and purchase the property from the Super family.
FACILITIES
Facilities then were up to speak on issues related to the Polk County Historical Society and the Government Center. Previously, the Historical Society had assessed its roofing but found the roofing only needs annual maintenance and would like to allocate funds to other necessary updates around the complex. The Government Center had put in a change order request so the Government Center could replace its original roofing. There was a small layer of additional roofing material that hadn’t been figured for in the newly updated roofing that needed to be updated. Both of these items were passed by the board unanimously.
PLANNING & ZONING
Jacob Snyder wrapped up the meeting by touching on several new planning and zoning projects within the county. The projects are as follows-
- Kurt Larson and Shalom Estates will place six docks on Maple Lake.
- Jenessa Kiecker will operate a home-based dog kennel and boarding business.
- M&M Larson will operate a farm seed-related business.
- Daniel Larson to construct a billboard.
- Travis and Megan Pederson for an accessory structure larger than 800 square feet to hook up a new septic system.
- Rory and Cheryl Knutson for an accessory structure larger than 800 square feet
- William Wahouske for a new septic system.
- Kevin and Patricia Lien for a new septic system.
- Jerry Skjerven for a new septic system.
All of the resolutions were approved.
