The Sherburne County Board last week approved a total of $129,768.05 in ARPA expenditures.

The first expenditure of $53,000 will fund a Security and Information Event Management (SIEM) in the IT Dept. SIEM technology helps detect, analyze and respond to security threats before they harm business operations. An additional $54,00 will cover cybersecurity insurance for 2025.

The next expenditure of $22,768.05 will fund two human resources business partners: Benefits and Wellness Business Partner and HR Business Partner-Sheriff’s Office. The positions were originally approved in 2021 with the expectation of being phased into the levy over several years.

The positions were funded 100% by the Sheriff Enterprise fund in 2021-2022. In 2023 they were funded with 2/3 ARPA money and 1/3 ARPA in 2024. Tuesday’s action will fund the positions fully with ARPA in 2025. They will be included in the tax levy fully in 2026.

Fee Schedule

After a brief public hearing, the board approved revisions to the county’s All Services and Fee Schedule for 2025.

Administrator Bruce Messelt said two notable changes are the inclusion of cannabis fees and revisions in Planning and Zoning due to Baldwin Twp. taking over its own zoning authority.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Lynn Waytashek said any fee increases are not an attempt to bring in revenue, but are needed to cover the actual costs for services.

The schedule is available on the county’s website.

Cooperative Agreement

The board approved an amendment to the Metropolitan County Consortium (MCC) Cooperative Agreement to extend the agreement from Dec. 31, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2025. The cooperative includes the counties of Anoka, Benton, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington and Wright. The MCC facilitates coordination for non-emergency transportation services for Medical Assistance enrollees.

The agreement is included in the approved preliminary 2025 budget for $60,000.

Other Business

In other actions the board:

• Approved a resolution to advertise for bids for the sale of a 16-acre parcel in Becker Twp. legally described as Outlot B Peterson Farms. The county has no future need for the property and wishes to return it to the tax rolls.

   The county assessor’s current estimated market value of the property is $30,400. The resolution and advertisement would set the minimum bid at 50% of the property’s estimated market value;

• Appointed Commissioner Lisa Fobbe to the Local Mental health Advisory Council (LAC) and Commissioner Raeanne Danielowski as an alternate;

• Approved a MN Lawful Gambling Premises Permit Renewal for the Santiago Lions Club in Baldwin Twp. for Bailey Ray’s Roadhouse and Ridgewood Bay.