---

The two-mile demonstration project constructing part of the Center City-to-Taylors Falls segment of the Swedish Immigrant Trail was awarded by the County Board to R.E. Peterson Inc. There's was the lowest of nine bids submitted, according to Parks Director Laird Mork.

The project is approximately half funded by a state trails grant and the rest is being paid by county and private donations. The bid was $271,210.

Parks & Trails Foundation officials Joe Sausen and Jane Wachutka told the Board the non-profit group is contributing $10,000 to this spring 2007 project.

The County Board also heard area banker Dean Perry resigned his seat on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority-Economic Development Authority and the vacancy needs to be filled. Perry represents Bob Gustafson's District 3 on the HRA-EDA.

The appointed term runs to the end of 2011. Interested applicants can contact the county administration offices (213-8830) or see the county website for details on the post and the application process.

There's also an opening on the Chisago County Board of Adjustment. Loyal Hyatt's seat is open, with the remainder of that term going through January 15, 2008. This seat represents District 4, Commissioner Ben Montzka's district.

The commissioners last week (with Montzka absent) also heard from Health and Human Services Director Mary Sheehan about both federal and state legislation affecting programs. Sheehan highlighted a mental health bill moving through the state legislature that creates a new funding formula for long term mental health patients.

Sheehan warned that the new formula puts county share at zero of the costs for the mental health facility for the first 30 days, the share goes to 20 percent for 30 more days, but the county will need to cover 50 percent for anything after 60 days. Sheehan said Chisago County has two persons in facilities that will probably not be released anytime soon.

Previously the county share was a flat 20 percent of the costs for the stay.

Sheehan also told the commissioners about a "Preferred Integrated Network" concept the state's looking into. A task force that was appointed during the first Gov. Pawlenty administration studied the delivery of all services in response to expected federal funding changes. Part of this approach is for counties to sign up providers of these "integrated" physical and mental health services and she anticipates the county using a Request For Proposals (RFP) system to do this. The integration approach will impact various county programs such as the Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMS) and Intensive Resident Treatment Services (IRT) and others programs.

Sheehan will keep the Board updated.

Al Budde, supervisor for the county's child support division, warned the county commissioners that if the federal deficit reduction act proceeds as written several positions in his division are at jeopardy.

In October 2007 the federal matching program that helps fund local child support collections is due to end. New legislation sponsored by senators from West Virginia, Maine, Wisconsin and Texas is being considered to extend this matching funding program. Budde had the Board endorse a resolution supporting this new bill.

Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman announced this week he's co-sponsoring this as well.

The incentive funds are based on local county performance in establishing and enforcing court child support orders. Chisago County historically has ranked very highly in efficiencies of dollars expended for dollars collected in child support cases.

---