In the wake of extensive damage to the roof of the Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library in Crosby, the city council approved signing a one-year lease for an alternative location on Main Street, the Crosby-Ironton Courier reported Wednesday, Feb. 5.

A portion of the library’s collection will be moved to the temporary spot at 27 W. Main St., the former location of Abbey House Antiques, while repairs to the library are expected to take months. The council also approved leasing a climate controlled storage locker in Brainerd to store the remainder of the collection that will not fit.

MORE FROM CROSBY

Decorative lights reminiscent of miner’s lamps are part of the city of Crosby’s plans to install new streetlights along portions of Highway 210, the Crosby-Ironton Courier reported Jan. 29.

The lights are a nod to the city’s mining heritage, and are set to be installed during the Highway 210 resurfacing and reconstruction project scheduled for 2021. The Crosby City Council recently accepted the lighting proposal from the Highway 210 committee, and previously approved a $425,000 budget for new streetlights.

A program that would ask students to create a business, make products, brand and sell them is under consideration in the Crosby-Ironton School District, the Crosby-Ironton Courier reported Jan. 29.

Superintendent Jamie Skjeveland proposed Ranger Enterprises, a program that would be modeled after career and technical education at Perham High School. Crosby-Ironton is the only school district in the state that has fully adopted the programming of Minnesota Career Pathways, a partnership of Minnesota State colleges and universities and the Minnesota Department of Education. The program focuses on preparing students to enter the workforce.

CAMP RIPLEY

Improvements to rail service at Camp Ripley may put a snag in plans for a segment of the Camp Ripley Veterans State Trail, the Morrison County Record reported Feb. 2.

Gen. Lowell Kruse, senior commander at Camp Ripley, informed the Morrison County Board of plans in conjunction with BNSF to expand railroad tracks at the camp. The expansion would better facilitate equipment movement from the Minnesota National Guard facility, which requires about 600 rail cars. Currently, the track can handle just one 60-car train at a time that can be loaded in one day, meaning it takes 10 days to move all equipment necessary. The expansion could mean two additional tracks allowing for three trains at once.

But the expansion would also mean it’s likely a segment of the long-planned multi-use trail would no longer be able to locate in that area. Commissioner Jeffrey Jelinski said he knows the trail is needed, but acknowledged camp officials do not need the county’s permission to make changes to its rail configuration. Commissioners thanked Kruse for keeping them apprised.

LITTLE FALLS

Little Falls residents may be asked to weigh in on an increase in sales tax in the city as part of an effort to build a new community recreation center, the Morrison County Record reported Jan. 26.

The effort is dependent on legislative approval of a plan to use revenue from a sales tax increase toward the center, which is proposed to include a gym with a track, meeting rooms and outdoor recreation amenities. If the Legislature approves the city’s plan, residents would be asked to weigh in on a half-percent hike in sales tax over the course of 30 years to support the project. This is expected to generate roughly $17 million.

There is a new disability housing option for adults in Little Falls, the Morrison County Record reported Jan. 26.

The home, called United Bridges, was opened by Horizon Health and is intended for high-functioning adults. It fills a gap in need in the area, according to Horizon Health, by offering the opportunity for those who may still be living at home to live more independently. The facility includes 12 individual rooms, a number of shared spaces and services such as transportation, medication reminders, laundry assistance, cleaning and more.

MORRISON COUNTY

Commissioners in Morrison County will not vote on whether to support initial resettlement of refugees in the county, the Morrison County Record reported Jan. 19.

Not taking up the issue is the same as voting no, and that’s exactly what the county board intended, according to the Record. County Administrator Deb Gruber said the county has never been asked to resettle refugees to her knowledge and based on research with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, making the matter a non-issue for Morrison County.

The Wadena Pioneer Journal reported Jan. 23 the Wadena County Board would also not take action on the matter, given a motion to do so died for lack of a second.

The Beltrami County Board is the only one in the state to vote against resettlement, but many others have not yet or do not intend to vote on the matter.

An executive order by President Donald Trump asked states and counties to consent to refugee resettlement by actively opting in. Minnesota as a state has given consent and several Minnesota counties have as well. In January, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s order. The order stated allowing local governments veto power went against “clear statutory text and structure, purpose, congressional intent, executive practice, judicial holdings and Congressional doctrine to the contrary."

WALKER

A line of nearly 20 holes was drilled in the ice highway connecting Walker City Park to Onigum on Walker Bay of Leech Lake, the Walker Pilot-Independent reported Wednesday, Feb. 5.

This isn’t the first instance of vandalism to the ice road, according to Leech Lake Tribal Chairman Faron Jackson, who appeared in a photo alongside the holes. The matter was reported to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

— Compiled by Chelsey Perkins, community editor. Perkins may be reached at 218-855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@brainerddispatch.com . Follow her on Twitter @DispatchChelsey or on Facebook at facebook.com/dispatchchelsey .