Pennington County commissioners approved an agreement with Soo Line Railroad to close an at-grade railroad crossing on County Road 55 one mile south of Hazel in River Falls Township. 
Soo Line Railroad will pay the county $75,000 for eliminating the crossing. Pennington County will be required to install and maintain permanent barricades. The county will also arrange for removal of the roadway surface and approaches located within the railroad right-of-way. 
Soo Line Railroad will remove the railroad crossing surface and warning devices at the expense of the railroad. 
As part of the agreement, Pennington County will maintain a barricade and that the crossing shall remain closed and will not be re-opened by the county. 
County Board to discuss road transfers with River Falls Township
A joint meeting between the River Falls Board of Supervisors and Pennington County Board of Commissioners has been set for Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at St. Hilaire City Hall to discuss potential road transfers between the county and township. 
Half-cent sales tax
Engineer Mike Flaagan reported that he would be meeting with the Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce to discuss the potential half-cent sales tax. The tax would be used to fund specific projects and would be removed once the project is fully-funded. 
Flaagan first mentioned the sales tax as an option in 2013, and he brought it up again during the five-year plan hearing in April. He said some purchases that require the purchaser to pay regular sales tax are exempt from paying the additional one-half percent. 
Among the exempt purchases mentioned by Flaagan are vehicles and items shipped directly to the customer. 
It is believed the exemption only applies to highway-licensed vehicles, which would mean that purchases of four-wheelers and other recreational vehicles would still be charged the additional one-half percent. 
Commissioner Cody Hempel wondered if that would have a negative impact on local businesses, like RV Sports, that sell Arctic Cat ATVs. He reasoned that anyone wanting to avoid paying the additional half-cent sales tax could go to a neighboring county to purchase an ATV. 
Flaagan will check to see if ATV purchases would be charged the additional sales tax. No official action was taken. 
Engineer’s items
• Pennington County’s spring road tour has been set for Friday, May 29 at 7 a.m. 
• The Pennington County five-year plan, which was presented during a hearing on Tuesday, April 28, was approved with one addition. The plan now includes the closing of a railroad crossing south of Hazel. 
Staffing changes at Sheriff’s Office approved
Commissioners approved the hiring of a new office manager, dispatcher and part-time deputy for the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Misty Manderud, part-time office assistant was hired to fill the full-time office assistant position vacated last month with the resignation of Becky Carlson. 
Jill Kolstoe was hired to fill the assistant office manager position. Kolstoe previously split time working with both the Highway Department and County Attorney’s Office. She will now work part-time for both the Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office. 
Tiffany Lund was hired to fill a vacant dispatcher position. 
Jake Beito was hired as part-time deputy sheriff, pending completion of a background check and testing. 
Other items
• Commissioners accepted the resignation of Shelly Haugen as eligibility worker. 
• Commissioners approved a resolution opposing legislation that would require a 50-foot buffer strip be permanently planted adjacent to all perennial waterways. “Pennington County opposes any state mandate on buffer strips that haven’t taken into account the geographical differences in the state and the differences in the lay of the land locally where local elected officials can make decisions with landowner input.”