Judge Quinn requests chambers and <BR>courtroom for third judge in Chisago Co.

Posted 9/12/01

Judge Quinn requests chambers and
courtroom for third judge in Chisago Co.

By MaryHelen Swanson
The Honorable R. Joseph Quinn, Chief Judge 10th Judicial District, drove 150 miles one way to appear before the Chisago County Board last week to ask for chambers and a courtroom for a third judge.
ìPlease say yes,î he said, extending his hands in a plea.
He told the commissioners a n excellent judge was coming in 10 days from Elk River and he would need housing and a place for trials.
You have the need in this county for a third judge, he told them and a courtroom is be needed.
Judge Quinn noted that the 10th Judicial District has 41 judges, but is still seven judges short.
In addition, he noted that the Pine County courthouse would be closing next year and yet another judge could be coming down to Chisago County.
Commissioner Ben Montzka, an attorney himself, noted that room 330 in the Government Center is the only room that would provide the security a judge would need.
But room 330 is used for other purposes, among them for planning commission meetings.
Commissioner Tom Delaney noted that the Government Center has two full courtrooms and one family courtroom now.
The commissioners received Judge Quinnís comments and request but took no action.
In other business, the commissioners:
ï Learned that the Court of Appeals overturned the countyís decision on granting a Conditional Use Permit to Richard Gurtek who was intending to operate a seasonal park on Sunrise Lake. Gurtek does not have a CUP at this time, noted County Attorney Ted Alliegro.
ï Moved to approve an option agreement for purchase of county property in Center City (former highway department property) where a senior housing project is being planned. The plans call for an 18-unit building.
ï At the urging of area law enforcement and emergency service personnel, agreed to have a $40,000 piece of equipment installed to provide better pager coverage throughout the county. The reason the county was hesitating on this action was that once installed, it will take about $70,000 per year to maintain it and the county has no idea how it will fund this.
ï In surprise action, rejected the boardís budget committeeís proposal which was showing a 10.8 levy increase and accepted one presented that day by Commissioner Montzka which will produce a gross levy increase of 16.83 percent and net levy of 11.83 percent. Commissioner Delaney dissented on this vote saying he could not go with a double-digit increase.
Commissioner Bob Gustafson said it was a tough year but that he was doing ìwhat is right for the people.î
5th Dist. Commissioner Mike Robinson said the most important thing was that Montzkaís proposal calls for putting $270,000 the county will receive as an insurance dividend into the reserve fund, a fund that has the county treasurer, Lee Olson, concerned. In a presentation during the meeting last Wednesday, Olson said by the end of August the county fund balances would be down $480,000 and by mid-2000, down another $400,000.
In discussion with Highway Engineer Mic Dahlberg that night also, the board discussed road projects and a public works budget request of $3,541,000.
Administrator Jim Thoreen said the county will need to spend time working through project priority and figuring out where the money will come from for all the road projects.
Commissioner Montzka stressed that the county cannot spend more on road projects than is in the budget.
When he was reminded that the county board can reduce the levy but cannot increase it up to final adoption, Delaney said ìI will take the tough vote on it if we do some more cutting,î and added that historically, the county has never taken off much.