by April Scheinoha
Reporter
The Pennington County Board has rescheduled a meeting for residents living along Pennington County State Aid Highway 11 (formerly known as County Road 62). The meeting has now been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Joint Use Facility (located south of Westside Motors). Initially, it has been set for an earlier time that evening.
Pennington County plans to improve CSAH 11 and 150th Avenue Northeast in 2026. Local leaders began mulling the project after Rocksbury Township leaders observed additional traffic on 150th Avenue Northeast between Pennington County State Aid Highway 8 and CSAH 11. The gravel road is located near Challenger Elementary School and east of the railroad tracks. Many motorists are using the roadway to travel to the school, Sanford Health, DigiKey and Arctic Cat.
The county and Rocksbury Township have already received a $1.5 million Local Road Improvement Program grant for the project. County Engineer Mike Flaagan has suggested paving 150th Avenue Northeast and urbanizing CSAH 11. The LRIP grant is expected to cover the 150th Avenue Northeast project estimated at $500,000. The urbanization project, estimated at $2.2 million, is expected to be covered with $1.4 million in state aid and $800,000 in local funding.
In other matters at their meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Assistant County Attorney Kristin Hanson. Retroactive to Tuesday, Oct. 1, the memorandum moves Hanson from Step 5 to Step 6. As a result, she will now be paid $142,210 annually. Hanson was previously paid $135,439.
County Board scheduled the election canvassing board meeting for Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. The meeting will be held in the third-floor meeting room at the Government Center. Commissioners Neil Peterson and Roy Sourdif are serving on the canvassing board since they won’t be on the ballot.
Chairperson Seth Nelson provided an update on the process related to the county cannabis ordinance. He said the City of Thief River Falls is holding a public hearing and then the joint city/county cannabis committee is expected to meet Wednesday, Nov. 20. County Coordinator Kevin Erickson said the county has sent surveys to townships to determine how they wish to proceed.
County leaders have already scheduled the county’s public hearing regarding the proposed county cannabis ordinance. That hearing will be held Thursday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Justice Center.
The next County Board meeting is scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Justice Center.