April 14th was annual Gardening Day, Pan American Day, and the anniversary of the first publication of John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, among several other notable events.
During the public comment period, Kitty Mayo, who had spoken at the Two Harbors City Council the previous day, reiterated her announcement for the Survive This! Lake County Emergency Resilience event, meant to bring residents in contact with first responders in the region and learn strategies for dealing with local emergencies. She also brought attention to International Dark Sky Week, from April 13-20th, focusing on the harms of light pollution and more appreciation for the night sky.
The Council also noted that local government jobs would be promoted at the Lake County Career Fair, aimed at Two Harbors High School and William Kelley School students. The Fair will be on April 30th at the Two Harbors High School Gym.
One future-facing topic of interest brought up by Land Commissioner Nate Eide was the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, as a new type of jet fuel. This type of fuel is generated using ‘undesirable’ species, which, in the case of Lake County, would mean harvesting old or ruined wood such as dead balsam. Not only would this create jobs for the County by locally sourcing materials, but it would also clear up the forests to help prevent further fires. As part of the requirement for SAFs, the resulting fuel would also be cleaner and more sustainable than traditional jet fuel. SAFs have not yet been widely adopted in America, though their use in Europe is increasing, and Eide noted “there’s a little bit of a race between Minnesota and Wisconsin” to get the process figured out. The main concern at present is how to make its production financially viable compared to traditional fuel sources. Lake County would be an ideal source for this type of fuel, with Eide stating: “We could put a plant in Finland and feed it for years,” as an example.
Regarding upcoming property taxes, Lake County Chief Deputy Auditor Wendy Morlang went over the newly improved process for making payments via the County’s website. There is a section on the main page titled ‘Pay Property Taxes Securely Online’ which brings up directions for all the different methods that can be used to pay, any associated fees for said payment methods, and relevant due dates. “It’s a really nice modernization compared to what we had before,” said Morlang.
During Commissioner’s Correspondence, Commissioner Baltich took a moment to speak on his tour of the Arrowhead Library System’s main building, complimenting the security and polish of the interior. The Arrowhead Library System (ALS) serves residents across northeastern Minnesota, providing free access to books for all. Baltich noted that by using their website or calling, residents can get a hold of books without even having to leave their homes.
The importance of possible helium projects in the area was emphasized once again; many eyes across the County are focused on how to make the most of the recently found helium deposit in the area.
Consent agenda items of note which were passed included: the appointment of Barbara Jackson to the Community Health Board; a three-day temporary liquor permit for the Renegade Riders Saddle Club for their event Larsmont Cottages on May 1-3; transfer of funds from Lake County’s Affordable Housing Aid to the Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Authority as part of the Lakeview Apartments rehabilitation project; an agreement with MnDOT for use of Lake County roads as a detour during the highway improvement project on Trunk Highway 1; purchase of a new street sweeper; a construction engineering services contract with LHB and an engineering services contract with SEH, Inc.; a contract renewal with Envirotech Services, LLC; an agreement with the DNR to allow the DNR to use and/or purchase materials from the Cramer Pit; and the purchase of undivided interest parcels from a tax forfeited land sale.
There were also several Resolutions approved during this session, mostly involving County job positions with the exception of the first: Item 1 included a fairly detailed explanation on the invitation from the United States Forest Service (USFS), Eastern Region, Superior National Forest’s Forest Supervisor for Lake County to participate as a cooperating agency in the USFS Forest Plan for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This would mean involving the County in the future of the plan, gaining their advice and collaboration on ‘issues of mutual interest’. The Board was overall positive about the resolution, with Commissioner Sve noting it “gives us a seat at the table.”
It should be mentioned that, after this County meeting, the U.S. Senate voted to overturn the mining ban in Superior National Forest, which in turn could have far-reaching effects on the Boundary Waters and any plans for the area.
