Tie vote leaves projects on hold

A tie vote by the St. Louis County Board has halted a $10 million package of projects.

The list included remodeling the Hibbing Annex; upgrading the Duluth Courthouse, the Government Services Center and the Duluth motor pool; work at Chris Jensen and Nopeming; and tearing down the old jail.

The projects were to be paid for with capital improvements bonds. But when it came to voting on a resolution to issue the bonds, the board deadlocked 3-3 and the motion failed.

Capital improvement projects have been on the board's radar for months. The final list evolved from an $8 million proposal that was up to $10.2 million earlier this month. Some of the projects and prices have changed as the core items, especially the Hibbing Annex, were debated.

For a while, it appeared the list would not even be discussed at Tuesday's meeting, as Commissioner Steve Raukar's resolution to approve terms for issuing the bonds died for lack of support.

"It's beyond me," he said, noting, "the absence of any will on the part of the board to move forward."

After discussion on two related motions, Commissioner Bill Kron supported a motion for discussion. It was to be a 15-year obligation with about $1 million in interest.

Raukar continued to cite the board's past commitments to the various projects. "I remain committed to the whole package," Raukar said. "It's going to be somebody's responsibility at some point in time to meet these needs."

Commissioner Keith Nelson lent his reluctant support to the resolution but said it will be the last time he votes for one because the level of bonded debt -- about $40 million -- is too much for St. Louis County.

Commissioner Mike Forsman pointed out that none of the projects is in the fourth district (northern St. Louis County) and the only carrot was the Hibbing Annex. He then took a tack that set up the deadlock. Forsman pointed out that most of the projects are in Commissioner Dennis Fink's district, and he would follow Fink's lead. Forsman said his vote would be determined by a commitment from Fink.

But Fink opposes the Hibbing Annex and doesn't agree with the cost for cleaning up Nopeming. He said: "The right thing here is to either eliminate the Hibbing Annex from this package or not have a bonding package at all until everyone agrees. ... In my opinion, I'm willing to sacrifice these projects at this time to have a good bonding package we can agree on."

"In my opinion everything in the bonding package is a good project," said Forsman. He said Fink didn't like the projects -- Hibbing and Nopeming -- that were outside his district.

Commissioner Joanne Fay was hoping for some state help on the projects and wanted to hold off until March or April and include the fairgrounds. Some of the projects, including the Hibbing Annex, are on the county's wish list for state bonding funds. And the state's pending takeover of the court system could help steer the county some money.

"I believe the right thing is not to vote for this bond ... ," said Fay. She predicted a petition (for a citizen vote on the bonds) would come forward if the board passed it.

With Commissioner Peg Sweeney, who supported the bond issue, absent, the motion failed with a tie. Kron, Nelson and Raukar supported it, while Fay, Fink and Forsman opposed it, effectively derailing the process for now.