Cook County PHHS moves to donate unused Boreal Transit van to ISD 166
Cook County Public Health and Human Services plans to donate its Boreal Transit van to ISD 166 because the department does not have the staffing or funding to operate the service.
The PHHS Board approved the donation at its Sept. 15 meeting. The transfer still requires approval from the Vital North Foundation, which contributed funding toward the purchase of the van.
The Boreal Partners Transit Project began in 2023 in response to a community health assessment that identified transportation as a significant challenge for Cook County residents. The project envisioned a wheelchair-accessible van staffed by volunteers to transport residents to nonemergency medical appointments.
The van was purchased with the help of a $39,000 state grant and acquired in August 2024. However, PHHS Director Grace Grinager reported in January that the van had been used only once for its intended purpose.
“The van is not currently in use, and honestly, we don’t have the staff or the funding to maintain that type of service long term,” Grinager told WTIP.
Grinager said she contacted Care Partners, an initial partner in the project, but the organization also did not have the capacity to manage the service.
She also contacted Aitkin County, which operates a similar transportation program, to learn what would be required to establish the service.
“They actually have staff providing the service, and I learned what it would take to become a provider,” Grinager said. “It took about a year with a full-time staff to actually get all of the proper licensure and trainings for staff to be able to provide the service. So it’s a pretty highly regulated type of work.”
During that time, Grinager said, ISD 166 contacted the county about its need for a similar van for its special education program.
Grinager then contacted the state and Vital North Foundation, formerly the North Shore Health Care Foundation, about transferring the vehicle to ISD 166. She said she was informed that the van could be donated but not sold.
The PHHS Board voted Sept. 15 to approve the donation to ISD 166.
Commissioner David Mills expressed frustration that the Boreal Partners Transit Project had not fully materialized.
“As you all know, we’ve had significant changes in the department. At the time that we were working on this, there were two champions of staff who are no longer in the department,” Mills said during the September board meeting. “So had they still been here, it would have been over a year to do the training and all that. We would have that now. We’re not there now. I don’t see this as a failure of the department by any means. I do see it as a failure of the board for not giving the support that it needs, because I ask, what else are we doing for transportation in the community? Nothing.”
Mills pointed to the community health assessment that identified transportation as a local need and led to the state grant and creation of the Boreal Partners Transit Project.
Commissioner Gamble cited Arrowhead Transit as an existing transportation option. Residents can use its dial-a-ride service within Grand Marais and take scheduled buses to Tofte and Duluth. However, Arrowhead Transit is not a service operated by Cook County.
Commissioner White asked Mills whether transportation should be a priority for the board. Mills again pointed to the need identified through the community health assessment.
“I’m leaning on our community, not the board, because we are here to represent the community and the community has spoken,” Mills said. “So, it bugs me to no end to be in this situation.”
County Administrator Kristin Trebil-Halbersma suggested raising transportation at an upcoming community leadership meeting as participants discuss priorities for 2027.
WTIP spoke with Grinager about the Boreal Partners Transit Project, discussion surrounding funding for the Public Health Fund grant program and other highlights from the board meeting.
Josh Hinke September 22, 2026
