Deanna Geelhoed, Climate Resilience Planner for the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, met with the Lake County Board of Commissioners last week to share an overview of a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Climate Resilience Challenge Grant. The purpose of the grant is to foster a regional, collaborative response to climate challenges, and would include St. Louis, Lake, Carlton, Cook Counties and the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac and Grand Portage Reservations. The grant funding, totaling $1.85 million, would be distributed over a four year period and would target specific goals including developing a regional collaboration between the various agencies to help with knowledge and tools for climate adaptation. The grant would incorporate indigenous perspectives into climate resilience planning and would provide ongoing resources, climate data and training to the Arrowhead region. Geelhoed indicated that there are no specific projects identified as yet and that, as the coalition of agencies forms, plans will be developed. The intended outcomes of this collaborative effort are to develop a regional resilience plan that is equitable and inclusive, reduce climate risks and develop long term capacity to deal with climate challenges.
Readers are likely aware that NOAA is one of the Federal agencies that has found itself in the crosshairs of the Department Of Government Efficiency. When asked if the $1.85 million would disappear into whatever account DOGE is stashing impounded cash in, Geelhoed said that the grant is part of a secure contract that would be illegal for DOGE to break.
The climate resilience plan will be useful for the region in that it will educate and help empower citizens and elected officials to take action by participating in workshops that will teach about how to develop and implement climate adaptation strategies. Participants can also take advantage of technical support that will be offered and can learn about further resilience funding.
The issue of how tax monies from Helium mining will be distributed is still under discussion in St. Paul. County Administrator Matt Huddleston stated that the Tax Committee should be taking this issue up later this month.
In other business, Lake County Emergency Management Director Matt Pollmann will be resigning his position. Sheriff Nathan Stadler reminded the Commissioners that Spring burning restrictions will be in place starting at 6:00 am on April 14th. The restrictions cover Cook, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, and northern St. Louis counties.
The next Lake County Board Action meeting is scheduled for April 22nd at 2:00 PM.
