Cook County staff on June 17 presented a draft memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Grand Portage Band that would defer county administration of land‑use permitting and related ordinances for privately owned parcels within the Grand Portage reservation boundaries to the Band’s land‑use authority.

Tim Nelson (county staff) said the arrangement aims to reduce long‑standing confusion for property owners who currently may need permits from both the county and the Band. He told commissioners the draft MOA updates an older (1995) agreement and that county and risk‑management attorneys (including MCIT counsel) have reviewed the current draft. The MOA would allow either party to terminate with 60 days’ notice and would explicitly cede administration of county land‑use ordinances and regulations for parcels inside the Band boundary where the Band has authority.

Why it matters: The MOA clarifies which government issues permits and reduces duplicate review for privately owned parcels inside the reservation boundary. Grand Portage officials said the agreement recognizes the Band’s established land‑use ordinance (in effect since the early 1990s) and would simplify permitting for a small number of privately owned parcels inside the reservation.

Details and next steps: Grand Portage representatives said the MOA covers the privately owned parcels inside the Band boundary and that staff intend to bring the MOA to the Cook County board for formal approval at the June 24 board meeting. Commissioners asked clarifying questions; Grand Portage leaders and county staff said the MOA covers only land‑use authority and does not resolve separate issues such as tax treatment of tribal properties or water‑boundary listings, which may require further, separate action.

Ending: County staff said the MOA is a narrow, administratively focused step intended to reduce permitting confusion; commissioners agreed to discuss the MOA at the next county board meeting.