Sherburne County board approves Fund 21 amendment, grants transfer‑station waiver and one‑year license

The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners approved several items during its April 21 meeting, including a Fund 21 amendment to pay for phase 3 deconstruction at 2 Inlets Regional Park, a waiver and one‑year solid waste license for a new transfer station operator, and a small parks reimbursement to a township.

The board voted 4–1 to permit a phase 3 deconstruction project at 2 Inlets Regional Park to be charged to Fund 21 after commissioners debated whether the county should instead hire a full‑time employee to pursue grant funding. A commissioner who opposed the amendment argued the county should prioritize creating an FTE to secure grants rather than spending Fund 21 now; supporters said grant options had been exhausted and described the structures as solid‑waste liabilities the county must address. The motion passed 4 in favor, 1 opposed.

Board members approved a staff‑recommended waiver to Section 4.4(d) of the county solid waste ordinance that would allow Curbside Waste Incorporated to store bulky items (mattresses, furniture, appliances, scrap metal and demolition debris) in sealed, rear‑loading trucks on site for up to seven days rather than the 48‑hour vehicle storage limit. County staff said the waiver applies only to non‑putrescible bulky items and requires sealed trucks. The board then granted Curbside Waste a one‑year solid waste license, with license term set to expire 04/21/2027.

On a parks item, the board accepted the parks and trails advisory committee’s recommendation to reimburse O’Rourke (Orrock) Township $1,700 from the park‑dedication fund for site‑improvement expenses at the Ann Lake public access (filling the outhouse hole, applying topsoil and seeding). The committee had reviewed an itemized $5,000 request and determined $1,700 qualified as an improvement while the remainder was maintenance. One commissioner declared a perceived parental relationship and abstained from that vote; the record shows four in favor, none against, and one abstention.

The board also approved a memorandum of understanding aligning Metropolitan Council planning boundaries with the 2020 census urbanized area changes in portions of Elk River and the surrounding planning units. The MOU passed 4 in favor, 1 opposed; the dissenting commissioner said he disagreed with the Met Council’s appointed governance structure but not the planning principles.

The meeting included multiple informational reports and no additional binding outcomes. The board recessed briefly to convene a Ditch Authority meeting, received a ditch‑drainage technician’s report, then reconvened and adjourned.

Votes at a glance - Fund 21 amendment for Phase 3 deconstruction at 2 Inlets Regional Park — outcome: approved, tally reported as 4 in favor, 1 opposed. - Waiver from Section 4.4(d) (Curbside Waste) — outcome: approved (no detailed roll‑call given in the record). - Solid waste license to Curbside Waste Incorporated (one‑year) — outcome: approved (license term to 04/21/2027). - Park dedication reimbursement to Orrock Township (Ann Lake public access) — outcome: approved, $1,700 reimbursed; tally recorded 4 in favor, 0 against, 1 abstention. - Memorandum of Understanding (Metropolitan Council / Region 7W transportation) — outcome: approved, tally recorded 4 in favor, 1 opposed.

What’s next Several items noted follow‑up steps: the Curbside Waste license is for one year (expires 04/21/2027); staff will continue monitoring the Vanko 1 (Bonko View Lake) landfill post‑closure; and solid waste staff offered to work with jail and facilities staff to implement recommended diversion strategies from the waste sort.

Sources: Sherburne County Board meeting transcript, April 21, 2026.