Sherburne County’s newest park, Two Inlets at Bde Hehaka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park, has been given the Lake Steward Designation.
Last week the Sherburne County Board approved the designation of Lake Steward as presented by the Healthy Lakes Committee of the Brigg’s Lake Chain Association during the commissioners’ meeting.
The Lake Steward program, supported by Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Member organizations, is helping lakeshore owners reduce their impact on water quality by promoting and restoring natural shorelines.
Two Inlets spans nearly one mile of Big Elk Lake and has been transitioning to a shoreline characterized by a growing diversity of native plants and shrubs that provide habitat and water quality protection.
The Committee joined the Lake Steward program last year and has since been recruiting lake stewards to continue healthy lake practices and promote them through posted signs.
Well Testing
The board approved split sampling of groundwater monitoring wells at the Vonco closed landfill in Big Lake at a cost not to exceed $11,200.
Solid waste landfills are required to sample and analyze groundwater monitoring wells during spring, summer and fall sampling events. The Solid Waste Management Ordinance and county landfill licenses allow the county to conduct split sampling at the same time as the licensee is sampling their monitoring wells.
Split sampling allows the county to analyze the same groundwater drawn from monitoring wells at a separate lab to verify results.
Transportation Grant
The board approved the Federal Transportation Grants Technical Assistance and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Discretionary Match Grant Agreement for the construction funding of the Hwy. 169/Co. Rd. 4 Interchange Project. The IIJA State Match Funds provides, amongst other things, a portion of the construction funds for the project in the amount of $5,216,552.70.
Avivo Village
Funding
The board agreed to provide gap funding in the amount of $100,000 for Avivo Village, a 48-unit supportive housing complex under construction on 2nd Street in St. Cloud. The facility will provide substance use, mental health, and other critical services for individuals experiencing homelessness who cannot be served in existing shelters.
The project is in its final fundraising phase, and Sherburne County has been asked to assist with capital costs.
The total project cost is $9.4 million. Confirmed commitments so far are: $7.6 million from Minnesota State Legislature Shelter Infrastructure Program; $1.19 million from the City of St. Cloud and $165,000 from Stearns County.
Sherburne County’s share will come from the Opioid Program Budget ($50,000) and Statewide Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA) funds ($50,000.)
Other Business
In other actions the board:
• Approved the 2026-2027 Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) Biennial Services Agreement. Although the grant amount for 2027 is unknown at this time, the service agreement is submitted with the same amount, $769,002, budgeted each year;
• Approved an agreement with Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services, Inc. to administer and deliver Employment Services Training for SNAP recipients. The budgeted amount is $14,096;
• Approved a five-year Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grant agreement between the county and the MN Dept. of Health effective Nov. 1, 2025 through Oct. 31, 2030 in the amount of $254,206 for the first budget period. A 10% local match is required;
• Approved the final payment of $55,173.31 to Douglas-Kerr Underground, LLC for the 2024 construction of the Great Northern Trail Project through Zimmerman. The final contract amount was $338,364.63;
• Approved the Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) Grant Agreement with MnDOT for funding on the Hwy. 169/Co. Rd. 4. LRIP provides, amongst other things, a portion of the construction funds for the project in the amount of $3,978,364.55.
