Staff Writer
Ken Francis
The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved the 2019 budget for the Three Lakes Improvement District (TLID) in the amount of $43,700.
On June 14, 2016, the board approved an order establishing the TLID, which covers three lakes - Julia, Briggs and Rush Lakes in Palmer Twp., all part of the Briggs Lake chain.
The order requires the TLID each year to present its proposed budget to the board. The order also provides that the TLID may request approval from the board for authorization to impose service charges or to assess the costs of proposed projects on properties within the LID.
Based on 431 parcels, the assessed property owners will pay $101.39 in 2019 for the projects attached in the TLID's budget.
Those expenses were listed and approved as part of the board’s action Tuesday. They include: board training $400; office supplies (annual meeting mailing) $600; web maintenance $300; director mileage $500; insurance $1,300; contingency fund for future use $500.
The biggest part of the budget is encompassed by proposed projects to manage aquatic invasive species (AIS): lake surveys $5,600; AIS herbicide treatments $23,200, Eurasian Water-Milfoil hand-pulling $5,300; boat landing inspections $4,000 and Bayou water flow data collection $2,000.
Liquor License
After a brief public hearing without public comment, the board approved an Off-Sale Liquor License at Sand Dune Spirits in Orrock Twp.
State law requires a public hearing on the issuance any of new Off-Sale Liquor License. Sand Dune Spirits is under new ownership.
MIF Grant Agreement
After a brief public hearing, the board approved an amendment to the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) grant contract between the county and the Maxson Company (formerly Acucraft, in Big Lake.
The county granted Acucraft $100,000 in December, 2015 with one of the conditions that the company hire 23 new employees within two years. The company has had difficulty meeting those numbers and requested a one-year extension, which was approved by the board.
Veterans Grant
The board accepted the Annual State CVSO Operational Grant MN Dept. of Veteran Affairs in the amount of $15,000.
The grant must be used to provide outreach to the county’s veterans; to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society; to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans; to reduce homelessness among veterans; and to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office
The term of the grant is July 1, 2018 thru June 30, 2019.
Other Business
In other action the board:
* Approved a gambling premises permit application for Santiago Lions Club at Ridgewood Bay n Baldwin Twp.;
* Reappointed Russ Heiling as the Sherburne County Surveyor to a four year term;
* Approved a three-year Microsoft Enterprise agreement for sheriff’s department at a yearly cost of $74,468.20;
* Approved a contract with Peregrine Aerospatial LLC for ground survey data collection for upcoming county highway projects on County Roads 12, 13 and 20 at a cost of $35,000.
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