The Polk County Commissioners have passed a resolution in support of Epitome Energy’s efforts to bring a soybean crush facility for biodiesel fuel to Crookston. The Polk County resolution is the second of the local taxing entities following the resolution of the Crookston City Council on June 10.
Polk County Administrator Chuck Whiting said the commissioners had a request for a resolution of support from the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority (CHEDA). “We understand the City of Crookston passed a resolution,” said Whiting. “We were asked to do something in support as well. So, I talked to the board, and they agreed on a resolution of support. We’ll get that over to the CHEDA offices today and wish them luck.”
The resolution is important for Epitome Energy on a couple of fronts. First, it shows broad community support to the capital for grants and other funds. Second, a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District will likely be required on the project, which requires the support of the three taxing entities – city, county, school district.
County staff has been working on their 2020 budget requests, which will be reviewed and revised ahead of the first presentation to the commissioners in September. The commissioners will then use that to set the preliminary levy before working to the final levy in December. “Departments were scheduled to get their budget its last week, and almost all of them have,” said Whiting. “Staff is compiling the numbers, and we’ll see where we are at. We always start end of high and then I start going through it with the staff over the next couple of weeks. In September we’ll sit down with the board and go through each budget. After that will define it down to what will be the final budget and levy in December.”
Polk County received two donations last week for the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. A $500.00 donation from the Crookston Firefighter’s Association and $200.00 from Kim’s Kids in Crookston. They also accepted a $7,518 grant from the State of Minnesota for County Boat and Water Safety. The commissioners have approved the Highway Department to hire KLJ Engineering out of Bismarck, ND to assist with grant writing for the CR 210 Federal Lands Access Grant. The county has written the application themselves several times and not been awarded the grant, so they hope getting some assistance will increase their chances. They will pay $2,500.00 to KLJ for grant writing assistance.
A county ditch maintenance request was approved to add two field crossings to County Ditch 33 in Section 15 of Lowell Township. The landowner will pay for the entire installation and then added to the ditch system for maintenance. The board has also approved the replacement of the county’s core IBM SAN storage and UCS Server. The project will cost $266,056.60, paid in annual payments of $53,211.32 beginning in January.
The county’s plan to add a second elevator to the Polk County Government Center hit a small road bump last week. Among the concerns of potential contractors was the risk of damaging the building’s interior granite outside of the new elevator shaft which started driving up the cost according to Scott Sosalla, an architect with Architectural Resources, Inc. “After the contractor took a look there was some concern about being in the interior of the building,” said Sosalla. “Along with all the work being handwork and concerns about damage, the price doubled over what the cost was. So, we looked back at other options and at that price, it’s more economical and makes more sense to use the existing elevator the way it is.”
The new elevator will now replace the current elevator using the same shaft, which will leave the government center without an operating elevator for several weeks. “Cost-wise to replace the current elevator, demo the equipment and replace it is around $175,000,” said Sosalla. “That would include existing equipment coming out, infilling the cylinder that’s there, putting new equipment and connecting it. It would be six weeks from start to finish of construction which tentatively we would look at awarding something at the next commissioner meeting. And probably wouldn’t start until late September so that you don’t have additional downtime.”
Michelle Cote, Director of Property Records, requested the use of the Recorder’s Compliance Fund for the purchase of Document Pro Web Services ACI, which the board approved for $4,568.00. The software will be used in conjunction with the county’s GIS system for purchases explains Cote. “We currently have a very good relationship with our GIS system and our recording software,” said Cote. “Within a couple of clicks in our recording software, we have arrived at specific parcels within the GIS. What this will do is create a highway of information going the other way. So, if a consumer is on our GIS maps and clicks on an appropriate document, it will take them to the appropriate website where they can purchase that document.”
The commissioners also approved the reissuing of a gambling permit to the North Country Horsemen for raffles. The dates they are running their raffles at The Snow Sled Inn Bar & Grill had changed requiring a new application and permit. They also approved the advertisement and filling of an appraiser position in Property Records that came open with a recent resignation.
