The Itasca County Board held their first work session of the month on Tuesday, just prior to the Fourth of July holiday.
Itasca County Emergency Manager John Linder requested the Itasca County Commissioners declare a state of emergency following severe weather in June left damage to the point that the county should qualify for additional support from the state and federal governments.
Linder says the severe storm that passed through on June 18, could potentially reach up to $2 million in damages to local roads, culverts, and other critical infrastructure.
The state of emergency declaration that the county approved will place Itasca County along with a growing list of other counties statewide that were impacted by the storm on a larger declaration. At the end of June, Gov. Walz initiated a statewide federal disaster declaration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who will supply funds and resources to help restore the infrastructure and reduce the burden on those directly impacted.
Linder says the current damage estimate is around $1.1 million, but said he believes the total damage still remains underreported, and encourages those impacted by the storm on June 18, to contact his office.
Itasca County Commissioner Burl Ives (D4) returned to his county seat following a vehicle crash that required a brief stay at the hospital.
Ives publicly welcomed new Itasca County Attorney Jacob Fauchild, who informed the meeting that he has already begun receiving applications for new assistant attorneys and that he intends to begin interviewing soon.
“I’d like to publicly say welcome to Jake, being our new county attorney. We’re here as commissioners to help you succeed and to help your department succeed, and to make our county succeed,” said Ives, who also presented two American Rescue Plan (ARP) requests for the board’s consideration.
The first was from Wildwood Township, who requested $75,000 and intends to use the money for road maintenance, fire protection, emergency management, township facility and generator upgrades.
The second ARP request was from Blackberry Township. It was also for $75,000, to be used for infrastructure, as well as community center and activity-area upgrades.
Ives says the requests will “help their taxpayers get ahead of some of the issues that are not everyday normal issues.”
Both ARP requests were approved.
Commissioner Casey Venema (D5) provided an update on the efforts to finish the Cross Range Expressway, saying there is momentum as he and other stakeholders such as Flaherty and Hood and Loren Solberg are actively working to push the project forward.
Venema says the Highway 169 Coalition is completely set up now with the State of Minnesota and are recruiting additional members to join as well. Venema and the coalition are seeking the local governments along the corridor - anywhere from Aitkin to Virginia - to consider officially joining the efforts.
“It’s time to get this done,” Venema said.
He also says completing the Cross Range Expressway between Taconite and Pengilly could also set a future precedent, to do the same south of Grand Rapids to Aitkin.
The commissioners are considering how to dress the green space on the west side of the new government center, and discussed what may potentially fit the open space well. County Board Chair John Johnson (D3) voiced that he would like to see the U.S. Flag along with flags of local agencies who have fallen heroes to be memorialized. The commissioners also discussed benches and trees for the area, which could begin this summer.
Other business at Tuesday’s meeting:
Adopted a resolution for a Squaw Lake multi use recreational trail bridge through a IRRR Regional Trails grant application.Approved the 2024 event lease agreement between Itasca County and the Northern Minnesota Swap Meet and Car Show.Approved the 2024 Bass Lake Fishing Pier Coop agreement between Itasca County and the State of Minnesota.Authorized out-of-state travel to West Palm Beach, FLA., for Corrections Mental Health Practitioner Ashley Mohler, to attend a five-day Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training.
To view the Itasca County Board meeting in its entirety, it can be found online at watchictv.org/
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