Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Lake County Board of Commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Board Chairperson Rich Sve. Chairperson Sve led the recitation of the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Unless otherwise stated, all actions have been approved by unanimous yea vote.
Lake County Board members present in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room (SRRR), 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota: District 1 Commissioner Joe Baltich, District 2 Commissioner Derrick “Rick” L. Goutermont, District 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd, and District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Board member(s) absent: District 3 Commissioner Richard “Rick” C. Hogenson.
Also present: Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, Lake County Interim Auditor Ronelle “Ronni” Radle, Lake County Emergency Management Director & Safety Officer Warren LaPlante, Lake County Facilities Maintenance Director Curt Backen, and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: Hogenson
Lake County Board Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. No public comments were made. Lake County Emergency Management (EM) Director and Safety Officer Warren LaPlante provided an annual update for his department and responsibilities. Warren LaPlante has been working for Lake County for over one year, beginning employment on 29 July 2025. EM Director LaPlante emphasizes two main goals: 1) improving communications, 2) increasing community outreach. He has been meeting with stakeholders and expanding contact with state park managers and other key partners. Partnerships include Emergency Responders, National level Complex Incident Management Teams, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Mn DNR), adjacent counties, and Lake County townships.
EM Director LaPlante reviewed methodology (phases) from before, during, and after an emergency.
Prepare: Take actions ahead of time to be ready for an emergency.
Respond: Protect life and property in an emergency.
Recover: Rebuild from an emergency.
Mitigate: Prevent future emergencies or minimize their effects.
EM Director LaPlante discussed a busy response mode from January to September 2026, including multiple winter storms and blizzards, spring flood event, and wildfires including the Stewart Trail in May 2026 and the Camp Fire / Branch III in July 2026. He discussed several EM programs and interagency responses to emergencies. He discussed the Firewise Program and its current participating communities, with goals to add additional communities to the Firewise Program in 2027 and 2028. EM Director LaPlante discussed partnerships with emergency responders on local, regional, and national levels, such as working with the U.S. Forest Service and complex incident management teams. Lake County has been in response mode for most of 2026. In the past year, we have had two (2) activations of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in support of Incident Command and taking care of the rest of the jurisdiction. Additionally, Lake County conducted an EOC activation exercise in October 2025.
Accomplishments included grant program reviews, with kudos to County Auditor Ronni Radle for instrumental advice for reporting tracking. He discussed the Silver Bay office move and the EOC move and thanked the Facilities Maintenance Department Director and facilities staff members for their assistance with this critical infrastructure. EM Director LaPlante stated that he works with a great advisory group. The EM/EP (Emergency Management/Emergency Preparedness) Advisory Group has been updated and expanded and now meets quarterly.
Lake County EM Director LaPlante provided an update regarding getting the county re-certified to send emergency alerts through FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) IPWAS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System). The goal is to equip authorized public safety officials with a foundational understanding of IPAWS and to provide the essential knowledge and skills to create appropriate, effective and accessible alert and warning messages. EM Director LaPlante participates on the Lake County Website Design Team and leads the “Modernizing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Team”. He facilitates community meetings and is looking for grant matching opportunities. He has been instrumental in providing Emergency Alerts updates and evacuation zone updates. He discussed brush pile management, 2026 safety training, safety committee, and first aid kit accessibility. He advised that he is on track for the 2026 Emergency Management budget and advised that in his 2027 budget proposal, the Emergency Management Director and Safety Officer requested a dedicated vehicle and ergonomic furniture. The 2026 safety budget is on track to meet or below estimated budget. EM Director LaPlante reviewed several to-do list items including: 1) Re-writing the EOP (Emergency Operations Plan), 2) Updating and/or creating the respective EOP annexes, 3) Updating the Lake County Emergency Alerts system, 4) Re-writing the CWPP (Community Wildfire Protection Plan was grant approved and estimated acceptance in October), 5) Updating several other policies and plans that need re-writing, including the Severe Weather Plan, Security and Personnel, and Respectful Workplace, 6) Finalizing the Stewart Trail Fire Disaster reimbursement. EM Director LaPlante thanked both the County Board and Lake County staff for their great support over the last year.
Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business, including security needs and a safe and secure courthouse initiative grant application that is due today, Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Lake County Facilities Maintenance Director Curt Backen discussed the State of Minnesota Judicial Branch Safe and Secure Courthouse Grant Application, project schedule, dates for key deliverables, and project milestones to meet the objectives. Facilities Maintenance Director Curt Backen reviewed proposals that were received. The project requires commitment to court facility safety and security by all justice partners. Lake County Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Steve Hanke has provided a letter of support. Lake County Attorney Lara Nygaard has participated in and reviewed the grant application writing process. The Judge, Court Administration, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office work together to formulate safety and security policies and procedures with each party raising their concerns and updating the other parties. There are two main components to Lake County’s application. The first main component of the proposed grant application is for a Real-Time Location System (RTLS), and the second main component is improving exterior lighting.
Lake County is proposing the deployment of HID BlueZone Real-Time Location System (RTLS) for the Courthouse. (HID is a brand name for the products, not an acronym.) Facilities Director Curt Backen described that this is an Employee Emergency Location Solution that will show the precise location if someone presses their panic button. Facilities Director Backen advised that he will speak with I.T. Director Dan Lackore regarding specifics for using the new technology with our other technology systems. This solution would involve a yearly subscription. The RTLS is designed to enhance employee safety by providing location-based emergency coverage. The courthouse security project is intended to take place in 2027. Further, discussion regarding the schedule is that projects must be completed by June 30, 2028. Facilities Maintenance Director Curt Backen described the Lighting Improvement Project, which is part of the grant application. Lake County is proposing to improve the current lighting for the Courthouse by adding three (3) bollard lights at the Courthouse entrance. The project would start in the spring of 2027. Facilities Director Curt Backen reviewed cost estimates and advised that increased lighting will improve the safety and security of Courthouse employees when going to and from their vehicles.
Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler spoke in support of the courthouse security grant application and spoke about the current situation with the system in dispatch, how that currently is working, and how that is expected to improve the dispatcher’s monitoring and response to panic alarm incidents. The County Sheriff, County Attorney and Judges support it for security purposes. This system will improve security for county staff members and court staff members. Facilities Director Curt Backen discussed that with a new system, training will be needed. Interim County Auditor Ronelle “Ronni” Radle advised that she is working on the 2027 budget in preparation for the upcoming budget meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND HURD: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Approve County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of August 25, 2026.
2. Approve official proceedings of a public hearing held on August 25, 2026, for the purpose of considering comments on a proposed Ordinance; the purpose and intent of the proposed Ordinance is to regulate camping and land use on County Administered Lands.
3. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amount:
a. Arrowhead Behavioral Health Initiation (ABHI) Region 3 Payments $ 40,606.11
4. Authorize Estimate (#65, dated 08/16/2026) and approve payment to Gruver Const. LLC in the amount of $62,100.00 (see Estimate#65) for replacement of the roof of the Rescue Squad Storage Building (roof 2 on Gruver bid) and the roof of the Equipment Building (roof 3 on Gruver bid). The second bid, from Top Notch Construction, is included. Both bids also include a quote for the Office Building (roof 1 on Gruver bid), but that roof will not be done at this time. A third bid was requested but was not received.
5. Approve the Resolution Authorizing MnDOT Agreement 1062754 with the State of Minnesota, Department of Transportation for cost participation on State Project 3804-62 on Trunk Highway 61 in Two Harbors, Minnesota.
6. Approve an increase of the total contract value of SAP 038-592- 001, Sunset Road Connector, Fall Lake Township, to a cost not to exceed $538,622.78, an increase of $150,000.00.
7. Adopt the following mileage reimbursement rates for July-December 2026:
$.73 per mile if using a personal vehicle, or
$.76 per mile if using a personal vehicle because there was not a county vehicle available from the Motor Pool. You will need to attach a signed verification slip from Motor Pool to claim this rate.
$.76 per mile if using a personal vehicle as a Lake County Board or Lake County Committee member (non employee).
Further authorize additional mileage claims to be accepted and approved for any claims paid at the previous rate for mileage incurred the period of July 1- date of approval, total reimbursement not to exceed the updated rate per mile. Absent: Hogenson
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND HURD: 03 – Approve the change in employment status of Duane Fransen, Senior Mechanic, due to completion of trial period effective September 8, 2026. Absent: Hogenson
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 04 – The Lake County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes submittal of a Safe and Secure Grant Initiative 2026 Application for a Courthouse Security Grant for Project: Lake County Lighting Improvement and Real Time Location System Project, with Local Judicial Branch Partner, District Administrative Manager for Minnesota Sixth Judicial Branch, to be submitted electronically to jennifer.super@courts.state.mn.us on September 8, 2026. Absent: Hogenson
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Adjourn meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 2:58 p.m. Absent: Hogenson
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings:
– Committee of the Whole at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Little Marais Community Center, Little Marais, Minnesota.
– Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
– Strategic Planning Session, at 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota:
• Agenda meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota.
ATTEST:
Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
Northshore Journal: October 2, 2026
