The Sherburne County Board set a public hearing for Sept. 1 at 9:05 a.m. to consider submitting an application to the Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for a $100,000 grant for Acucraft, a custom fireplace manufacturer.
The company, which was located in Big Lake Twp., is looking to relocate in an existing building after a fire destroyed their building in April.
Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said the money will be used for building expansion and to double their employee base from 17 to 34.
“We want to keep them in Sherburne County and help them grow,” he said.
The $100,000 grant is a forgivable loan administered by DEED under the Minnesota Investment Fund. The county will be acting as the local government agent in the process.
There is no cost to the county, except staff time, said Weber. The county is also responsible for yearly project reports verifying that the goals of the project have been met.
Acucraft had been in its Hwy. 10 location since the late 1970’s.
Coal Workshop
The board approved out-of-state travel for Economic Development Specialist Dan Weber and Commissioner John Riebel to attend the NACO Coal Reliant Community Innovation Challenge Program in Grand Junction, CO. Sept. 16-18.
The program is a hands-on workshop for counties and regional organizations dealing with the downsizing of the coal industry.
Sherburne County is one of eight regions in the country participating in the event.
Tax Sale
The board set a tax forfeit land sale for 9 a.m. Sept. 14. There are 24 parcels available for public auction, including multiple lots on Birch Lake Beach in Big Lake Twp; multiple lots on River Oaks Estates (townhomes) in Becker; multiple lots in Wrights crossing in Big Lake and one lot in the Big Lake Marketplace.
There are also 32 parcels for a closed bid auction open only for adjacent landowners.
Other Business
In other action the board:
• Approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for Clear Lake Lions Club at Palmer Park on Sept. 12;
• Approved a gambling application for a gun raffle by the Duelm Area Lions at Kinitski’s Grill & Bar in Palmer Twp. on Sept. 19;
• Approved a gambling premises permit for Princeton Youth Hockey Association at Finish Line Cafe in Baldwin Twp.;
• Approved a property tax abatement of $228.10 for Kazimer Zerfoss because of a March 4 fire that damaged his property on Washington Ave. in Big Lake;
• Approved a property tax abatement of $1,353.42 for Robert Knight and Mary Raeth-Knight because of a fire in May, 2014 that destroyed their house in Elk River;
• Approved advertising for bids for tree clearing and grubbing on Co. Roads 4, 6, 8, 9, 66 and 72;
• Approved the transfer of $14,000 from the Unallocated Recorder’s Compliance Fund to the assessor’s department ($7,500), zoning ($5,000) and county attorney’s office ($1,000) for the 2016 budget year;
• Accepted a $15,000 Operational Enhancement Grant to be used for Veterans Services Transportation Program and veterans outreach;
• Approved a grant agreement with the Commissioner of Transportation in the amount of $491,895.78 to pay for the replacement of the bridge on Co. Rd. 24 over the Elk River in Becker;
• Proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month.
