County News

• The Koochiching County Board rejected reconsider a petition for a cartway filed by Thomas Jacobson. The board denied the request at its July 22 meeting. A cartway allows access to apiece of landlocked property through another piece of property with separate owners.
The reconsideration was brought forward by County Attorney Phil Miller. Miller explained to the board that he expects the issue to go to court. If Jacobson wins the court case, the county will be liable for a costs estimated at $7,000-$10,000, Miller said.

By LISA KACZKE
Staff Writer

DNR completes
its review of
state-administered trails in county

State forest trails in Koochiching County administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are expected to stay open to all-terrain and off-highway vehicles.
The DNR has recently completed a review of 3,400 miles of trails in Itasca and Koochiching counties to designate them as closed, limited or managed to motorized use. The Legislature ordered the review after it heard reports of damage to state forest trails by inappropriate trail use.

The Koochiching Economic Development Authority is scheduled to discuss the origin of the fish used by Can-Am Fisheries at its meeting Wednesday.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the Koochiching County Courthouse boardroom.
The issue was brought to the attention of the board members during the July meeting.
The KEDA Board is also scheduled to hear an update on the foreign trade zone by Dave Serrano, of Arro of the North. Serrano presented options for site development of the FTZ at the board’s July meeting.

Journal Staff Report

The Koochiching County Board is scheduled to meet with a representative from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to review road and trail designation in state forests in Koochiching County when it meets Tuesday.
The regular board meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the courthouse boardroom.
In committee at 1:30 p.m., the board is scheduled to meet with Jim Rupert, DNR project leader for a road and trail designation project the DNR has been conducting in the county the since January.

Koochiching County’s sewer treatment ordinance is moving towards adoption after a changes were made to a draft of the ordinance during a public hearing Tuesday.
County Coordinator Teresa Jaksa questioned whether the board could approve an ordinance after making changes to it during a public hearing. Jaksa said she was concerned about the process the board was using and recommended the ordinance be open for review by the public as a result of the changes.

The Koochiching County Board is scheduled to discuss an advisory committee for the county’s proposed plasma gasification project when it meets in committee Tuesday.
The board’s regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the courthouse boardroom. The board is scheduled to meet in committee at 2:15 p.m. Earlier in the day, the county commissioners are scheduled to meet as the Koochiching Development Authority at 9:30 a.m.

With no animal shelter in Koochiching County, the Borderland Humane Society has limited the number of animals it provides care for to only those in abuse or neglect situations.
With the help of three dogs who have been successfully adopted, BHS members Tuesday asked the Koochiching County Board to help build a shelter that would allow the society to care for more animals until they are adopted.
“We desperately need a shelter for Koochiching County,” said Robyn Ramquist, press relations coordinator for the BHS.

The Borderland Humane Society is scheduled to give an update on its programs during the Koochiching County Board meeting Tuesday.
The board meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in the courthouse boardroom.
Robyn Ramquist, of the humane society, is scheduled to speak to the board at 2:15 p.m.
Public comment period is scheduled to follow the humane society’s presentation.

Two incumbents and five newcomers have filed for positions on the Koochiching County Board.
Filings for the Koochiching County Commissioner District 3 position and District 5 position opened July 1 and closed Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Kallie Briggs, who now holds the District 3 position, and Mike Hanson, who holds the District 5 position, have filed for the commissioner positions.
Newcomers Paul Eklund, Sheila Johnson and Brian McBride have filed for the District 3 commissioner position.

Residents use discount cards to save money on prescription drugs

During the first 17 weeks of the Koochiching County free prescription drug discount program, Koochiching County residents filled 472 prescriptions resulting in an average discount of 29.33 percent per prescription, according to County Coordinator Teresa Jaksa.