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Aitkin County commissioner highlights PILT concerns, ATV trail progress and transportation needs for seniors
Summary
Commissioner Lori Westerland said the county is pressing to improve PILT and county-aid formulas, described a near-complete ATV trail project in Malmo funded by grants, and warned federal cuts will force prioritization of care-board services and wheelchair-accessible transportation.
Commissioner Lori Westerland told the Aitkin County podcast that county leaders are focusing on several practical priorities: fixing payment formulas that affect county revenues, completing a long-running ATV-trail project near Malmo and maintaining transportation services for seniors.
On federal and state funding, Westerland said Aitkin County has long pushed to restore county program aid and improve PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments. “We have fought for getting our county program aid that was cut... our PILT funding payment and L tax... the state owns a ton of land and they are not paying what they should be paying,” she said, framing the issue as one that reduces the tax base in lake-heavy rural counties.
Westerland also described a locally significant recreation project: a segment of the Northwoods ATV trail near Malmo that is nearing opening after an eight-year effort. She said the project relied on grants and multi-agency approvals and that county officials expect a small grand-opening event when the segment opens.
On social services, Westerland said she chairs the care board and identified Amy Wy as the director working on grant applications to add wheelchair-accessible vans. She warned that “we are going to have to prioritize due to some federal cuts,” and said that the board includes members with health-care and long-term-care experience who help manage limited resources.
The episode included no formal votes or policy adoptions; Westerland described ongoing advocacy on funding formulas and project implementation rather than a new county decision. Next steps, as described in the interview, are continued work on PILT advocacy, finalizing the ATV trail approvals and seeking grant funding for transportation vans.
