Michelle McDonald, Executive Director for the Lake County Development Achievement Center, spoke with the Lake County Board of Commissioners last week, asking that the board consider dissolving the current contract that Lake County has with the organization. The DAC currently provides 11 employees who work at the Arrowhead Recycling Center on Recycling Center Drive in Two Harbors. DAC employees sort and prepare materials for sale that are brought to the Recycling Center. The DAC has partnered with the County for over 40 years and DAC employees perform import-ant tasks that serve the community. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are allowed to pay wages below the federal minimum wage to individuals with disabilities if the employer holds a 14C certificate from the Department of Labor. McDonald is asking for the County to hire the existing recycling center employees and pay them a wage that is more in line with what is competitive and typical for the labor market in Minnesota. If the County decides to agree to this plan, DAC will supply on site job coaches for the employees. The Commissioners did not take action on McDonald’s proposal but agreed to take it under consideration.
Christine McCarthy, Director of the Lake County Environmental Services Department, presented the Board with an overview of a potential updated comprehensive plan for the County. The plan was last updated in October of 2001. Objectives of the plan are to look at development and management of housing, transportation, public facilities, land use, water quality and energy in the county and balance future development with quality of life for area residents. McCarthy would like to establish an advisory committee made up of people from other cities and townships in Lake County, including county commissioners and representatives from the DNR so that all stakeholders have a voice in planning for the future. Additionally, McCarthy stated that a renewed comprehensive plan will open the door for the administrators to seek more grants to help fund county projects. Commissioners readily agreed that the comprehensive plan needs to be brought up to date and agreed to consider the proposal. McCarthy would like to start meeting with other leaders from other cities and townships to get their input on moving forward with comprehensive planning.
County Administrator, Matthew Huddleston mentioned in his report, that there are two vacancies on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board. He asked Commissioners to start to think about filling those positions. Huddleston would like the commissioner who sits on the HRA, to be a voting member. To date, the sitting Commissioner has not had a vote on the HRA Board.
The Board of Commissioners meet on the first and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 2 – 4 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for September 5th and will be held in the Split Rock River Room at the Lake County Service Center, 616 3rd Avenue in Two Harbors.
