An update on county construction projects

The Aug. 12 Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting included a relatively short agenda for discussion. Most items were related to ongoing construction projects, or the future of development in the county.

ROSO district amendment

In June the Board of Commissioners approved a Residential Open Space Overlay district (ROSO) amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. The aim of the ROSO district ordinance is to allow property owners to develop their land in a more efficient way and optimize the number of small homes that could be built on some parcels.

To better educate the public about the options the ROSO district presents, the county will host a series of outreach meetings across each of the five commissioner districts. The meetings will be held in partnership between Cook County Land Services, and the Housing Redevelopment Authority. Community members interested in attending meetings are encouraged to register ahead of time.

The community meetings about the ROSO district ordinance will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, 8/26 – Hovland Town Hall
• Tuesday, 9/2 – Colvill Town Hall
• Monday, 9/15 – Schaap Community Center
• Monday, 9/29 – Schroeder Town Hall
• Tuesday, 9/30 – Cook County Courthouse

LEC addition

Also on the recent agenda was accepting bids for the expansion project at the Law Enforcement Center. At the Aug. 12 meeting Facilities Director Brook Lessard and members of the project team, David Horner of BKV, and Dean Johnson of Johnson-Wilson presented the bids during the meeting. They shared that the construction bids came in just under the expected cost of $8.5 million. The county will also supply some items directly to the facility, like appliances and lockers. Between the construction and the owner-supplied items, Lessard confirmed that the project is expected to cost just under $9 million.

With bids accepted, the county can move forward with site work. County Administrator Kristen Trebil-Halbersma told WTIP, “Tree clearing and the removal of the old concrete culverts will start in the next few weeks. After those tasks are complete contractors will start the dirt work. We are still anticipating being “weathered in” this fall.”

Transfer station

The other major construction project currently underway at the county is the transfer stations. Work on the Hovland transfer station concluded earlier in August, and is now open for operation. With that portion of the larger project completed, attention shifts to the Grand Marais transfer station.

Trebil-Halbersma gave WTIP an update, saying, “The Grand Marais transfer station is well under way.  A majority of the footings have been poured and the rebar is being tied together for the vertical walls. Dirt work continues with the storm sewer and storm water pond.”

Kirsten Wisniewski August 17, 2025