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Board gives go-ahead on grant $15K grant would study plan on affordable housing, potential levy increase Senior Reporter The Crow Wing County Board Tuesday approved seeking a $15,000 grant to study a plan to increase affordable housing here and what a potential levy increase would mean to taxpayers.
The Crow Wing County Housing and Redevelopment Authority requested applying for the grant, which is with the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, a nonprofit organization.
Levy dollars raised may be matched by the GMHF. The current HRA levy in the county raises $56,000. The money is used as an example of what the area community is putting in as dollars are sought from the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Commissioner Paul Thiede, who voted against the motion, questioned the need for the study. Commissioner Dewey Tautges said the timing for the request wasn't good, but he was in favor of allowing the HRA to apply for the grant.
HRA levy funds may be used for gap financing, down-payment assistance, a housing rehabilitation program, or land acquisition - such as land for a Habitat for Humanity home project. Levy dollars may be used to provide safe housing, to clear blighted areas or assist in remedies where there is a shortage of housing for residents of low and moderate incomes.
The levy shows up on property tax statements as part of the "other governmental units." The county board would have to approve an HRA levy.
In other business, the board:
Authorized seeking bids for the construction of an active gas collection and control system. Doug Morris, waste management director, said collecting the gas is the first step in being able to sell it and a collection system will solve the odor issue.
Awarded the correctional nursing service for the jail facility to Good Neighbor Home Health Care at $38 per hour for a registered nurse and $28 per hour for a licensed practical nurse.
Approved the highway department's application for an Iron Range Resources grant for the County Highway 31 bridge in Rabbit Lake Township just north of the city of Cuyuna. The bridge is sound. Work is needed on the approaches and tie-backs from the bridge abutments. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2009.
Agreed to advertise for bids for 2008 construction projects: milling and blacktop of County Highway 3; and blacktop on county roads 108, 121, 122 and 126.
Approved cutting about - 800 acres of aspen, 200 acres of birch, 200 acres of oak, 100 acres (select cuts) of northern hardwoods, 29 acres of jack pine, 151 acres of red pine (including select cuts), 100 acres of tamarack, 50 acres of black spruce and 25 acres of balsam fir in the 2008 harvest plan.
Approved Sheriff Todd Dahl's requests for outstate travel and training to Colorado and Wisconsin. Thiede said he's received questions about the amount of outstate training for the department. Dahl said training was one of his passions.
Learned the supplemental nutrition program known as Women, Infants and Children has program eligibility changes as WIC enrollees now need to have applied for or been accepted for Medical Assistance for enrollment in the WIC program.
Approved a $40,000 respite care grant application for social services, particularly for families of children with diagnosis of mental health illnesses.
Proclaimed April 6-12 as National County Government Week.
Approved the lease agreement by the Brainerd School District for county-owned land that is commonly known as the farm. The lease is $25 per year for 10 years.
Agreed to distribute $1,750 each to the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby and St. Joseph's Foundation in Brainerd for free mammograms through a Susan G. Komen Brainerd Lakes Affiliate grant award. The county will assist in advertising the free mammograms and through referrals.
Heard the survey information using a lake bed in the property description, discussed at a previous board meeting, was appropriate.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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