The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved $429,568 in ARPA funding for 11 applicants under the Sherburne County Community Resource Support Program.
The program assists organizations that help provide county residents with housing, food, childcare programs, employment opportunities and access to social and mental health services as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Last month, Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said there have been over $1.1 million in total requests by applicants, some of which are still being reviewed.
Tuesday’s action awards grant money to the following organizations: Great River Faith in Action ($20,000), Princeton School Dist. #477 ($43,849), YMCA ($20,000), Big Lake Food Shelf ($30,000), Open Doors For Youth ($35,000), Community Senior Services ($15,000), Big Lake School Dist. #727 ($96,000), Rivers of Hope ($45,000), Becker School Dist. ($90,000), CAER Food Shelf ($15,000) and Passing the Bread ($19,719).
Another request by Promise Neighborhood for $125,000 was pulled from the list because there was still more information required. Weber said that application will come before the board for approval at the next meeting.
The board was unanimous in their approvals, however Commissioner Barbara Burandt abstained from a vote on the CAER Food Shelf and Commissioner Tim Dolan abstained from a vote on the YMCA. Both are board members for those organizations.
In a separate action, the board raised the allocation for the program from $500,000 to $750,000 to help cover present and future requests.
RSVP Lease
The board approved a two-year lease agreement for general office space with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Under the agreement, the county will provide, office space, two office desks, chairs and access to the public WiFi system. The lease will run from June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2024 at a cost of $5,397.50.
Employee Contract
The board approved a collective bargaining agreement with Law Enforcement Licensed Supervisor Unit through Dec. 31, 2024. Under the agreement, employees will receive a 3.5% range adjustment and 2.5% general adjustment the first of each year beginning retroactively to Jan. 1, 2022.
Grams Park Grant
The board approved a grant contract with Minnesota DNR for an improvement project at Grams Park. The county has been awarded a $250,000 Outdoor Recreation Grant to construct an accessible nature playscape, larger picnic shelter, parking lot and vault toilets at the park in Zimmerman. The grant requires a $250,000 local match.
The board also approved a contract with HKGi for $97,000 for the design of those improvements.
SHIP Grant
The board approved a SHIP Grant of $2,564.80 to Elk River School District for staff training for Walk! Bike! Fun!, a project intended to increase students’ safe engagement in walking and biking as well as advance the school district’s Safe Routes to School plan.
Other Business
In other actions the board:
• Approved a Premises Permit renewal for charitable gambling for Princeton Youth Hockey, with a location of the Finish Line Café, 31924 125th St. NW Princeton;
• Approved a gambling application for exempt permit for the Dylan Witschen Foundation, to be used for a Raffle on June 2, 2022 at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays, 13481 Co. Rd. 3 in Santiago Twp.;
• Approved a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the Minnesota Dept. of Corrections to facilitate reimbursement to the county for prosecution of crimes committed in the correctional facility. The Dept. of Corrections will reimburse up to $15,000;
• Approved an amended grant award from the Minnesota Dept. of Human Services in the amount of $62,553, to perform duties and responsibilities related to the Child and Teen Checkups program for the funding period of July 1 through Dec. 31, 2022;
• Approved a contract for $1,081 with Elia International Limited for access to the Signs of Safety Knowledge Bank, an online library for child protection learning resources;
• Appointed Linda S. Campbell to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for Commissioner Dist. 1.
• Approved a cost-share agreement with Christ Our Light Church for construction of turn and bypass lanes on Co. Rd. 9 in anticipation of a new church to be built just west of Hwy. 169. The church’s share will be $41,731.88.
• Approved a cost-share agreement with Sand Dunes Properties MN, LLC for construction of turn and bypass lanes on Co. Rd. 4 for a proposed development just east of Co. Rd. 5. Sand Dunes’ share will be $31,940.24.
• Passed a resolution authorizing the acquisition of right-of-way property on Co. Rd. 33 in the amount of $43,250 for a reconstruction project.
• Approved the purchase of two 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid vans at a cost $73,540 for the county’s Veterans Services Transportation Program. Included in the amount is a $10,000 grant from a veterans support organization in Minnesota.
• Approved the preliminary residential standard plat of Pine Crest Estates West, consisting of 23 lots on 71.53 acres at Co. Rd. 4 and 180th St. NW in Orrock Twp.;
• Proclaimed the week of May 11-16 as Police Officers’ Week in Sherburne County.
