Jacob Fauchild took his oath of office as the new Itasca County Attorney at Tuesday’s Itasca County Board meeting, officially filling the position that had been vacant for weeks until Fauchild’s hire.
Following the swearing-in, Citizen Input was provided to the commissioners, mostly surrounding last weekend’s Pride event.
Local citizens spoke strongly both for and against the heavily attended festival that took place last Sunday at Old Central School.
Many who were speaking in support of the event say they experienced love and happieness throughout the day, describing feeling empowered while expressing and sharing their stories and culture with fellow community members.
One speaker described the purpose and meaning of the festival as:
“A place to go and a place to know that they are cared about and they are loved.”
Speakers in opposition mixed in along with Pride-goers for an opportunity to speak out against what they described as “obscene,” and in some cases illegal behavior that they had on video. They spoke to the commissioners about the disapproval of the event being sanctioned on public property and condemned any use of tax dollars that contributed to the function.
Organizers and participants of the Pride event said any allegations of illegal or obscene behavior was false, and that there were no citations or arrests throughout the day.
The Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and their president Tamara Lowney, as well as CEO of Woodland Bank Brian Nicklason, who partners with IEDC, offered an update to the commissioners on the work they are doing to grow and sustain local jobs and businesses.
They spoke on the economic development activity and the resources along with support they provide to local businesses to start-up and grow or maintain.
According to the presentation, in 2023 the IEDC had 127 new client registrations, provided 719 consulting hours, and reported 21 new/bought businesses to go with 89 new jobs created or maintained during the year - that is in addition to a total capital investment of over $5 million dollars. So far in 2024, they reported 72 new client registrations, eight new or bought businesses, $1.87 million in capital investment they have assisted with, and 119 clients, including 320 consulting hours, plus 124 jobs created or maintained.
They also noted their work attracting outside businesses to Itasca County, with one that may potentially add 175 new jobs and $180-190 million dollar investment depending whether or not the company selects Grand Rapids as their future site.
“We are definitely seeing a lot of activity.”
IMCare Director Sarah Anderson and Executive Director of Minnesota Association of County Health Plans Steve Gottwalt provided an update on the compliance of the division and the work being done to improve healthcare opportunities in rural Minnesota.
Gottwalt, along with other stakeholders, are working on a detailed implementation plan for CARMA, or County Administered Rural Medical Assistance, which will look to expand and improve the medical care offered within rural counties following its passage in the last legislative session.
Anderson provided a compliance review for IMCare. She says her department underwent several focused reviews and have received final reports and minor recommendations for areas of improvement.
Overall in 2023, Anderson reported that IMCare investigations recovered more than $1.2 million dollars, including $576,000 from 37 fraud, waste, and abuse investigations in the fourth quarter of 2023 alone.
The board resumed a Public Hearing Tuesday that was partially-delayed due to the extreme weather at last week’s meeting.
The hearing was focused on a rezoning application submitted by Jeff Peterson regarding three parcels along Southwood Road.
The application has been contentious for several weeks as other landowners along Southwood Road organized a strong opposition to Peterson’s desire to rezone three Residential Rural lots to Recreation Commercial.
One of the three lots was formerly the Southwood Resort, which Peterson purchased along with other two possibly intending to resurrect the resort. Peterson’s original rezone application requested commercial campground status, and it has also been reported as a possible RV park, however Peterson denied those claims as his intentions to the county board, putting the focus of the discussion to the request to amend the zoning map.
Peterson said Southwood Road has handled three resorts in the past with no issues to his knowledge, and the returning Southwood Resort would be the only remaining resort on the road.
Neighbors of Peterson lined-up at last Tuesday’s hearing to offer their perspective on the matter, saying that in addition to concerns of spot zoning, the lack of infrastructure and increased traffic causes significant safety concerns.
Peterson denied the amendment would be spot zoning because another lot zoned Recreation Commercial sits adjacent to one of his lots in focus, however the owner of that lot, David Eckstein, submitted his own application last week to rezone his property to Rural Residential, which is how the property is now used after formerly being the location of the Birch Cove Resort.
The controversial application was approved at the Harris Township Board, but failed to pass a recommendation to the county board at a recent Planning Commission meeting.
The county board, having final authority, voted 4-0 to deny the application, with Commissioner Burl Ives being absent from the vote.
Commissioner’s Terry Snyder and Cory Smith, both voiced concerns of spot zoning in denying the zoning amendment.
“We encourage development - we have to stay within the legal limits as well,” Snyder said.
Itasca County Commissioner Burl Ives of District 4 was recently hospitalized for a night following a motor vehicle accident, however board chair John Johnson says that he has been released and is recovering comfortably at home.
In other business during Tuesday’s meeting:
The board received an update regarding the Northland Reliability Project which is building an energy transmission line from the Itasca substation to Becker. The project is intended to increase capacity to deliver clean energy and has identified a route to do so. They are awaiting a decision on the route permit, and are undergoing environmental surveys now through the fall, amongst other necessary steps in planning and design.Goodland Township was granted an additional $15,000 in ARP funds to complete the purchase of a fire engine and other safety equipment.The Dowell family of Grand Rapids was recognized by the county board having been named Itasca County’s “2024 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.Commissioner warrants totaled: $3,130,367, and Health and Human services totaled: $1,157,256.56
The Itasca County Board appointed mail ballot and absentee ballot election judges for the August 13, 2024 State Primary Election and November 5, 2024 State General Election which includes the following:
Doug Braff, Grace Schuck, Ruth Ann Connolly, Karen Lucachick, John Ferlaak,
Karen Ferlaak, Jeff Frazier, Ann Hauser, Louise Koglin-Fideldy, Marge Sutherland,
Dwight Kessler, Sheila Hunter, Amy Savela, Peg Dillon, Sammy Christensen, Emily
Christensen, Kathy Krook, Gail Guck, Melissa Skoglund, Tony Fremont, Hollie
Hornstra, Eva Moore, Jenna Madoll, Michelle Jensen, Kristina Loch, Michael Loidolt,
Carolyn Randall and trained alternates as needed.
To view the Itasca County Board meeting in its entirety, it can be found online at watchictv.org/
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