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County Commissioners tackled a number of miscellaneous items last week:

~ Law enforcement contracts for Stacy and Harris were approved. The deputies provide contracted patrol and related services to municipalities that don't have their own police departments for $49.97 per hour. The contracts are for 2012.

~ Sheriff Rick Duncan has heard from the Dept. of Corrections about concerns on jail space and obsolete building mechanicals. The DOC advises that as long as there is progress on addressing the county jail's non-compliance with state standards, the DOC will not reduce bed number and order the jail to become a holding facility only. "It appears you are continuing your efforts to find a long term solution to meet the public safety needs of your community," Tom Roy, the DOC Commissioner, wrote.

The Board approved earlier this month Sheriff Duncan's request for funding to begin a schematic for jail design layout addressing state concerns.

~ A new vacancy for an at-large seat on the Water Plan Policy Team is to be advertised. Anybody who wishes to serve can see the county website www.co.chisago.mn.us or contact county administration 213-8830.

~ An application from Steve Campbell, Reliable Bronze and Manufacturing, to amend the county zoning map in Nessel Township was approved.

The Commercial and Limited Industrial zone is now extended across County Road 7 to include an existing company parking lot. The site was zoned Agricultural before this action.

~ In another land use issue the County Board adopted a Rural Retail Tourism amendment. The language differentiates between major commercial conditional uses and those of farm-based or historical uses and attractions.

~ The acquisition of three tracts of land to be used for a corridor for the walking and biking Swedish Immigrant Trail segment out of Taylors Falls was okay'd. The per acre price is between $9,500 and $10,000. Grants of $73,500 are helping in covering the total purchase at approximately $113,000.

~ There were five intermittent Heartland bus driver positions approved. In May the request had been for two drivers.

~ The county motor pool rules and operations were revised. The county is getting rid of five vehicles, under the new county administrator's recommendation. Other revisions include how vehicles are budgeted for and a towing agreement that includes sheriff's cars.

Readers are reminded the 2012 levy public hearing is Dec. 7 beginning at 6 p.m.

The Thursday, December 1 planning commission meeting features a conditional use permit application for a Rushseba Township home auto repair business at 7220 490th Street. And, a rezoning application for Nessel Township Hall and the Curtis Olson parcel-- from rural residential zone to Commercial and Limited Industrial.

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