Board approves final sales tax ballot question

The final wording for a ballot resolution related to funding a new $66.8 million justice center was approved by the Carlton County Board of Commissioners last week.

Auditor/treasurer Kevin DeVriendt encouraged the action to make sure there was plenty of time to include it in the Nov. 8 ballot soon to be printed.

It reads:

“How will the new Justice Center be paid for?

“The new Carlton County Justice Center is being built. Shall Carlton County be authorized to pay for construction costs through a county wide one-half percent (0.5%) local option sales tax?

“A yes vote means that the majority of the costs would be financed through the sales tax.

“A no vote means that the majority of the costs would be financed through the property tax.”

County coordinator Dennis Genereau, economic development director Mary Finnegan, and the Carlton County sheriff will answer questions about the new Justice Center at Kettle River’s Ma and Pa Kettle Days on Aug. 13.

Sheriff Kelly Lake and other county officials will be on hand at the Carlton County Fair August 18-21 at the Sheriff’s Office booth area to answer any questions and receive input.

Genereau said there will be two waves of mailed information this fall before the election to explain building plans and the need for the sales tax.

Sheriff Lake added that the goal was to have the local option sales tax funding fresh in the voter’s minds coming into the Nov. 8 election.

Work continues at the Justice Center site. Surveying will be completed shortly. Removing the vegetation and stumps and clearing the construction area should be completed by Labor Day. Excavation, utility installation, and foundation work will continue through the fall. Walls are scheduled to be erected starting in January.

In other county news, Justin Kroeger of Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management and Consulting has been working with the county’s health insurance committee. A new secondary health care plan for spouses and retirees after the age 65 was explained to the county board.

The plan, which is used in almost all the surrounding counties, would reduce health plan costs for the county, but also would be cheaper and equal or better coverage for the retiree. For example, under this plan the limit for out of pocket costs would drop from $2,000 to $1,000. Kroeger noted that only two or three spouses are impacted by this health care choice each year.

Commissioner Tom Proulx, attending via Zoom said he has attended meetings of the health insurance committee. “I see no downside at all,” he said about the plan. The board voted to table action until Aug. 22.

In other matters:

• Assistant jail administrator Jason Wilmes has been running the current jail programs while Paul Coughlin has been working on all aspects of the new Justice Center complex.

• His work on maintaining the state-required corrections policy manual was recognized and the sheriff presented him with the silver 2021 Excellence in Corrections Policy Management award during Tuesday’s meeting.

• The townships of Holyoke, Twin Lakes, and Silver Brook have approved the new maintenance contracts with the Transportation Department and they are now approved by the County Board. Others will follow over the coming months after each township is contacted and concerns are discussed.

• Moose Lake Mayor Ted Shaw was appointed to another six-year term on the Economic Development Board.