On April 18, four Chisago County Commissioners made their way down to St. Paul to receive recognition for the County's participation in the $500,000 mobile morgue operation.

The mobile morgue unit for the State of Minnesota is reputed to be the best in the nation. Its purpose is to provide support during a large scale natural disaster or casualty. The funding for the unit was received from a federal grant applied for by Chisago County on behalf of the state of Minnesota.

According to County Administrator John Moosey, "Our Emergency Management director Jim Halstrom was the cornerstone of this effort. His leadership throughout the state in emergency management put us in a unique position to pursue and win this grant."

Moosey also credited County Auditor Dennis Freed for his key role performing as the grant's fiscal agent. "Once again Dennis provided the behind the scenes effort that turns idea's into reality," Moosey added.