Anoka County board approves highway grant, road contract and authorizes deer‑management permits

The Anoka County Board of Commissioners on June 9 approved consent items that included a MET Council subrecipient grant for congestion mitigation and air‑quality funds, a county contract for roadwork with a private contractor, and a parks resolution authorizing deer‑management permits in multiple regional parks.

Commissioner Heinrich reported two highway consent items: a subrecipient grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council for $262,500 to support the county’s transportation management organization, and a contract award to Northpine Aggregate for a project involving intersection improvements in Blaine. The contract amount appears in the transcript as "$3,878,35561" (the figure in the record is garbled); the board approved the consent agenda and the listed contract as presented.

Commissioner Reiner asked the board to approve Resolution 2026 TR10 to permit deer management in designated areas of Bunker Hills Regional Park, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, Rum River Central Regional Park, Lake George Regional Park and Rapids Dam Regional Park. Reiner cited park deer density estimates presented in the parks report (Bunker Hills: 31 deer per square mile; Rice Creek: 19; Rum River: 32; Lake George: 38; Rapids Dam: 48) and framed the action as an annual population‑management and public‑safety measure.

The board moved to approve consent items one through three, which included the two highway items and the parks resolution. The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Informational items reported included a solicitation for donations for the Medlink volunteer driver recognition luncheon, advertising for pavement‑preservation bids on Hodson Road and Railic Lane in Lino Lakes, and negotiations for a joint powers agreement with the city of Rapids to improve a pedestrian crossing on Crooked Lake Boulevard.