Cost of flood debris removal tops $540,000

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Last June’s flooding in Carlton County has elicited a hefty price tag. In a report to the Carlton County Board last Tuesday, Zoning and Environmental Services Director Heather Cunningham told commissioners the cost of the flood debris removal has reached a total of $540,196.15. Included in that total are labor overtime, materials, contracts and administrative costs.

Cunningham said that approximately 12,500 cubic yards of demolition and solid waste were removed and disposed of (not including appliances, electronics or household hazardous waste).

“This equates to 6,250,000 pounds – or 3,123 tons,” explained Cunningham. “To put that in perspective, the Carlton County Transfer Station normally takes in approximately 3,700 tons of construction and demolition waste in an entire year.”

Cunningham went on to say that approximately 190 appliances, 71 mattresses and 205 electronic units were also disposed of as flood debris, along with approximately 9,500 pounds of household hazardous waste.

“To date, we have received the first payment of $526,691.25 in reimbursement from the state and federal governments,” related Cunningham. “We expect that the remaining portion will also be reimbursed.”

In other business to come before the board, it appears Carlton County has once again captured the eyes of the nation. Pam Brumfeld of Health and Human Services told commissioners that Carlton County was one of four counties in the nation to be singled out by the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Brumfeld explained the agency is embarking on a nationwide study on adult protection services to determine if there is a common core of information being collected across the states. Florida and Minnesota were selected for the initial study of their existing adult protection services.

More specifically, the agency requested on-site visits to Hennepin and Carlton counties in Minnesota. Brumfeld said Carlton County was singled out, in part, because of the collaborative nature of its adult protection program, working in tandem with the Fond du Lac Reservation. During the visit, the researchers interviewed a variety of staff from the county, including administrators, law enforcement, attorneys, staff working with elders, and adult protection investigators. Information gathered from the site visit will lend background information in the development of the larger research project.

A conditional use permit was granted to North Central Energy/Great River Energy to install and erect an electrical transmission line, substation and switch structures on property owned by Scott Thorman and Lynette Rae Kimber-Thorman just off Nendick Road. The transmission tower on the site will be 55 feet 7 inches in height.

Josh Hagen of Cloquet was appointed to represent District 3 on the Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee to fill the unexpired term of the late Herb Johnson. Reappointed to their posts on the committee were Shelly Micke, at large; Elaine Lindell, District 2; and Julie Lindner, District 5.

Cunningham informed board members that retired Carlton County Planning and Zoning Director Bruce Benson has been awarded the Tina Rosenstein Award from the Minnesota Association of Planning and Zoning Administrators for his exemplary service.

Land Commissioner Greg Bernu announced that the second timber sale of the year will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Carlton County Transportation Building. A total of 10 tracts will be offered with a total of 7,500 cords of timber offered with an estimated value of $121,700.

The board authorized Bernu to seek special legislation to allow the county to sell various parcels of tax-forfeited land located on bodies of water in the county during 2013. Bernu said the county can expect to hear if the legislation has been approved by the end of May. Included will be land on the west end of Eagle Lake, four river lots on the north end of Tamarack Lake and a parcel on the Tamarack River.

Doug Juntunen was reappointed to a second six-year term on the Carlton County Economic Development Authority.

The board approved the installation of additional security cameras in the Carlton County Courthouse. Currently, there are only five cameras in the courthouse, one in the basement, three on the first floor and one on the third floor. According to IT Director Peter Gould, the new digital cameras will significantly bolster the safety and security of the courthouse and will be placed both internally and externally. Additional security measures being considered include closing off the enclosed stairwell on the west side of the building to the public and stationing a full-time bailiff as a security guard.

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