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By GDA
The City of Cook, including all departments, was hit with a
surprise OSHA inspection last week, the first they have had. The
Cook Council, at their regular meeting last Thursday at 6 p.m.
in the City Hall, was told by council member Liz Storm that the
city passed with "flying colors."
The council approved payments of $421,280 for the new water tower
and $43,300 for the water treatment plant.
The Consent Agenda was approved, next. It included the reappoint
of the following residents to the following committees:
Official Depositories: American Bank, Cook Area Credit Union,
First National Bank, Wells Fargo.
Civil City Attorney: Mark Weir.
Criminal City Attorney: Mike Kearney.
Acting Mayor: Karen Hollanitsch.
Airport Committee: Karen Hollanitsch - Chair, Linda Flack - Vice
Chair, Dave Bowser, Earl Grano, Dale Gustafson, Jack Jordan, Jack
Schelde, Stephen Towle (Alt. Pam Towle), alternates: Gary Albertson,
Bill Conger and Thor Pakosz.
Ambulance Association Representative: Karen Hollanitsch; Alt.:
Jody Bixby.
Beautification/Parks Committee: Chair - Karen Hollanitsch, Elizabeth
Storm, Irene Baumgartner, Shirley Cheney, Shona McCue, Lois Pajari
and Donna Snyder.
Cemetery Board: Darrel Lindgren, Elizabeth Storm.
Emergency Preparedness/Safety: Elizabeth Storm - Chair, Penny
Buckingham - Secretary, Karen Hollanitsch, Debbie Lindgren, Theresa
Martinson, Bud Ranta, Reuben Rosnau, Tom Woock.
HRA: Reuben Rosnau - Chair, Cindy Aune, Brian Gramling, Tim Mankowski
and Lois Trygg.
Library Board: Gerald Storm - President, Pat Olson - Vice President,
Harriet Hansen - Secretary, Joann Anderson, Marge DuMarce, Dan
Manick, Donna Parzyck, Mary Jo Reing.
Recreation Committee: Greg Burckhardt - Chair, Dan Manick - Vice
Chair, Tammy Palmer - Secretary, Joani Bergstrom, Julie Burckhardt,
Jeannie Taylor, Matt Zupancich.
Personnel Committee: Karen Hollanitsch and Elizabeth Storm.
Planning & Zoning: A. Richard Holm - Chair, Dave Danz, Dick
Edblom, Harold Johnston, Elizabeth Storm, Al Vogt.
Rural Fire Association Representative: Karen Hollanitsch; Alt.:
Jody Bixby.
Weed Inspector: Dick Edblom; Alt.: Elizabeth Storm.
The Last Chance liquor store had sales of $95,050.25 for December
compared to sales last year of $93,418.10, with the liquor store
showing sales for the year of $1,350,574.00 compared to sales
last year of $1,328,326.57.
There was no new news to report on the ongoing water meter problem.
The city received two bids on the now unused police car. The 2007
Tahoe received a bid of $20,000 from the county and $17,000 from
Waschke Chevrolet of Cook. The council moved to take the county
bid. Mayor Dick Edblom thought they should use that money to pave
something. Council member Storm thought they should pay down some
debt. No decision was made.
Council members signed Conflict of Interest papers. Storm also
wanted to remind residents to be careful around huge banks of
snow as youngsters like to play in them.
The meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
Local school districts took it on the chin this past week when
they learned the State of Minnesota would be holding back $31
million from area schools this time. The state has been holding
back around 10 percent, which they make up later in the year.
Because of the budget deficit, Gov. Pawlenty decided to hold back
27 percent.
St. Louis County had $324,024 held back, while Nett Lake had
$134,971.
St. Louis County had already agreed to borrow $2 million in an
Aid Anticipation loan as they prepared to start their building
schedule.
The districts are supposedly going to get this money later in
the year, but many superintendents are questioning that.
By GDA
Unlike many area hospitals, the Cook Hospital ended the 2009
fiscal year in the black. In fact, they went from a loss of $41,610
in 2008 to a profit of $611,694 in 2009. The 2009 figure was helped
with the $514,455 from the Cook-Orr HealthCare District and other
non-operating income. In 2008, this figure was $601,950.
Total income for the year was $12,378.041 compared to $10,902,640
for 2008. Deductions from revenue, which included adjustments
for Medicare and Medicaid, amounted to $2,687,027 for 2009 compared
to $1,804,160 for 2008. There was $35,000 added to expenses for
bad debts in December. That figure could change when the audit
is complete.
All of these figures are before the audit.
Labor and benefits for 2009 came to $5,708,801 compared to $5,661,350
for 2008.
The actual profit or loss for the hospital before additions for
non-operating income, such as the Hospital District, for 2008
was a minus $643,570. Last year it was a plus of $97,239.
Administrator Al Vogt said this was the "best financial statement
we've had in years" when this report was presented to the
Cook-Orr HealthCare District Board at their regular meeting last
Tuesday at 6 p.m.
by Robin Fisher
The Orr School conducted a Scripps Spelling Bee on Tuesday
afternoon, Jan. 26. The two best spellers from grades 5-8 were
sent to the competition.
Professional basketball photos were being taken at the same time,
so it was a challenge to conduct the spelling bee. There were
a couple of interruptions when students had to rush off for a
photo.
The eight contestants drew out of a hat for seats one through
eight, to make sure the spelling words were given out in a random
order. In turn, each student went to the podium and received a
spelling word. The announcer, Mr. Black, said the word several
times and used it in a sentence. The student was allowed to write
down the word if needed, before spelling it out loud for the judges.
The three judges were Mrs. Kennebeck, Mr. Burnett and Mrs. Dill.
If the judges pronounced that a spelling was incorrect, the audience
had the right to challenge it, but the three judges had final
say on a ruling. No challenges were made at the Orr bee.
The students took turns spelling out words - "chemical, tolerant,
cancel, specialty, pigeon, examine, furnace, cabbage, commentary,
and laundry." If a student misspelled one word, they dropped
out of the competition. Steady nerves were needed for this!
These eight students were all very good spellers and got many
words correct. Finally, Jacob Skraba missed the word "strengthen,"
leaving Mackenzie Sokoloski to win with the word "exact."
Mr. Best was present at this competition and will be the announcer
at the District Spelling Bee to be held Thursday, Feb. 4, 1 p.m.,
at the ISD 2142 district office in Virginia.
Richfield man dies in snowmobile accident
Boy Scouts to Celebrate 100 Years
Heiam Foundation reports successful year, donates over $33,000!
Letters to the Editor ...
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