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The newly-hired Health and Human Services Director for Chisago County attended the May 6 Board meeting after just a few days on the job.  Vickie Goulette succeeds Robert Benson, who retired at the end of January. She introduced herself and her mission was to observe the HHS portion of the regular agenda, she added.  Most Minnesota  county social services departments  are in a stand-by mode until the state legislature completes its work and funding levels and local program assistance can be finalized.

The director mentioned that she has felt “very welcomed” and she is honored to be entering this next chapter of her professional life as county director.  She was formerly with Hennepin County and has served on state task forces and advisory groups.

In an open microphone, area resident Michael Madden observed that county property looks terrific and workers should be thanked for their dedication, which he said is apparent to even a casual observer. His hope was that the strike issues can be resolved.

Commissioner Dan Dahlberg, Rush City,  reported on a new ditch authority forming to implement maintenance of lengthy Ditch #6.  There are four counties touched by this system and Dahlberg said only a few parcels are in Chisago County, so he is not sure yet what impact to expect related to taxes for this ditch.  He also sits in on Ditch #4 meetings, and there is one scheduled later this month he reported.

Commissioners officially accepted a $26,000 grant from the federal boating safety program to acquire a personal watercraft and trailer for sheriff use.

Another sheriff-related action involved adopting the new FCC rate caps applied to inmate jail video/voice telephone services.  Rates were last adjusted in 2020.  New use charges are based on jail population and vary depending on type of calling system (collect, using phone card or buying time from commissary or iPad minutes).

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