The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved a Regional Rail Authority levy of $0 for 2020.

It is the second straight year the board decided not to levy property tax dollars to cover rail expenses.

Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said the zero dollar levy is the direct result  of the passing of the local option sales tax for transportation, which occurred last September.

The sales tax, which is expected to bring in about $3.26 million a year, covered last year’s Regional Rail budget of approximately $1.4 million, which is used to cover the county’s share of NorthStar operations. 

Weber said next year’s proposed Regional Rail Authority budget is $1,860,123.

The board will vote on the complete 2020 preliminary property tax levy at its next meeting Sept. 17.

New Assessor

Sherburne County has a new county assessor. Michelle Moen took the Oath of Office Tuesday.

She started in the Isanti County Assessor’s Office 19 years ago.

Moen will fill out the term of Greg Olson, who retired in July.

SSTS Ordinance

The board adopted a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS)  Ordinance for the county’s low interest loan program.

Under the program, the county provides low interest loans to property owners for replacement or repair of failing septic systems.

Solid Waste Administrator Dave Lucas said the program has been very successful towards replacement of failing septic systems. 

“It greatly enhances our compliance, so we’re not kicking things upstairs to the county attorney’s office,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of upgrades.”

Lucas said the state did not provide money to fund the program in 2019 and 2020. He said the goal is to fund the program internally.

“We’re just shifting the funding source,” he said. “We need to pass an ordinance. That gives us the authority to administer the program.”

Along with the ordinance, the board approved an allocation of $80,000 from Landfill Host fees to help fund the program. Since it is a loan program, the fund will continue to rebuild assets as each loan is paid off.

The maximum amount of a loan is $20,000, with a 3% interest rate. Loans are payable twice a year over five years for loans up to $5,000. Loans greater than $5,000 are payable twice a year over 10 years.

Proclamation

The board approved a proclamation declaring Sept. 27, 2019 as Edward Foley Day - the 100th Anniversary of his death.

Deputy Edward H. Foley’s life was taken in the line of duty on Sept. 27, 1919 while he served the citizens for Sherburne County. Deputy Foley is the only Sherburne County deputy ever to be killed in the line of duty.