County board prepares for legislative visit, discusses non-partisan role

Kirsten Wisniewski | February 26, 2026

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has had a busy February. Administrator Kristen Trebil-Halbersma told WTIP about some of the current questions that the board is weighing in on, including state lobbying efforts and maintaining non-partisan tone on politicized issues. The board also made progress on a community engagement effort through the Highway Department, and approved loan support for the Cook County Economic Development Authority (EDA).

Loan for the EDA

On Feb. 24 the board opted to move forward with approving a loan to the EDA. During the first of their February meetings, the commissioners heard the request from the EDA, which would help the organization bridge a cash shortfall for the Superior National at Lutsen golf course. After the initial request, the commissioners opted to investigate potential options for how best to offer the loan, and return to the question at the Feb. 24 meeting.

The EDA is in the process of selling the course, and the group has lined up a potential buyer. Before the sale can be finalized, however, the golf course requires roughly $500,000 in maintenance work and repairs to the irrigation and septic systems. Because of those expenses, and the seasonal nature of income from the golf course, the EDA requested assistance from the county in the form of a $200,000 loan.

The EDA is owed the same amount by the Gunflint Vue, and expects that loan to be repaid within the next 18 months, at which point, EDA Board Chair Peter Clissold told the commissioners, the EDA would repay the county.

Association of Minnesota Counties Conference and meeting with legislators

During the first week of March, most of the commissioners and some county staff will be headed to St. Paul for the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) annual conference. The trip will also be a time for the commissioners and staff to meet with the state legislators. Cook County has identified a highway project that would repave the past 10 miles of the Gunflint Trail as a legislative priority for this year. Speaking to state lawmakers is a chance for the county to make the case to secure funding for that project.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to connect with our senator and representatives and have discussions about our priorities,” Trebil-Halbersma said.

Navigating politics as a non-partisan board

While it was not an agenda item, the meeting included a conversation among the commissioners about their role as a non-partisan board when it comes to lending their support to issues that have typically divided people along party lines. Commissioner Dave Mills brought the question to the board after he received a request to sign on to a letter in opposition to copper-nickel mining in the area.

The board discussed when it is appropriate for them to voice their opinions as individuals, versus as elected officials. “I think that figuring out where that line is can be challenging at times,” Trebil-Halbersma said.

The county board is a non-partisan office, and during the Feb. 24 meeting, the commissioners discussed how to navigate speaking about any issue publicly, including how to maintain objectivity in their public statements and not appear to take a partisan stance, especially on issues that extend beyond the county’s jurisdiction.

Commissioner Garry Gambel spoke about the role as one of stewardship, rather than viewing being on the board as a way to pursue an agenda based on personal political beliefs. “We’re entrusted, we’re not empowered,” Gambel said.

Reflecting on her role as Administrator

During the Feb. 24 meeting, Commissioner Ginny Storlie said that she and Mills had conducted a six-month review for Trebil-Halbersma. The commissioners expressed their satisfaction with her performance thus far.

When Trebil-Halbersma stepped into the role as administrator in the fall, the county was working to address the findings of several investigations into Public Health and Human Services (PHHS), which pointed to significant problems with case management, financial oversight, and workplace culture within the department.

While Trebil-Halbersma did not mention PHHS specifically to WTIP when asked about her first six months with the county, she said that the first several months of her time in the job were “stabilizing some of the challenges that were occurring.”

She said that while she sees the first six months as successful, there are still goals she would like to accomplish, including crafting additional policies and procedures for county employees. She added that she also plans to spend more time working on the county’s strategic plan and Capital Improvement Plan moving forward.

“I think the next six months will be just as busy as the first six months, but I’m looking forward to the challenge, and looking forward to continuing to learn and grow and develop and to ensure that I’m supporting the community and in my role,” she said.

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Administrator Kristen Trebil-Halbersma about the most recent Board of Commissioners meeting. Audio of that interview is below.