On Monday May 31st, 2021, at approximately 2:20 P.M., St. Louis County Sheriff's Deputies received a 911 call of a water emergency on Trout Lake, within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, via cell phone. Due to poor cell phone reception, it took a period of time to ascertain from the reporting party that a 51 year old male had fallen out of a boat into the water on the North arm of the lake, and had been underwater for approximately 2-3 minutes.

On Friday May 28th, at approximately 9:14 P.M. St. Louis County Sheriff's Deputies along with Officers from the Gilbert / Biwabik Police Department, responded to a one vehicle rollover on Vermillion Trail just South of East Raymond Rd. in unorganized township 57-16 (rural Biwabik). First responders located the driver and lone male occupant unresponsive and severely injured in the upside down vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was ultimately removed from the overturned car by fire and ems personnel, and transported to a Duluth area hospital by Life Link air medical, with life threatening injuries.

Online bidding is now open for St. Louis County's second online auction of the year featuring tax forfeited properties being made available for the first time. More than 50 properties are available for bidding at publicsurplus.com through June 10, at 11 a.m.

The direct link is publicsurplus.com/sms/stlouiscoland,mn/list/current?orgid=874392

St. Louis County has expanded its online permitting options to now include septic system permits. The newly launched online septic permitting system allows contractors and homeowners to fill out the application, provide any necessary attachments and submit payment - all online. It can be accessed at stlouiscountymn.gov/septic.

The online system accelerates the process for both the applicant and county staff, resulting in permits being issued faster. For applicants, it saves them a trip to a county office or to the post office, and gives the option of paying online by credit card, debit card or e-check. Once the application is submitted online, there is less data entry needed to be done by county staff, which means application review can begin sooner.

"I'm excited to see this new online application option available," said Commissioner Keith Nelson. "We put a lot of effort into customer service, and any time we can improve efficiencies and speed up the permit process for our citizens, that's a win." 

First time applicants for any kind of online permit through the county will need to first set up an account. Anyone who has applied for a land use permit or any other service through the county's Fast Track Gov system can simply log in to their existing account. Instructions for setting up an account and filling out the application can be found at stlouiscountymn.gov/septic.

The On-Site Wastewater division of the St. Louis County Planning and Community Development Department is responsible for issuing septic permits in townships and other areas where the county is the on-site wastewater authority. In 2020, the county issued 722 new, repair, or replacement septic permits. Additionally, county staff completed 847 compliance inspections of septic systems related to point of sale, land use, and short term rentals.

All St. Louis County offices will re-open to the public on June 1. The main county buildings, including  government service centers and courthouses already are open for specific services, but beginning in June, all departments will be open to walk-in service from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Anyone coming to a St. Louis County Courthouse for court matters should be aware that these services follow a Minnesota Supreme Court order that limits some in-person services through June 13.

Face masks are not required to be worn inside county buildings, however anyone who is not yet fully vaccinated is encouraged to continue wearing a mask. Facial coverings are still required inside the county jail, in accordance with current state orders; and inside courtrooms and court offices in accordance with the current judicial order.

Even with the re-opening, county services will continue to be made available online and by phone or email. Visit stlouiscountymn.gov/covid19 for more information on visiting county buildings or how to access services remotely.