Board hears update about County Housing Authority

Kent Barcus and Cheryl Grover of the County Housing Authority (HA) Board brought an update for the Clearwater County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 17 as to the next step in managing the business of the HA.

Mr. Barcus reported that HUD Supervisor Lucia Carson and Anthony Landecker, representative for Clearwater County, will be coming to meet with Board members next week. Ms. Carson confirmed there is not any funding available beyond which they (HUD) have provided to fund the program for the past 35 years.

They will be here in an advisory capacity only, and said that it is the responsibility of the local HA Board to manage this program. They are expecting the supervisor to provide them with the needed ability to acquire the HUD funds and enable them to send the checks out for December.

Barcus said that Laura Straw of the Bemidji HRA told him that they need to have a plan and recommended they put a budget together to move the HA forward.

A suggestion received was to find someone to come in and manage the program.

"We have 75 renters and 75 landlords," Ms. Grover said, also mentioning their computer and software need to be upgraded, and the secretary should also learn the needed programs. The Commissioners were in agreement with this.

"HUD has to approve everything, but," she said, "we have a plan."

County Engineer Dan Sauvé received authorization for final payment to Northwest Asphalt & Maintenance of Thief River Falls for work on behalf of Clearwater County. The total value of the work certified is $180,288.

County Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson received authorization to pay the submitted invoices of $43,707 from the County Revenue Fund, and $55,998 from Nursing Service.

A resolution endorsing revisions to the Minnesota County Program Aid (CPA) formula was approved by the commissioners. Paulson said the purpose of the resolution is so no counties lose their program, and it helps to resolve that problem with a funding increase of $40 million. Clearwater County’s share is $742,916, he said.

Neal Illies asked for confirmation that this meant they are agreeing to a new formula, which Paulson confirmed. Illies said some of the other counties are concerned about the new formula.

The resolution states that the revised CPA formula benefits all Minnesota counties by reducing volatility and ensuring a fair distribution of CPA.

Paulson brought applications for the 2016 seasonal beer and wine licenses for Itasca State Park, and 2016 on sale liquor and Sunday sale licenses for Fireside Grill, which were approved.

Unorganized Township:

Prior to the regular county board meeting, Commissioner Dean Newland called the Unorganized Township board meeting to order.

There was only one order of business. Auditor-Treasurer Allen Paulson brought that item which was the application for the 2016 seasonal beer and wine license for Douglas Lodge in Itasca State Park. The commissioners approved the application, and the Unorganized Township Board meeting was closed.

Commissioners present at the meeting were Daniel Stenseng, Dean Newland, John Nelson, Neal Illies and Arlen Syverson.