Itasca County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Itasca County Board approves $1.28M in warrants, bridge design contract

Itasca County commissioners approved $1,285,901.04 in commissioner warrants and authorized a bridge design contract with WSN for CSAH 69 over the Swan River at their Oct. 13 meeting, according to official minutes. Both actions passed 5-0.

Oct. 13: Warrants, bridge contract, job postings

The board also approved job postings for two Social Workers in Health and Human Services (5-0), designated November 2026 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month (5-0), approved a 2026 Storage Lease Agreement with the Itasca County Agricultural Association (5-0), approved a lease agreement for the 2026 Lights in the Pines event (5-0), adopted resolutions regarding Bowstring Airport (5-0), and approved Grant Agreement and Resolution GPZ-A3101-108-1064629 (5-0).

Oct. 6: Property sales, watershed plans, rail amendment

In actions from Oct. 6, the board approved selling several county-owned properties: the Balsam Garage with provision for salt on site (4-0), the Northside Building with a transition plan (4-0), 40 county-owned acres near Grand Village as is (4-0), and the Probation Building as is (4-0). The board tabled the Red Pole Building by Circle K (4-0). It took no action on reviewing the First Right of Refusal on noted property (4-0).

The board also adopted and implemented the Bigfork River and Little Fork River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plans (4-0), authorized 2027 IMCare contracts between IMCare and DHS for Families, Children and Seniors (4-0), and approved Commissioner Warrants totaling $691,877.62 with a check date of October 7, 2026 (4-0). In a special session that day, the board approved amendment 1 to the Rail Use and Operating Agreement (4-0).

Planning Commission agenda: Cedar Wild West, variances

The Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment agenda for Wednesday, 10/14/2026 at 1:00 P.M. in the Sheriff's Training Room in Grand Rapids listed approval of minutes from 9/9/2026 and old business on the Cedar Wild West major subdivision final plat on County Road 238 right-of-way, Section 29, Unorganized Township 57-26 (Stephen & Pauline Kutschat). The Board of Adjustment was scheduled to take up two new variance requests: one for a septic system not meeting required setbacks from Shallow Lake's Ordinary High Water Level, Lot 14 and N 10' of Lot 15, Shorecrest, Section 31, Feeley Township 54-23 (Debra Sisson), and one for a 30'x30' garage not meeting the side property line setback, Lot 1, Linden Point, Section 4, Unorganized Township 147-26 (Robert & Karen Doll). A closed session for board education was also listed. Minutes from that meeting were not yet published in the supplied record, so no outcomes are reported here.

Coming up

The County Board is scheduled to meet Oct. 20. The agenda includes approval of the Revised Itasca County Outdoor Recreation Plan, a 2027 contract with the Itasca County Agricultural Association, a 2026 Itasca County Agricultural Association Service Contract Amendment, a resolution to act as sponsor/fiscal agent for Blackberry Township's LRIP funding application, and MnDOT Detour Agreement No 1063939. The agenda also includes a presentation on the 2025 exit audit and updates from CEDA and ICTV.

Itasca County Board approves Mini-Sota Storage rezone, $2.97M in warrants

The Itasca County Board on Aug. 18 unanimously approved a rezone application from Mini-Sota Storage Solutions, along with $2,974,001.13 in commissioner warrants. All votes were 5-0.

Rezone

The board approved the rezone, including findings of fact and adopting the resolution. The application was the subject of a public hearing earlier in the day. The board also approved a letter of support for a Depot Commons Culture & Tourism Grant.

Warrants and other actions

Commissioner warrants totaling $2,974,001.13 were approved. The board adopted an interim Itasca County Law Library Policy, approved job postings for one Social Worker and one Case Aide in Health and Human Services, and adopted a resolution for National Emergency Management Awareness Month. The consent agenda included out-of-state travel for the SHI Summit and a road revocation to Lake Jessie Township. The board also approved the agenda and prior meeting minutes.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission met Aug. 12 to review a conditional use permit for an extractive pit and storage within 1,000 feet of South Ackerman Lake, submitted by RK Construction Services, Inc. It also reviewed a request to rezone 1.4 acres from Farm Residential to Recreational Commercial in Arbo Township, submitted by Minnesota Storage Solutions. The commission heard four variance requests: a dwelling closer to Pokegama Lake setback (Gina & David Bemrose), a Turtle Lake dwelling setback and bluff rule (Vasili Ceausceac), and a garage setback from County Road 195 and Jackson Road (Joshual Heibel). Minutes have not yet been published.

Regional Railroad Authority

The Regional Railroad Authority also met Aug. 18, with an agenda that included a public hearing on a rezone application from Mini-Sota Storage Solutions, along with travel approvals, job postings, and a letter of support for a grant. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

The County Board will meet Aug. 25. The agenda includes awarding Contract 59301 for County Road 540 Grading and Aggregate Surfacing to Ryan Sutherland, a contract between IMCare and Full Circle Counseling and Wellness, PC, and a Student Engagement & Attendance Support Program Services contract with Ross Resources Ltd. for Sept. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027. The board will also consider a Medica Foundation grant application and hold a closed session on courthouse security.

Itasca County Board awards fairgrounds contract, approves $2.8M in warrants across two July meetings

The Itasca County Board approved more than $2.8 million in commissioner warrants and awarded a construction contract for a livestock pavilion at the Itasca County Fairgrounds Park during its July 7 and July 14 meetings. The Board also adopted grant resolutions, approved campground rentals, and set a review process for updating the county's Outdoor Recreation Plan.

County Board — July 7

The Board voted 5-0 to approve $2,321,859.11 in commissioner warrants. It awarded the Sherman Building proposal for the Fairgrounds livestock pavilion on a 4-1 vote. The Board also approved the schedule and public review process for updating the Outdoor Recreation Plan, 5-0.

Other actions, all 5-0: approval of the amended agenda, June 23 meeting minutes, and a consent agenda that included a PFML policy and a computer donation.

Planning Commission / Board of Adjustment — July 8

The Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment met July 8 to consider several land-use items. Only the agenda is available; minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet recorded.

Agenda items included a conditional use permit for a commercial dog kennel by Chuck Goering in the W 1/2 of NE NW, Section 27, Stokes Township 60-27. The Board of Adjustment was scheduled to hear two variance requests: one from Shea Marana for a 24'x28' garage closer to Johnson Lake and State Hwy. 38 than allowed under Sections 5.6.7F and 3.8.1A, and one from Ronald and Kathleen Aho for a 32'x36' garage closer to Peaceful Valley Road on Sand Lake under Section 3.8.1C. The agenda also included approval of minutes from the June 10 regular meeting and June 15 special meeting, plus a closed session for board education.

County Board / Regional Railroad Authority — July 14

The Regional Railroad Authority approved additions and corrections to its agenda (5-0) and approved minutes of its April 14 meeting (5-0). The board received an informational update on the Mesabi Trail and took no action on it.

County Board — July 14

The Board approved $508,424.95 in commissioner warrants (5-0) and adopted the Taconite Environmental Protection Fund Grant Application Resolution (5-0). It approved a 2026 event lease with the Northern Minnesota Swap Meet and Car Show (5-0) and approved the Private Well Protection Grant (5-0).

The Board authorized long-term rental of eight Trailhead Campground sites at $900 per month for 2026 (5-0). It also approved an agenda amendment to add Item #6.7, the CEDA Quarterly Update (5-0).

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers should check the Itasca County website for any special or committee meetings that may be posted after this roundup was prepared.