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by A.J. Shuster
The Cook City Council meeting on July 22 began with a presentation
by Melissa Cox of Northeast Middle Mile Fiber Optic Project. This
is under the Minnesota State created Northeast Service Cooperative,
which has successfully performed wide area networks since 2000.
It currently serves 32 school districts and 79 city, county, and
other governmental agencies throughout northeast Minnesota.
This project will cover 915 miles of fiber optic cable with at
least 221 sites of service. While its highest focus is on education,
critical services (fire, ambulance) are also high on the list
of priorities. It will connect with eight counties, and three
tribal entities.
For this $43.5 million project, NESC receives federal funding.
The claim is that this project will offer the potential for consistent
economic growth and job creation, while providing benefits to
education, health care and public safety.
The council voted to proceed with the Development Agreement with
Disability Specialist, and to allow Mayor Hollanitsch to sign
needed papers as they come.
The water tower colors and design have been approved. In discussing
the original plan of a train, as seen in the welcoming sign and
on City stationery, the painters said it would appear as a black
blob in the three seconds of view when traveling 40 to 55 mph.
Local artist Tom Chapman was then contacted for a design idea.
His river and trees design was acceptable to the painters and
the council approved. Painting should begin soon.
The Coalition for Community Schools' proposal for a Joint Powers
Agreement failed for lack of a motion. Comments included that
the 20 points the City Attorney had problems with were not changed,
or not changed enough to be satisfying. Also, it is too vague
in goals or purpose; what are the ends being sought and with what
power? Assets divided should the Joint Powers dissolve was too
vague and possibly less than fair.
In commission reports, the airport has all in place to get going
on its extension project, including the FAA having the grant application.
Needed is the purchase of more "credits" for wetland
replacements, according to the results of the Army Corps of Engineering's
final study and report. The council approved the mayor and administrator
to accept/approve the plan of the Technical Committee's review
and recommendations.
Maintenance was given approval of a sewer connection to be made
that was missed when all the other work was done; also to do a
"quick fix" with a larger culvert for a flooded yard
and suffering neighborhood. Next funding session will deal with
a permanent solution for these citizens.
The Parks and Recreation Department is working on the last of
its 501.3c permit; a golf tournament is set for the end of July;
and though the County has made recommendations on street signs,
a speed bump, and handicap parking areas, no action has been taken
yet.
The airport was toured for the Safety Commission (grounds, buildings,
electrical) and all are in excellent shape. There will be a Hazardous
Drill sometime in September, dealing with something more dangerous
than a train-bus collision (past safety drill).
An IRRB application opportunity is due to expire soon. The council
voted to allow Administrator Martinson and Engineer Jamnick to
fill out paperwork necessary to sustain the opportunity.
An air brake business desiring to set up in the business park
is progressing with legals, plus other steps.
Theresa Martinson suggests a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the water
tower. The projected completion date is Aug. 15, including the
one day it will take to dismantle the old tower.
In council comments, it was shared that it would be "nice"
of people who walk their dogs to bring a plastic bag with them
to clean up after them. The problem with the flags on Main Street
catching and tearing on the lamp posts will be addressed, probably
by shortening the standard two or three inches. It is nice to
see people perking up their yards, and to see townfolks using
the parks, walking around town, and shopping locally. The Farmers
Market is getting attention as a boutique market; perhaps a brochure/listing
of all the "boutique" shopping sites in town could draw
attention to all of them.
By GDA
The Administration and School Board for the ISD 2142 St. Louis
County Schools will be treading on thin ice after the 2011 school
year according to figures released showing their budget and fund
balances.
The total monies on hand for all funds would be $2,446,459 if
all of the projections come in true.
The General Fund balance would be $2,047,069, with the Community
Services having a balance of $47,015, Scholarship Fund of $99,302,
and Debt Service having a fund balance of $253,073.
The fund balance for all funds as of June 30, 2009, was $4,660,506.
That means the district saw its total fund balances go down $2,214,053.
The total decrease in all funds after 2010 was $589,121 and after
2011 $1,624,926.
The district's budget for the year is around $24 million. They
should have two months' operating revenue on hand or $4 million.
The trouble with that is the district doesn't receive their funding
on a level basis. It comes in in lump sums.
If the new construction is completed in time and the anticipated
savings are correct, the district should be safe. But if this
decline in funds keeps going, the future is bleak.
State Senator Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, was presented with the 2010
League of Minnesota Cities Legislator of Distinction Award. Sen.
Bakk was recognized for his leadership in minimizing the 2010
and 2011 aid and credit cuts to cities and preventing the extension
of levy limits. In addition, the League of Minnesota Cities expressed
their appreciation for Sen. Bakk's willingness to listen to the
concerns of cities regarding the JOBS bill and other tax increment
financing proposals. The League also praised Bakk's responsiveness
to constituent concerns regarding legislation that may have restricted
the authority of cities and counties to install and operate fiber
optic broadband networks.
The award is given out annually by the League, which represents
800 cities across Minnesota. "Our members recognize that
in order to be successful in serving our common constituents,
state and city officials must work together as partners to reach
solutions that meet the unique needs of rural, suburban and urban
main streets across the state," the League wrote in the award
announcement.
"In recent years, the state has continued to shift a greater
burden on local governments in order to balance the state budget,"
said Sen. Bakk. "While state support for core government
services like education, transportation, and public safety has
diminished, local governments have been forced to pick up a bigger
share of the tab. As a legislator, I will continue to fight to
stabilize the state and local fiscal relationship, and resist
efforts to balance the state's budget through property taxes."
The League of Minnesota Cities is a membership organization dedicated
to promoting excellence in local government. The League serves
its member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy
development, risk management, and other services.
For more information, contact Sen. Bakk's office at (651) 296-8881
or sen.tom.bakk@senate.mn.
The goal of the W.C. Heiam Medical Foundation's Spring Fund
Drive in 2010 was to raise enough money for the purchase of three
"COWs" or Computers on Wheels for the Cook Hospital.
Thanks to the generous donations of this area's summer and year-around
residents and local businesses, the foundation reached its goal
and on Monday presented the hospital with a check for $19,500.
These Computers on Wheels are mobile wireless computers on carts
equipped with wireless bar code scanners that will allow clinicians,
doctors and nurses at Cook Hospital to view the patient's medical
records and enter data electronically at the patient's bedside.
A key component of the patient care system is bedside medication
verification or BMV. BMV allows care providers to utilize bar
code scanning technology prior to administering medications, to
confirm patient identity and medication information against data
readily available via on-line medication administration records.
Immediate access to a patient's current results and medication
administration information greatly reduces preventable medication
errors. The COWs will help Cook Hospital meet mandated requirements
for electronic medical records for acute patients and also bedside
medication verification.
Each year the W.C. Heiam Medical Foundation holds a Spring Fund
Drive to help fund a need for capital equipment at Cook Hospital,
or most recently to help in the search to hire additional physicians
to provide care at Scenic Rivers Health Services in Cook and at
the hospital. With this donation of $19,500, the foundation has
donated over $212,000 to help serve the needs of residents in
the Cook-Orr Healthcare District. The foundation's long-term goal
is to raise $2 million for an endowment fund that will insure
that quality health care remains available in our area for future
generations. The foundation's endowment fund has grown to over
$1.2 million.
Anyone wishing more information about the foundation may contact
Nan Lundblad at 218-666-2316 or email: info@heiamfoundation.org.
The W.C. Heiam Medical Foundation is a non-profit organization
under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)3.
Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade 2nd Annual Demonstration Day
Cook Community Education gearing up
Local artisan selected to exhibit at regional art gallery
Letters to the Editor ...
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