• The Koochiching County Board rejected reconsider a petition for a cartway filed by Thomas Jacobson. The board denied the request at its July 22 meeting. A cartway allows access to apiece of landlocked property through another piece of property with separate owners.
The reconsideration was brought forward by County Attorney Phil Miller. Miller explained to the board that he expects the issue to go to court. If Jacobson wins the court case, the county will be liable for a costs estimated at $7,000-$10,000, Miller said.
By law, the county board needs to decide cartway petitions brought forward by property owners.
Commissioner Chuck Lepper said a factor in the issue is that Jacobson already has access to the property. Board Chairman Wade Pavleck said the board should let the court make a decision.
• The board agreed to discuss Canadian National trains blocking roads in Koochiching County with Miller after a train blocked a road in Ericsburg for several hours last week. The board will request a written report from CN regarding the incident. The board will also request information from CN regarding the Ranier bridge being down and boats being unable pass below the bridge.
Board members were frustrated as they discussed what options the county has when a train is blocking a road.
Lepper said CN should receive a citation and be required to pay a fine if its trains are blocking a road for more than 20 minutes. The response the commissioners said they received from CN was that company officials were concerned — a story they said they’ve heard before.
“That's getting real old in my mind,” Lepper said, noting that meeting with CN officials hasn’t solved the problem.
“Do we wait until someone is physically blocked or needs medical attention or a fire truck can’t get through?” he asked.
• The board adopted a county-wide subsurface sewer treatment ordinance. The state required the board to adopt the ordinance by Sept. 1.
• The board approved a proposed billboard north of Ray advertising the Kabetogama area to tourists traveling south on U.S. Highway 53.
• The board agreed to support the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club’s project to re-deck and add a railing to a historic railroad trestle over the Big Fork River.