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County adds human resources director [The Pine Journal, Cloquet, Minn.]
[October 23, 2014]

County adds human resources director [The Pine Journal, Cloquet, Minn.]


(Pine Journal (Cloquet, MN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 17--The Carlton County Board said goodbye to two longtime employees at Tuesday's meeting, and welcomed a brand new one as well.

County Coordinator Dennis Genereau announced that Assistant County Attorney Jamie Ross will retire after 23 years with the county and Genereau requested approval to fill his position. Ross has been on an extended leave over the past year, during which time his position has been filled by a contract attorney. Genereau said Carlton County Attorney Thom Pertler believes the client load is such that he needs to retain four assistant attorneys to cover it. The Board unanimously granted the request.



Also retiring at the end of this month from the office of the County Attorney is office administrator Annette Johnson, who has been with that office for the past 38 years.

"This is a critical position that we believe needs to be filled," said Genereau.


Commissioners approved the request to refill that position.

Genereau also introduced new Human Resources Director Kim Franek to the Board. Genereau said Franek began work with the county approximately two months ago. Since that time he said she has been working on job descriptions and meeting with the various departments and units.

"She will be focused solely on human resource matters," said Genereau.

This is the first time Carlton County has had a dedicated human resources director. Previously, responsibility for human resource issues fell under the title of county personnel manager and, more recently, the county coordinator position. Genereau said with the more than 300 staff members the county has, however, and the increasing need for expertise in the field of human resources, the county determined that a new position should be created to deal with those issues.

In other business to come before the Board, commissioners recommended awarding the bid for a reconstruction project on Pfeifer Road in Twin Lakes Township to the lowest bidder, KGM Contractors Inc. The reconstruction project is aimed at improving the safety of a dangerous railroad crossing along the roadway.

County Land Commissioner Greg Bernu informed commissioners that the Duluth Trail Association, a consortium of horse owners from Duluth and Carlton County, are hoping to construct a horse trail from the Gary-New Duluth area to Jay Cooke State Park. He said the proposed route of the trail would cut across one corner of county tax forfeit land just south of the Buffalo House and the group has indicated that it will likely seek a lease or easement along that piece of property.

The Board approved a final payment of $22,000 on the Esko Safe Routes to School (SRTS) project, which was completed in 2013. The project was federally funded in part, with local participation from Esko as well. County Transportation Director Mike Tardy said Safe Routes to Schools grants are currently in high demand in the state, adding that of the eight requests from Northeast Minnesota, four came from Carlton County. Only one of those, Esko, has already been funded, though Barnum has secured planning money.

"I anticipate that this will be an ongoing program, and that it will be increasingly difficult for the state to prioritize which requests should be funded," commented Tardy. He suggested that any communities proposing SRTS projects should consider a commitment to long-term maintenance of the trail and secure additional partners to "come to the table" in helping to support the project.

The Board unanimously approved a liquor license for the Elmwood Inn, which recently underwent a change of ownership.

Finally, Board Chair Dick Brenner reported the county has received notice of intent from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to place some 1,400 acres of land in Carlton County into trust on behalf of the Fond du Lac Reservation. Brenner explained the parcels of land in question, which are located within the boundaries of the Reservation in Perch Lake, Twin Lakes, Sawyer and Progress townships, was acquired by the Band from Potlatch some five to six years ago. It is currently considered fee-owned (private) land, and as such it has remained on the county's tax rolls, accounting for some $7,000 in tax revenue annually. If the BIA proceeds with its stated intent to place that land into trust, Brenner said it would shrink the county's tax base by that amount. Brenner added that some 1,600 acres in St. Louis County will also be impacted.

___ (c)2014 The Pine Journal (Cloquet, Minn.) Visit The Pine Journal (Cloquet, Minn.) at www.pinejournal.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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