The Sherburne County Board last week approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance that increases the number of members on the board of adjustment from five to seven.
The board of adjustment is the county’s administrative agency for hearing and making recommendations on zoning appeals.
Zoning Administrator Nancy Riddle said the amendment also updates rules and procedures, and clarifies some of the language, including appeals to the board of adjustment.
Commissioner Raeanne Danielowski asked what the procedure was once a board member’s three-year term is up.
“Do they have to reapply?” she asked. “Is there an ad in the paper asking for anybody interested and it has to go through the process?”
Riddle said both. The county puts out an ad in the newspaper and on Facebook “so we can get some widespread attention,” she said. “When their term is up, they can reapply.”
Commissioner Tim Dolan said the county filled some positions in the board of adjustment recently.
“We had several applicants,” he said.
Riddle said since the positions are at-large, applicants don’t have to come from a specific township or area. She said they try to have representation from all across the county.
“We try to encourage that they be geographically spread out and no one area having all the members,” she said.
Riddle said several candidates still have their applications on file. She said the county will advertise again, and they will contact the list of applicants to see if they were still interested.
The commissioners have the final vote on who get appointed.
The amendment is effective upon publication.
Construction Bids
The board awarded the contract for culvert replacement on Co. Rd. 79 and Ranch Road to BroMax Contracting at $339,814.21. Other bidders were: Helmin Construction $391,472.00, Max Steinger Inc. $428,294.42, Midwest Contracting LLC $468,473.00, and New Look Contracting $482,502.00.
School Agreements
The board approved truancy agreements with Becker, Big Lake, Elk River and St. Cloud school districts which will allow Sherburne County HHS to provide school-based, Truancy Intervention Specialist services for the 2019-2020 school year. The school districts will contribute a combined total of $22,500 to offset part of the cost of the specialists.
Other Business
In other action the board:
* Approved a MN Lawful Gambling application to conduct a raffle for Bame Foundation at The Hideout Bar and Grille in Big Lake on July 20;
* Awarded the bid for pavement markings on various county roads to Traffic Marking Service, Inc. at $161,828.30
* Approved 2019-2020 Tobacco License applications for Frontier Liquor, Holiday Stationstore #239, Jim’s Market, P&A Liquor, SuperAmerica #4535, Uptown Off-Sale, Casey’s General Store #3445, Dollar General Store #19543 in Zimmerman, Santiago Country Store in Santiago Twp., Orrock SA in Orrock Twp.; Holiday Stationstore 598 in Becker Twp., Ridgewood Bay Resort in Baldwin Twp. and Briggs Lake General Store in Palmer Twp.;
* Approved foster care transportation agreements for the school districts of Becker, Big Lake, Elk River, Princeton and St. Cloud in order to access potential state funding;
* Approved a collective bargaining agreement with MN Public Employees Association Sheriff's Office Administrative Support Unit for the term of Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2021;
* Issued a modified license with a term ending Dec. 31, 2024 to B & E Recycling Station, SWF-6 in Elk River in order to accept additional items for recycling;
* Accepted a $150,000 DNR Local Trail Grant for trail improvements and wayfinding signs for the Great Northern Trail from Elk River to Zimmerman;
* Accepted a DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant in the amount of $250,000 for improvements at Bridgeview Park.
