Carlton County Board moves forward with design phase for new facility

Talk about it

Members of the Carlton County Board gave Wold Architects and Engineers of Minneapolis a unanimous go-ahead on Tuesday to enter into the schematic design phase of a plan for a new Carlton County Human Services facility.

The Wold firm earlier conducted a facilities assessment for the county and identified the human services building as a primary need of the county, in addition to various upgrades to the law enforcement center and the courthouse.

The design phase of the planning process will cost an estimated $120,000-$150,000, which the county hopes to later recapture through the issuance of public bonds if the project moves forward.

In other business to come before the board, commissioners approved the hiring of an additional attorney for the Carlton County attorney’s office.

County Attorney Thom Pertler explained the new position is needed due in part to the increased case load anticipated through the advent of the prison expansion in Moose Lake. He added that an additional attorney would also open up the possibility of once again taking on the prosecution of misdemeanors for the city of Moose Lake (currently done on a per-case basis by a private attorney).

Pertler said the State Department of Human Services has agreed to pay up to $50,000 toward the entry-level position.

Pertler said the state would like to see the new attorney on board by July 1 if possible.

Commissioners approved the formation of a task force to update the county’s ordinances regarding subsurface sewage treatment systems. Recent legislation passed by the state of Minnesota requires local units of government to update their ordinances dealing with septic systems in order to incorporate mandated rule changes.

The board voted to revert to its previous meeting time of 4 p.m. Mondays for its monthly adjourned meetings. Earlier in the year, the time had been set for 8:30 a.m. Mondays.

The board recognized county employee Stephen Bassa for 30 years of service in the county zoning office.

Tags: carlton, county, board