After a brief public hearing last week, the Sherburne County Board approved the 2018 All Services and Fee Schedule.
While most of the fees remain the same, the schedule includes increases, decreases and new terminology.
“These changes are due to a number of issues. But in all cases we are passing along costs that we actually incur,” said Administrator Steve Taylor. “We no longer provide some of the services, and in some cases we offer new services.”
Salaries to perform work have gone up or down. In public works, mechanic fees increased from $37.63 to $38.17 per hour. Maintenance fees increased from $34.94 to $35.17 per hour.
But other service fees dropped, including county engineer ($80.23 to $79.27), assistant public works director ($65.80 to $60.38), county surveyor ($57.46 to $45.57) and assistant county surveyor ($46.77 to $42.30.)
Permit fees for replacement windows, re-roofing, re-siding and retaining walls have increased from $57.50 to $75.
The survey fee for a simple subdivision plat extension (up to three lots) dropped from $750 to $300.
And the county is adding new fees in the recorder’s office ranging from $0.50 to $3 to use the RecordEASE web program.
There are about 20 fee changes and 20 new or re-named fees on the schedule.
The complete schedule will be included on the county website. All new fees go into effect Jan. 1, 2018.
2018 Election
The board approved an election administration agreement with the City of Elk River regarding absentee ballots for 2018.
Sherburne County Auditor/Treasurer Diane Arnold said under the agreement, voters in the eight voting precincts in Elk River would be able to cast their absentee ballot at Elk River City Hall next year.
She said the absentee ballot process begins next Sept. 21. The auditor/treasurer’s office will be moving Sept. 24 as part of the Government Center Expansion project.
“This would help eliminate some of that foot traffic here at the Government Center,” she said.
Arnold said the county would still be in charge of accepting or rejecting the ballots, and people from Elk River could still vote at the Government Center if they choose.
She said there is no additional cost to the county for the change. The county would provide supplies, but staff from Elk River would have to undergo election administration training in the spring.
