[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6230363,"mediaKeyId","3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3","parentId",3442261,"title","East Central Solid Waste Commission: new landfill cell awaits MPCA approval; closure fund stands at $5M+","audioSeconds",113,"startMs",2659000,"endMs",2772000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3&start=2659&end=2772","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3/thumbnail_2659000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230363/Pine-County/Minnesota/East-Central-Solid-Waste-Commission-new-landfill-cell-awaits-MPCA-approval-closure-fund-stands-at-5M","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230363-b10c9ad291d37f5b963db6411db396f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1777284302&Signature=QcH~jvi9sj9CO7fUMB9RoaplPDOvZ6NTX0KGsGA7DDQ4SWjM3xnguHUKVeaVDzxEjz8FBH7D9uxMaT2Y4K-gPqwp9brSWudz2ccAEALMBAcN1J5ORFKJxadQKScAt-1nVxEQTLtEFm9FtkL4M5X06W~bCt6SkGJuzeJhkdPWxDUznJJwS3io8RFkAlZovPegty0fdBhGf9J509yzBBmBYibNm9qhB9izlS5fgCvR6tIVSwGwqQO50MZxOjtaAuANrnwGJ5WIt92ccjk0GnyrYdNafY65HG7jOeibGrISKWD0azHEqWlulAMXhduQXbYTHrnhBSPsDXrWDtIWURjU0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pine County, MN","date","2025-05-22T09:08:09.917Z","article","The East Central Solid Waste Commission update to the Pine County Board reported the new landfill cell is awaiting approval from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and that the commission holds more than $5 million in a fund set aside for final closure costs.

A commission representative said MPCA is reviewing technical matters related to the cell liner and that the commission expects a decision by the end of the week; if approved, the new cell could begin accepting waste by mid-summer. The commission representative also explained that a multi-million-dollar fund is maintained to guarantee closure and post-closure obligations so member counties would not be required to provide emergency funding.

The board discussion noted past closure costs and that closure and cell construction are planned and funded in parallel, with monthly set-asides dedicated to closure and contingency. Commissioners were briefed that the fund balance in escrow exceeds $5,000,000 to meet closure needs and regulatory requirements.

No board action was required; the update was informational and the commission representative said staff will continue to coordinate with MPCA and report timing to member counties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pine County Board Meeting - May 20th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Pine County's East Central Solid Waste Commission reported the new landfill cell is pending Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) approvals and that closure funds exceed $5 million.","taxTitle","Pine County, Minnesota","taxId",51038,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230368,"Commissioners discuss using opioid-settlement funds for prevention, Chemical Health Coalition plans",350,2296000,2646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3&start=2296&end=2646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3/thumbnail_2296000.jpg","/articles/6230368/Pine-County/Minnesota/Commissioners-discuss-using-opioid-settlement-funds-for-prevention-Chemical-Health-Coalition-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230368-8b8800490987b692398de4323ea47c1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777284302&Signature=WW1Btflo2tQrJskkB5U3lenz6q1Q9uNv3Oe6xTXinWus4brUeIqxHOF59HuZOvoSfw2hUqHZ1JfJXgz6BIa0dlS-A1OEyvvKg2vutB5nNTXECVafOznyuIowvLW6nShdznF1bLcb1y5C8h1EPIPAoSQO9W0bu4ogQP59rbgSP~izk6zZBCPLdzpCMXV2QoD3JH~~s3r1eBCMSOcmNHhLc5ettZm6tUIiROJunbk8mUlfE5EnWuRNB1JpmtSmqkTlVxGcs2xJ-sdpi7DkE-EKrTwS23VTXrjPf5ZV6hAnSc2w1Vnm9bGXsZbGHonRhfUBN8rUUqOZGm2kDuhf6jWWYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners discussed using opioid-settlement funds to expand prevention programming through the Pine County Chemical Health Coalition and other youth services during the meeting.

Commissioners and coalition representatives described settlement proceeds arriving to local entities and a desire to direct much of the funding toward prevention rather than treatment. Commissioners referenced a preliminary budget discussion that considered increasing the coalition’s annual allocation from roughly $50,000 to about $80,000 for the coming year.

One commissioner said the county has received settlement payments and noted that many prevention efforts over the past six to eight years — including youth programs administered in partnership with county health and human services, courts and local nonprofits — have driven down placements and yielded “over half a million dollars” in placement savings compared with past years.

Michelle Nelson, speaking to the board, said the county is awaiting the outcome of a separate grant application for restorative practices and noted Terry Fawcett has a JDAI (Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative) grant of $100,000 that may be coordinated with any new restorative-practices funding. “I think if we get that grant, that's gonna be a game changer,” Nelson said.

Commissioners asked staff to continue evaluating how opioid-settlement funds can best support prevention and early-intervention programs, and to coordinate with existing grants and initiatives to avoid duplication and maximize impact.","Pine County commissioners discussed opioid settlement proceeds and possible increases in prevention funding through the Pine County Chemical Health Coalition and related youth programs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230374,"Board approves Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership amendments to expand forest-management eligibility and extend grant term",191,1923000,2114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3&start=1923&end=2114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3/thumbnail_1923000.jpg","/articles/6230374/Pine-County/Minnesota/Board-approves-Lower-St-Croix-Watershed-Partnership-amendments-to-expand-forest-management-eligibility-and-extend-grant-term","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230374-ee2b5e3432b49c662dbd40fd728e7174/orig.mp4?Expires=1777284302&Signature=QI2rrDJjAnBV3qDhgvhxfUKtvwQ8oP1S8MN102JAl14yaarFgosG8a928mfRuZCdQUZOYuzpXAOHARJwdpHN-arPOFazwPl0QNOh7mHJOQnTufaxUTFqn7p6IFNYWtwfRhh28ErHaZtuuGy-wPIySSjF9FWzRdWVD6n~aOGQNGlDCOZvCd7DuczLvtsfQcEZ~jYUTS6tHgGxJhkfR99rd9nde5ZkkHKVxrWOEkv5TogmMweBfkpt4SBevCrqMc1HCfy1VAFg6Pp5WJQlSAC5FBcVI2pWfEFJrRw5PqgzNEZ-nDZ6SpcWja2D1exyKbLpCusd1EOm3y~yo5uVW8rKFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pine County Board of Commissioners approved policy-committee recommendations to amend the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership comprehensive plan and work plan to expand priority areas for forest management and to add woodland stewardship plans as an eligible activity.

County staff said the changes are minor wording edits to allow forest-management and woodland stewardship plans on additional parcels that drain to regionally significant rivers, streams or lakes. The policy-committee recommendation also updates the list of regionally significant streams and reallocated existing budget line items without changing the overall grant total. Finally, the partnership requested a one-year extension of the related grant agreement so work can continue.

Kelly, a county staff member, told the board the work-plan change “just moves it, you know, reallocates the funds between the budget lines that already existed,” and stressed the changes do not use county general-fund dollars. Steve, who sits on the partnership policy committee, said the partnership’s current structure (not a joint powers agreement) requires multiple boards to approve plan modifications and that the review process can slow minor technical changes.

The county moved and seconded the policy-committee recommendation and approved the amendments and the one-year extension by voice vote.

Board action: the board voted to approve the policy-committee’s minor amendments to the watershed comprehensive plan and work plan, budget reallocations within the existing grant, and a one-year extension of the grant agreement.

Staff noted these amendments are funded through watershed partnership funds and not by county local dollars and described ongoing discussion among partner jurisdictions about whether a joint powers structure would simplify future amendments.","Pine County joined other members in approving minor amendments to the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership plan to expand forest-management priority areas, add woodland stewardship plans to the work plan and extend a grant agreement one year.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230379,"Pine County authorizes signers for USDA Reconnect reporting on East-of-Hinckley broadband project",180,1716000,1896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3&start=1716&end=1896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3/thumbnail_1716000.jpg","/articles/6230379/Pine-County/Minnesota/Pine-County-authorizes-signers-for-USDA-Reconnect-reporting-on-East-of-Hinckley-broadband-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230379-b08016e64cb2404801bea098b99ec948/orig.mp4?Expires=1777284302&Signature=AVK-LhFeScpIsF5Z~Woajb-GOdHnM-LCv3p5~F6nicj8stpcTcYeo21SIe2amNkwjTnDSL7MoGtycoo7VDRFydmGgAzwG6WSyK3hGcg2JOqAkAyGxgcl01L0cQ1hV66mCCjcv3EpO0gjOkuqUntmDxT~1RJyZW5twmjYi-~pXnotJjIBFMKy73Im5qs1YMa7U9ihtRPi9dNMMdIdjCirF84Ipzocp0WL9xuixZ8meCBz12UyZuVHxbaVoAphc1lkYDGkNOhvv9HxekdiSVLIweb~~Hl1wbnZFIiiKEQYhYLb3pSjp6bd2bvVaoo5Cq4PFtH1kkAWjGjCaLYZEjdbvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pine County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing county staff to sign and certify submissions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture ReConnect online intake system so the county can meet quarterly reporting requirements for the broadband project east of Hinckley.

Lehi Sauter, appearing on the meeting line, told the board the resolution is needed so the county administrator, the county’s authorized representative and designated staff can submit quarterly draw and progress reports for the ReConnect grant. “This resolution is is purely so that we can report, quarterly on on the activity,” Sauter said.

Sauter said the county has been preparing to submit its first quarterly report and that the contractor (identified in the record as SCI) is awaiting federal preapproval of engineering documents so construction drawdowns can begin. She said the contractor has been preparing engineering documents for federal review and that the first drawdown must include documentation for pre-construction engineering costs.

Commissioner Holland moved the resolution (recorded as 2025-20) and Commissioner Nelson seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

Board action: the resolution authorizes the county administrator, the project administrator and designated staff to act as authorized representatives and certifiers in USDA’s online system so Pine County can submit required reports and requests for reimbursement as work proceeds.

Sauter told commissioners that, because federal funding rules require detailed documentation, SCI must have its engineering preapproved so the first drawdown can be submitted and reimbursed; once that step is complete, she said construction-related drawdowns can follow. Sauter said the first quarter had little to report and that staff will continue paperwork and compliance tasks to keep the project ready for construction.","The board adopted a resolution authorizing county staff to use the USDA online intake system to report quarterly on Pine County's Reconnect broadband project east of Hinckley.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230384,"Pine County approves multiple personnel backfills, sets new county attorney pay scale and hires property appraiser",1353,348000,1701000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3&start=348&end=1701","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442261-880f4851bde9a712dd3aabb3f0a06ae3/thumbnail_348000.jpg","/articles/6230384/Pine-County/Minnesota/Pine-County-approves-multiple-personnel-backfills-sets-new-county-attorney-pay-scale-and-hires-property-appraiser","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230384-d2e1209e867fec0e8a2d350be58fac4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1777284302&Signature=DQMOKC~vxZkKce1PZbhx6qpUSb4WrpNRL-KuQDvnj-AqyCAghAJQcfZEsLBzw6o8~cEMWM28cTBFNqr0EUIBI9d9PI6kR5WoM6mlzyvCtyyMNgVe1cMF2ndvA9m6goZvP9sD6xgGEfo4l2yDojwMa2eMatyuZjAcpoTDDQZ-zrAiSJd939MbAdOb779qtNwLbQdSKbpd~ImWF8braJW5Y-ewFS4whzLKOS7n1k8TbbVZSIK4SITdbnO-c~fCVUlv-WHsNoMcdxmCYMx0a8yBOs3RA36ecLWH8Wd61FSw4hS1ahHItRByFisUhSaBLUsZkSSaR0u77yVZr17Anw7QMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pine County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize multiple personnel backfills, approve revised solid-waste job descriptions and adopt a new county attorney pay scale during a regular meeting in May.

The actions approved by the board included acknowledging resignations and authorizing backfills for several county positions, ratifying separations, approving new job descriptions and grades for solid waste technician I and II, and adopting a proposed pay scale for assistant and senior county attorneys. The board also approved hiring Lake Newson as a property appraiser, effective May 27, at Grade 8, Step 1, $26.14 per hour.

The personnel committee presented a slate of items to the full board. The committee asked the board to “acknowledge your resignation of property appraiser Dylan Burpee, effective 05/02/2025 and authorize the backfill of the position,” and to ratify separations and backfills in the sheriff’s office, public works and land resources. The board approved those recommendations by motion and voice vote.

County Administrator Dave Mankie explained the recommended change to attorney compensation, saying the county has lacked a formal grid for county attorney positions and that the proposed scale would align attorneys with the county’s broader pay structure. “The county board doesn't technically have control over the pay on the attorneys,” Mankie said, describing how the new scale would route future adjustments through the personnel committee and the board.

Under the motion the board adopted, assistant county attorney salaries would start at $100,000 with a maximum of $138,174. Senior county attorney pay would start at $110,000 with a maximum set at $150,613. The board discussed earlier, conflicting figures during the meeting and clarified the figures in the motion before voting. Commissioners approved the pay-scale motion by voice vote.

On solid waste staffing, the board approved consolidated job descriptions for Solid Waste Technician I and II so employees can be assigned more flexibly between household hazardous waste and transfer-station duties. The changes recognize additional duties for Technician II, such as operating a skid steer, and clarify that two existing positions would be reclassified to Technician II rather than adding new headcount.

The meeting record shows the board moved to hire Lake Newson as property appraiser and approved the backfill process whenever internal promotions or lateral transfers create subsequent vacancies. That hiring motion carried on a voice vote.

The personnel slate also included ratifying separations: highway supervisor Chris Matrias (effective 04/01/2025) and land resources manager David Banta (effective 04/06/2025). The board approved the human resources manager’s authority to implement the solid-waste job-description changes, including any necessary memorandums of agreement with union representatives.

The board and staff noted that timing for filling some positions (for example, the land resources manager) may be delayed until after the county’s construction season to minimize disruption to operations.

Board action: motions to approve the personnel committee recommendations, the attorney pay-scale motion and the Lake Newson hiring motion were made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board did not adopt any policy changes beyond the pay-scale alignment and job-description updates; future pay adjustments for attorneys will be considered through the personnel committee and returned to the board for approval.","The Pine County Board of Commissioners authorized several backfill hires and separations, approved revised job descriptions for solid waste technicians, adopted a new pay scale for county attorneys and approved hiring Lake Newson as property appraiser.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

East Central Solid Waste Commission: new landfill cell awaits MPCA approval; closure fund stands at $5M+

Commissioners discuss using opioid-settlement funds for prevention, Chemical Health Coalition plans

Board approves Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership amendments to expand forest-management eligibility and extend grant term

Pine County authorizes signers for USDA Reconnect reporting on East-of-Hinckley broadband project

Pine County approves multiple personnel backfills, sets new county attorney pay scale and hires property appraiser