Vision Enterprises, the company that provides bus service for Big Lake Schools, is in the process of purchasing property in Zimmerman for a new bus facility.
At the July commissioners meeting, the board transferred the property to the Sherburne County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The HRA then approved a redevelopment plan, as well as the terms and conditions of the sale of 5.07 acres, consisting of three combined lots just north of the Sherburne County Public Safety Center. The site has been vacant since 2008.
Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said Vision Enterprises intends to build a 10,000 square foot facility that includes office space and bus storage, with room for future expansion.
“They do hope to grow within the next few years,” said Weber.
The number of employees who will be at the site will be 30 to 35 part-time drivers and two fulltime staff for the facility. Wages will range from $14 to $20 per hour depending on the position and experience.
Taxable value of the completed project will be $520,000, said Weber, with approximately $18,560 in annual property taxes.
The project plan has been forwarded to the Zimmerman City Council and Planning Commission for consideration. If approved, the Sherburne County HRA will hold a public hearing in August for the sale of the property.
Weber said the company plans to start the project immediately after the hearing, with the goal of being completed for the 2018-2019 school year.
License Bureau Hours
The board approved a request by Auditor/Treasurer Diane Arnold to modify the hours of operation of the county’s Drivers License Bureau.
Arnold said the 2017 legislative session changed the law to read: “County license bureaus shall maintain hours to best serve the public.”
Arnold said currently, the county’s drivers license bureau is open 46 hours per week, with hours of 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
“I am proposing going to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,” she said.
That would be 42.5 hours per week, with staff having a half-hour lunch break each day.
“That way we’ll be in alignment with the main hours of county government operations,” she said.
Arnold said she talked with a number of other counties to get an idea of what they were doing. Most were open normal business hours. She said the county averaged between nine and 12 clients during Monday night evening hours.
Commissioner Felix Schmiesing said the decision is for efficiency and to save county taxpayer dollars. But it could be changed again.
“If there’s an outcry, we can certainly review it,” he said.
The new hours become effective Aug. 7.
