Honoring foster care parents, approving two charitable gambling permits, and hearing a request from the Mille Lacs Sheriff’s Department for two additional officers were on the agenda when the Mille Lacs County Board met on Tuesday, May 21.
Meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.
Foster care
May is Foster Care Appreciation Month. According to President Biden’s “A Proclamation on National Foster Care Month,” dated April 30, 2024, the purpose of Foster Care Month is to “acknowledge the 463,000 American children and youth in foster care,” and to express “gratitude for the foster parents who show foster youth unconditional love and thank all the dedicated staff and volunteers who help foster youth find temporary and permanent homes” (whitehouse.gov).
In honor of Foster Care Appreciation Month in Mille Lacs County, social worker Makayla Wilcox, and Supervisor for Child and Family Services Amber Pogatshnik were present at the May 21 meeting to recognize two foster care providers for their outstanding service to those in Mille Lacs County. Maryssa and Kyle Pruett, along with Erick and Krista Tupker, were presented with plaques in honor of their service.
Gambling requests
The Mille Lacs County Board heard two requests concerning gambling permits for upcoming charitable events. Brenda Eklund, auditor-treasurer, asked the Board to approve a resolution that would grant a gambling permit for Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) to conduct charitable gambling for an upcoming event at the Onamia Veteran’s Club on Aug. 24. According to their website (www.save.org), the nonprofit SAVE is “based on the belief that suicide is preventable. Through raising public awareness, educating communities, training key stakeholders, advocating for systemic change, and providing unwavering support for loss survivors.” For more details regarding this event on Aug. 24, follow Onamia Veteran’s Club on Facebook.
The Mille Lacs County Board was also asked to approve a resolution for a gambling permit for Milaca Fire Relief to conduct a raffle at Stones Throw Golf Course in Milaca, 15679 Central Ave., on July 13. The first Milaca Fire and Rescue Golf Tournament Fundraiser was held on July 10, 2021. According to the event’s Facebook page, the golf fee of $100 includes 18-hole scramble, lunch, golf, carts, dinner and entertainment. Proceeds will benefit the Milaca Firefighters Relief Association, which provides pension, death, and disability benefits to members of the Milaca Fire Department. More information is available on the event’s Facebook page.
Sheriff’s requests
At a May 7 work session, the Sheriff’s Office presented requests for new positions within the department. The requests were for two additional correctional officer positions, a part-time 911 telecommunicator position, and an investigative sergeant, a new position offered as a promotional opportunity.
Sheriff Kyle Burton and Dillon Hayes, county administrator, requested that the board approve the job descriptions and recruitment of these positions, as well as approve the budget amendments and compensation packages. According to the job descriptions included in the agenda packet for this item, the objective for the role of investigative sergeant is to “provide leadership and supervision to the Investigative Division” as well as “manage caseloads, review reports, and fulfill administrative duties,” and requires eight years of full-time law enforcement experience.
The role would report to the enforcement services captain, and investigators would be under their direct supervision. The financial impact for these new positions, according to the Board Agenda Request form, is $750,397.22 Sheriff Kyle Burton also submitted a request to the board to approve the auction of a decommissioned squad car at Hansen Auction. The 2019 Chevy Tahoe was purchased five years ago for $27,000 on state bid and has an approximate Kelly Blue Book value of $24,000.
The next meeting for the County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, at 9 a.m.
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