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County moves to seek Great Lakes sediment-and-nutrient grant for Scandia Cemetery shoreline work
Summary
St. Louis County authorized staff to apply for Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program funding to support engineering for shoreline restoration at Scandia Cemetery and pursue other state and federal funding sources for construction.
St. Louis County approved applying for funding from the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program to support engineering and project development for a shoreline restoration at Scandia Cemetery, county staff said.
Director Jim Kovasi told commissioners the engineering and project development budget is roughly $270,000 and that the grant would cover about $204,000 of that cost; staff said they plan to pursue additional matches from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), the Minnesota Clean Water Fund and other sources for construction funding if the engineering grant is awarded.
Kovasi said the county has researched multiple funding sources and might request a funding match from the city of Duluth if necessary. Commissioners and staff noted the county is not legally responsible for private cemeteries, but described the exposed human remains and shoreline erosion as an ethical and environmental problem requiring a permanent solution; the board said county staff had stepped in to advance a project while seeking partner funding.
Commissioner Boyle and others thanked staff for the grant work. County staff said decisions on grant awards could come by mid-summer for the engineering funding, and construction funding candidacy would be decided after the next legislative session and related LCCMR awards.
