Tuesday, February 24, 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 3 Commissioner Richard “Rick” C. Hogenson, District 4 Commissioner Jeremy M. Hurd, and District 5 Commissioner Rich Sve. Board member absent: None. Also present in the SRRR: Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston, Lake County Forestry Department / Land Commissioner Nate Eide, Interim Auditor / Treasurer Ronelle “Ronni” Radle, Lake County Veterans Service Officer Brad Anderson, Lake County Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza and Clerk of the Board Laurel D. Buchanan.
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 01 – Approval of the agenda. Absent: None
Chairperson Rich Sve opened the floor for public comments. Tanya Bruzek spoke about Operation Volunteers for Veterans (V4V) hosting a Community Meet and Greet in Silver Bay on Saturday and invited County Commissioners to attend to meet the Operation V4V Board of Directors and discover more about their mission. Ms. Bruzek provided a recap on the holidays meals that have been provided for recent holidays and initiatives that are being organized for upcoming holidays. Ms. Bruzek also advised that she is the treasurer for Arrowhead Enduro Club and could answer questions about the proposed resolution that was brought forward by the Land Commissioner.
Lake County Administrator Matthew Huddleston provided an update on several items of county business. Highway Engineer Jason DiPiazza provided advice on projects and potential costs. Engineer DiPiazza also discussed the clean-up of roads following the recent blizzard. Land Commissioner Nate Eide also spoke in follow-up to the blizzard, downed trees, and grooming of local trails. The County Board stated that County Highway and local trail clubs did a great job handling the storm.
Land Commissioner Mr. Eide advised that two proposed resolutions for Federal Recreational Trail Program (FRTP) applications have been submitted as requests for board action, and there is a third resolution that is not on the action list, for an FRTP application for the Lake County Forestry Department. Mr. Eide provided an overview of the grant applications. Interim Auditor / Treasurer Ronni Radle discussed the process for a land auction and provided updates on behalf of her department. Lake County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Brad Anderson was present in case there are any questions on his request for board action.
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 02 – Approve Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Approve County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting minutes of February 10, 2026.
2. Approve Health and Human Services claims payments in the following amounts:
a. ABHI Region 3 Payments $ 5,122.71
b. Special Payments $ 5,366.77
3. Approve the renewal of all current cigarette license holders for the period of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 subject to filing the proper application papers and payment of applicable license fees.
4. Approve Minnesota Lawful Gambling Application for Whitetails Unlimited Cabin Fever Chapter to conduct a raffle on April 11, 2026 at the Clair Nelson Community Center, 6866 Cramer Rd, Finland, Minnesota.
5. WHEREAS, Lake County supports the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Federal Recreational Trail Program. The application is to purchase a groomer and tracks for Finland Snowmobile and ATV Trails. The trail systems are located within the middle of Lake County.
WHEREAS, Lake County recognizes the twenty-five (25) percent match requirement for the Federal Recreational Trail Program, and the Finland Snowmobile and ATV club has secured the matching funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, if Finland Snowmobile and ATV Club is awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, Finland Snowmobile and ATV Club agrees to accept the grant award and may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project. Finland Snowmobile and ATV Club will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant has read the Conflict of Interest Policy contained in the Trail Program Grant Manual and certifies it will report any actual, potential, perceived, or organizational conflicts of interest upon discovery to the state related to the application or grant award.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Board of Lake County names the fiscal agent for the Lake County for this project as:
Ronelle Radle, County Auditor
Lake County 601 3rd Ave Two Harbors, MN 55616
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Finland Snowmobile and ATV Club hereby assures the groomer will be maintained for no less than twenty (20) years.
6. WHEREAS, Lake County supports the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Federal Recreational Trail Program. The application is to purchase maintenance and equipment storage. The trail systems are located within the middle of Lake County
WHEREAS, Lake County recognizes the twenty-five (25) percent match requirement for the Federal Recreational Trail Program, and the Arrowhead Enduro Club has secured the matching funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, if Arrowhead Enduro Club is awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, Arrowhead Enduro Club agrees to accept the grant award and may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project. Arrowhead Enduro Club will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement, and
d in the grant agreement, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant has read the Conflict of Interest Policy contained in the Trail Program Grant Manual and certifies it will report any actual, potential, perceived, or organizational conflicts of interest upon discovery to the state related to the application or grant award.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Board of Lake County names the fiscal agent for the Lake County for this project as:
Ronelle Radle, County Auditor
Lake County 601 3rd Ave Two Harbors, MN 55616
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Arrowhead Enduro Club hereby assures the equipment will be maintained for no less than twenty (20) years.
7. Adopt findings and conditions by the Planning Commission for Interim Use Application I-26-004R, submitted by Virginia Jensen at 683 Point Drive, Ely, MN 55731.
8. Adopt findings by the Planning Commission for Rezone Application RZ-26-001, submitted by Ada Helleloid at 2724 Hwy 61, Two Harbors, MN 55616.
9. Appoint the following to the North Shore Collaborative Joint Powers Board to serve a one-year term beginning January 1, 2026: Courtney Crilley, Accend Services; Commissioner Rick Hogenson, Lake County Board of Commissioners; Rick Valento, Brightwater Health; Commissioner David Mills, Cook County Board of Commissioners; Rena Rogers, Cook County School Board; Brittany Anderson, Grand Portage Tribe; Norbert Norman, Lake Superior School District; Emily Simonson, AEOA; Brian Stevenson, Arrowhead Regional Corrections.
10. Approve the appointment of Dean Rudloff and Melissa Pederson, CoChairs of the Lake County Local Mental Health Task Force, to the Lake County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, effective January 1, 2026, for a one-year term.
11. Approve the appointment of Shelley Fredrickson, Chair of the Lake County Public Health Task Force, to the Lake County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, effective January 1, 2026, for a one-year term. 12. Approve the appointment of Marlys Wisch to serve on the Lake County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, effective January 1, 2026, for a two-year term.
13. Approve the appointment of Susie Rosette as chair of the Lake County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee for a one-year term, effective January 1, 2026.
14. Approve the appointment of Honor Schauland as vice-chair of the Lake County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee for a one-year term, effective January 1, 2026.
15. Authorize the Board Chair to sign an agreement with the City of Two Harbors to advertise, award, and execute a construction contract for the reconstruction of Lighthouse Point Road and 3rd Street in the City of Two Harbors, project numbers SAP 038-594-002 and SAP 038-600-020, which will be funded through the Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP), State Park Road Account, and locally by the City of Two Harbors, with Lake County serving as the contract holder and project sponsor.
16. Authorize the Board Chair to sign the Gitchi-Gami Trail Association’s communal letter of support, on behalf of Lake County, for the 2026 Minnesota Legislature Session which will appropriate $4.5 Million for three Gitchi-Gami State Trail projects in Lake and Cook County.
17. Approve out-of-state travel for Assistant Veterans Service Officer (ACVSO) Melissa Crandall to attend the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) Annual Training Conference in Reno, Nevada, from May 31 through June 5, 2026.
18. Authorize payments in the amounts of $15,620.00 to Integris for Windows DataCenter Licenses and user CALS.
19. Authorize the payment of an invoice to RT Vision for the OneGov permitting software annual subscription cost used by Planning and Zoning. The invoice is for $6000 and covers the period from 02/26/2026 to 02/25/2027. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 03 – Approve the change in employee status of Tessa Strommer, Human Services Professional, due to completion of trial period effective February 24, 2026. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 04 – Approve the change in employee status of Joshua Tarnowski, Forester, due to completion of probationary period effective February 25, 2026. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 05 – Approve the changes to the 67-Day Temporary Employee Wage Schedule. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 06 – Approve the resignation of Tracy Gilsvik, Public Health Director, effective June 23, 2026. Absent: None
MOTION HOGENSON, SECOND HURD: 07 – Approve the recruitment for one fulltime Public Health Supervisor. Absent: None
MOTION GOUTERMONT, SECOND BALTICH: 08 – Adopt a resolution declaring the County Board’s intent to change the elected offices of County Recorder and County Auditor/Treasurer from elected positions to appointed department head positions at the County Board meeting on March 10, 2026. Absent: None
MOTION BALTICH, SECOND GOUTERMONT: 09 – Approve resolution of support for a Federal Recreational Trail Program (FRTP) Grant Application for the Lake County Forestry Department, as follows:
WHEREAS, Lake County supports the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Federal Recreational Trail Program. The application is to purchase maintenance and equipment storage. The trail systems are located within the middle of Lake County.
WHEREAS, Lake County recognizes the twenty-five (25) percent match requirement for the Federal Recreational Trail Program, and the Lake County Forestry Department has secured the matching funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, if Lake County Forestry Department is awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, Lake County Forestry Department agrees to accept the grant award and may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project. Lake County Forestry Department will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant has read the Conflict of Interest Policy contained in the Trail Program Grant Manual and certifies it will report any actual, potential, perceived, or organizational conflicts of interest upon discovery to the state related to the application or grant award. Absent: None
MOTION HURD, SECOND BALTICH: 10 – Adjourn Board meeting of the Lake County Board of Commissioners at 2:56 p.m. Absent: None
The Lake County Board of Commissioners will convene for the following meetings in the Lake County Service Center, Split Rock River Room, 616 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota:
• Agenda meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026
• Regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026
ATTEST:
Laurel D. Buchanan
Clerk of the Board
Rich Sve, Board Chairperson
Lake County Board of Commissioners
Northshore Journal: March 20, 2026
