The Polk County Commissioners met Tuesday morning at the Polk County Government Center in Crookston.
SAND HILL RIVER WATERSHED UPDATE
The commissioners heard from April Swenby, the manager of the Sand Hill River Watershed District (SHRWD). Swenby asked the commissioners for approval on three separate petitions for using the taxing authority for 2024. The first petition ($135,866.75), which is the maximum allowable by law (0.00798%), will provide funding to water management areas (construction, maintenance, beaver control, and information services) related to specific projects within the Sand Hill River Watershed District. The second petition ($135,866.75) will be used for various water quality and erosion efforts. The third petition ($100,000) will provide funds for continuing efforts related to watershed studies, education, and agency support. “The Watershed District receives its funding for projects through Minnesota Stature 103D.905, Subdivision 3, and that allows for a set percentage of our tax capacity for each petition. Our Watershed District has evaluated the needs and is determined to keep the projects flowing. We have separate categories,” said Swenby. “With the tax capacity that is allowed, they have asked the county to approve $135,866.75 for water quality, the same amount for water management and retention, and $100,000 for studies and agency support.”
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Polk County Highway Engineer Richard Sanders asked the commissioners to approve a certificate of performance/Final acceptance of four construction projects.
Project 1 was Box Culverts in Hammond Township and was done by Taggart Contracting of Thief River Falls for $287,600.
Project 2 was Box Culverts in Grove Park Township and the City of Mentor, done by Davidson Construction of Newfolden at $214,700.
Project 3 was grading on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 46 from Highway 102 to Highway 2. Davidson Construction completed the work for $3,064,244,80.
Project 4 was County Ditch 99, Project 1 and 2. Davidson Construction completed the work for $767,689.
The commissioners unanimously approved all four.
Sanders asked the commissioners to approve a crossing surface installation agreement with Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) as BNSF will be installing new concrete surface panels on County State Aid Highway 4 north of Lengby, and Polk County’s cost will be $1,000 per foot for a total of $40,000. “Burlington Northern is working on their stretch of railway between Fosston and Bemidji, and as part of that, they will be replacing our County State Aid Highway 4 just north of Lengby,” said Sanders. “As part of the installation, the county is responsible for paying part of the bill, so we are paying $1,000 a foot for the concrete planking for a $40,000 bill for that project.”
The last item Sanders brought before the Board of Commissioners was a discussion on Joint Ditch 60. Polk and Red Lake Counties have received $60,000 to do a feasibility study on the portion of Joint Ditch 60 and County State Aid Highway 11. “It is a joint ditch between Polk County and Red Lake County, and it starts north and east of Dorothy and works its way down into Polk County, then goes to the Red Lake River,” said Sanders. “Part of that ditch from CSAH 11 and north a mile is sloughing, and the farmer is having issues, and it is starting to eat back into his field, so we know we have to do something on that stretch. There is a lot of erosion and sloughing south of CSAH 11 and the ditch.”
TAX FORFEITURE SETTLEMENT DISCUSSION
Sam Melbye, Polk County Auditor/Treasurer, and Recorder, informed the commissioners of the property tax forfeiture class action litigation involving all Minnesota counties and the obligations all counties have on legal legislation passed earlier this year. “Last year, there was a court ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States that Minnesota’s tax forfeiture law was found unconstitutional, so they have gone through and created a settlement with the State of Minnesota, and all the counties are joining into it where they will be paying back forfeited property owners. We are submitting our paperwork, so I was letting the commissioners know this will not be an obligation from the county as the State will pay all of it. Polk County is looking at approximately $578,000 returning to owners of 56 different properties.”
BUDGET REPORT UPDATE
Polk County Finance Director Ron Denison updated the commissioners on the budget through June since it was the year’s halfway point. Denison said everything looks good, and most departments are under budget this year. “The budget is just fine at this point with no real worries or concerns,” said Denison. “Most departments are a little under their projected number for the halfway point, so no real concerns.”
