Sherburne County Board of Commissioners

June 20, 2023 - County Board Workshop Minutes

The Board Chair Opened the County Board Workshop Meeting

NorthStar Update & Discussion. Public Works

Andrew Witter, Public Works Department Head

Mr. Witter led a discussion that was continued from a prior Board Workshop regarding the recent 2022 Legislative NorthStar Study. The consensus of the Board was that the County would actively monitor (and participate in, if asked) the two legislatively mandated studies of Northstar and would revisit this topic as needed but, at a minimum, after the legislative studies are completed and presented. The consensus of the Board was also that County staff would follow up on questions surrounding new legislation directing the Met Council cover Northstar Operations and Maintenance costs for metropolitan counties.

Child Protection Workload and Staffing. Health & Human Services

Amanda Larson, HHS Director

Social Services Meg Carriveau, HHS Director Amanda Larson, and Fiscal Supervisor Emily Ehnes presented and discussed the Child Protection workload and staffing needs with the Board. The consensus of the Board was that County staff should proceed with development of a formal request for Board consideration of possible solutions to address workload and staffing shortages being experienced in Child Protection, Court-Ordered Supervised Visitation, and State-mandated Healthcare Unwinding from COVID-19 waivers in Medical Assistance programming and administration.

Adjourn Workshop Meeting

/s/ Lisa Fobbe, Board Chairperson                       

/s/ Bruce Messelt, Administrator

(Published in the Patriot 07/22/23).