County News

The Koochiching County Family Dependency Treatment Court is a step closer to obtaining funding to hire staff to work closely with the families in the program.
Court officials discussed the program with Koochiching County commissioners Tuesday. The board was supportive of the new program, slated to begin in August, and agreed to back a grant application for the program.

The Koochiching County Board is scheduled to hear about the city of International Falls’ strategic plan during its meeting Tuesday.
The board meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the courthouse boardroom.
Falls Mayor Shawn Mason is scheduled to meet with the board at 11 a.m. to highlight the city’s plan, which is expected to be adopted by the Falls City Council tonight.

The following local positions are expected to be open in the November election.

Koochiching County Board
Filings open: July 1
• The District 5 position is a four-year term currently held by Mike Hanson.
• The District 3 position is a four-year term currently held by Kallie Briggs.

International Falls City Council
Filings open: Aug. 26
• The mayor position is a four-year term currently held by Shawn Mason.
• The Councilor at Large position is a four-year term currently held by Tim “Chopper” McBride.

Ranier City Council
Filings open: Aug. 26.

Commissioners also concerned about possible trapping restrictions

Koochiching County commissioners strongly opposed a proposal by a federal agency that they believe would restrict outdoor recreation and development in the county.
Commissioners agreed to oppose the expansion of the critical habitat of the threatened species Canadian lynx, while concluding that the cats are not a threatened species in northern Minnesota and are not native to the area.

The Koochiching County Board is scheduled to meet as a committee with the International Falls Recreation Commission at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The board is scheduled to begin the regular meeting at 10:30 a.m.
The rec commission is scheduled to continue a discussion on a proposal to create a taxing district that would provide funding to the rec commission to support youth sports.

Koochiching County is planning to move forward on its proposed plan to reroute the northern entrance of Highway 332 after a dispute resolutions board found in favor of the county Friday.
County Highway Engineer Doug Grindall told the Koochiching County Board Tuesday that the next step in the project is to write the federal environmental documents required and to start the design of the road to be reconstructed. Grindall said the deadline for the plan is September 2009, but he believes more issues surrounding the Highway 332 project will arise that might delay the project.

Dispute resolutions board finds in favor of Koochiching County on Highway 332 issues

Koochiching County officials are hoping to move forward on the reconstruction of Highway 332 after a dispute resolutions board found in favor of the county in its dispute with the city of International Falls over Highway 332.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s dispute resolutions board voted in favor of Koochiching County on three issues during its meeting Friday. The county is proposing to reroute the northern entrance of Highway 332 one mile east of its current location.

The Koochiching County Board is scheduled to discuss the Scenic Byways Commission’s recommendation on gap areas on Highway 11 during its meeting Tuesday.
The board meeting is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
The board requested several months ago that the commission insert gaps on Highway 11, which is a scenic byway, that allow development that would otherwise not be allowed on a scenic byway.
The board is scheduled to discuss the gaps during Environmental Services business at 11:20 a.m.

County also prepares for dispute resolutions board meeting

Koochiching County is one step closer to completing a feasibility study for a proposed plasma gasification project.
The Koochiching Development Authority Board approved Tuesday a professional services agreement with R.W. Beck, an engineering firm that will complete the feasibility study. The agreement will now go to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for approval.

A decision on whether Koochiching County should oppose an expansion of the Canada lynx critical habitat in the county is expected to be held later this month.
County commissioners agreed Tuesday in brief meeting to postpone the decision until after they have the chance to speak with other commissioners from northern Minnesota counties.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to expand the habitat in Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties. The Cook County Board has written a letter of opposition to the expansion.