REGIONAL – County Commissioners had little to say before voting 6-1 to raise the 2015 preliminary property tax levy by 2.9 percent on Tuesday in Babbitt. Chris Dahlberg, representing the Third District, was the only commissioner to vote against the proposal.

“I think we have a real balanced, cost effective delivery of services, accountability and fair taxation in terms of the 2.9 percent increase,” said Seventh District Commissioner Steve Raukar.

The proposed levy is subject to change until it is fully approved by the county board on Dec.16.

The $116,631,193 preliminary budget was designed to fund the county’s capital investments and duty for public safety, including upgrades to the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, maintenance of public roads and structures, and human services.

“Our support to the more vulnerable is a high priority of this county,” said County Administrator Kevin Gray.

The over $3.2 million increase reflects the county’s $5.7 million budget gap partially due to the ongoing decrease in taconite production tax proceeds.

“Each of these years, we are going to lose $1.4 to $1.8 million in taconite production tax proceeds, and we’re going to have to fill the gap with taxpayer dollars,” said District 1 Commissioner Frank Jewell.

On the other hand, Gray mentioned the county has saved money in auditing services, stating that only one city and around eight townships still use their own assessors.

Before the budget is written in stone, public budget meetings will be held Dec. 4 at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Virginia at 7 p.m. and Dec. 11 at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth at 7 p.m.

In other action, the Board of Commissioners:

‰ Punished restaurants Bimbo’s Octagon in Side Lake and Martinson Log Cabin in Angora for first offense liquor law violations. On July 25, both restaurants sold alcohol to minors who were sent into the businesses by the sheriff’s office as part of its compliance checks. Both were fined $1,000 and have 10 days of suspension.

‰ Approved the issuance of an Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License to Timber’s Edge Grill and Bar in Eveleth.

‰ Moved to implement a four-county regional Electronic Document Management System for the Child Support Program which will be used to automate business processes and more easily share program information between the counties. The collaborating counties include St. Louis, Cook, Lake and Carlton.

“This is going to realize some tremendous sharing of the information,” said Gray.

The project is slated to cost about $400,000 and is eligible for partial federal reimbursement.

If other counties want to join in, the board has to approve.

‰Authorized the Public Health and Human Services Department to realize a new Internal Document Management System. This change is aimed to help improve staff accountability, decrease the use of paper documents and maintain data privacy.

The project is estimated to cost about $1 million with just under less than half eligible for federal reimbursement.

‰Moved forward without recommendation to request that the Minnesota Department of Resources change the classification of Twin Lake south of Ely from “Natural Environment” to “Recreational Develop-ment” on behalf of Marty Breaker, who wishes to build a cabin on the lake’s narrow peninsula.

Breaker owns 224 acres on the 265-foot wide peninsula and would not be able to meet the 150-foot setback in building his cabin under the zoning rules of the Natural Environment Classification, but would be able to build if the lake was changed to a Recreational Development lake.

Breaker argued the lake’s classification should be changed because it does not fit into the requirements for a Natural Environment lake according to the DNR’s specifications. Since the lake was dedicated a Natural Environment lake in the 70s when the only way to access it was by a long portage, an access road has been built, as well as a public boat ramp and nine cabins now reside on its shoreline.

“By definition and apparent use, this is a Recreational Development lake,” said Raukar.

Many residents showed up to the meeting to oppose Breaker, stating the St.Louis County Board of Adjustment denied Breaker in 2012 and they bought property on the Twin Lake because it is a Environment lake.

“A lot of the cabins you don’t even know exist,” said cabin owner Walt Thompson, referring to the 150-foot setback.

Opposing residents also worry a development close to the shoreline will pollute the water and make it easier for future developers to build close to the water, further damaging water quality.