Before the County Board...

By Brad Swenson

Pioneer Staff Writer

      An ordinance that restricts smoking in bars and restaurants to only evening hours will be presented to Beltrami County commissioners Tuesday.

      A board-appointed task force held two meetings to iron out a compromise for a smoke-free ordinance covering all of Beltrami County. The final document isn’t as severe as an original draft given commissioners last month, but starts the county toward that path.

      The task force presentation is slated as the only regular business for the County Board, starting at 5 p.m., at the Beltrami County Lakeside Service Center, 505 Bemidji Ave. N.

      The compromise calls for an ordinance which would allow smoking in bars and restaurants only between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. It also casts an eye to preventing those 18 and younger from working or being present in such establishments during those hours.

      The draft ordinance first presented to the County Board called for a total ban on smoking in all public places and work places, allowing smoking only in private vehicles, homes and designated hotel guest rooms. The compromise recommended by the task force would implement those stiffer regulations on Jan. 1, 2007.

      Earlier in the day, at 3 p.m., during the board’s work session, commissioners will hear a presentation of preparations being made to reopen the Red Lakes to walleye fishing.

      Henry Drewes, state Department of Natural Resources regional fisheries manager, will tell commissioners about the walleye recovery at Red Lake. A moratorium on walleye harvesting has been in place since 1999 after the walleye fishery collapsed.

      The moratorium includes both Upper and Lower Red lakes, and was instituted in a three-way agreement with the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, the state DNR and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

      Now, with the walleye recovering, the harvest is expected to resume with the 2006 season. On non-reservation lands, resorters are making preparations for the new season, and there is a new northern attraction in the Big Bog Recreation Area.

      Still in question is what the Red Lake Nation plans to do. While most tribal officials have ruled out a return to commercial fishing operations for walleye, some officials have proposed a limited sports fishing enterprise which would pair band member guides for hire with non-tribal anglers.

      In a related matter, commissioners will also consider a local request for a no-wake ordinance for the Tamarac River in Waskish Township. A number of local officials and residents seek the ordinance as it would help stop the damage to private property, shoreline and ecosystems from boat wake, and improve navigational safety.

      Also during the work session, commissioners will discuss county road construction priorities for future construction, primarily paving a portion of County Roads 407 and 403. They will also review hours of operation for the County License Center, with thought to its new quarters in the County Government Services Center to be built.

      Commissioners will discuss during the work session and seek approval as part of their consent agenda the formal designation of county fund balances. Among them are $6.7 million for the county’s general revenue fund, $6.2 million for road and bridge, $7.1 million for Human Services, $148,981 for Nursing Services, $40,000 for Natural Resource Management and $126,633 for solid waste.

      The $6.7 million from general revenue includes $5.3 million for cash flows, $500,000 designated for unforeseen emergencies, $282,100 for the Enhanced-911 service and $500,000 for the fairgrounds.

      Commissioners will also be asked to designate $4 million of the revenue fund for its Courthouse remodeling project and $50,000 from the revenue fund for upgrading election equipment in accordance with the Help America Vote Act.

      The County Board’s consent agenda includes county bills and warrant payment listing, approval of a joint powers agreement for cooperative purchasing with the state, designating the fund reserves, final approval of a land exchange with Bob and Billie Falk in Hagali Township and final plat approval for Pincherry Estates in Turtle River Township.

      Also expected is the award of construction contracts for County Roads 19 and 7, with bids to be opened 10 a.m. Tuesday. The projects include grading, aggregate base, bituminous surfacing and curb and gutter on 1.4 miles of County Road 19 in Lavinia, and curb and gutter, bituminous surfacing and pavement marking of 0.84 miles of County Road 7 between U.S. Highways 2 and 71 and County Road 11.

Bemidji Pioneer at www.bemidjipioneer.com