The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved the hiring of Communications/Media Specialist Dave Unze.
Unze spent 23 years with the St. Cloud Times, more than 20 as a crime and courts reporter. He also covered city and county government and higher education.
Unze is a resident of Clear Lake Twp. and has lived in the county for more than 15 years.
“I think the years I’ve spent with the newspaper has well prepared me for what we can do here,” he told members of the board.
“I’m very excited to be able to keep the public informed about all of the great things happening here and the opportunities to live, work and do business in Sherburne County.”
Unze started in the new position Monday.
MnDOT Agreement
The board passed two resolutions authorizing local commitment between Sherburne County and the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation for the Minnesota Highway Freight Program.
Public Works Director Andrew Witter said the state released a solicitation for counties and cities to seek grant funding for specific projects involving freight transportation corridors.
“Over the next four years they’re allocating $20 million to $25 million. The minimum award amount is $500,000. It’s a substantial program,” said Witter. “The criteria looks at truck volumes and safety benefits within the project you’re applying for.”
The two resolutions cover projects on Co. Rd. 8 between Hwy. 24 and Hwy. 10, and Co. Rd. 45 and 125th Street/9th Circle South in Zimmerman.
Park Contract
The board awarded the contract to make Phase I improvements at Grams Regional Park to Veit & Company at $662,161.50.
The project will improve the existing trails and install boardwalks through wetland areas.
Other project bidders included Rosti ($849,633), Sunram Construction ($846,164), Pember Co. ($1,383,653.26) and Blackstone ($1,498,034.34). The engineer's estimate was $700,902.82.
Other Business
In other action the board:
• Approved the final residential standard plat of “Tibbets Brookside,” consisting of two lots and one outlot on 16.48 acres on 145th St. NW in Big Lake Twp.;
• Approved a conditional use permit for Nathan C. Miller for a single family house in an industrial district at 3866 31st St. SE in Haven Twp. on 15.5 acres;
• Approved an interim use permit for Cooperative Energy Futures (Property owner is Lois A. Burkart) to construct a community solar garden on approximately six acres at Co. Rd. 8 SE and 57th St. SE in Haven Twp.
