Lake County Opens 45-Day Public Comment on Title III Wildfire, Emergency Funding

Lake County published a formal notice on March 5, 2026 opening a 45-day public comment period on the county’s proposed use of FY2024–2025 Title III funds under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self‑Determination Act, the notice says. The county cites Public Law 119-58 and states the Act was reauthorized in 2025 and the reauthorization extends through FY2028.

The county’s posted heading reads, "# NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS," and the notice text begins, "Notice of intended use is hereby give by Lake County to use FY2024 – 2025 Title III funds under Public Law 119-58 'Security Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act' (reauthorized in 2025) through FY2028 to:" The county text contains the spelling "Security" in the Act name and other typographical errors; the notice preserves that wording exactly.

Procedural instructions in the notice require written submissions: "The intended use of this funding is open for public comment for a period of 45 days from the publication notice and will be on the Lake County Board of Commissioners agenda approximately 2 weeks upon public comment period closeout. Comments much be submitted in writing and received at the Commissioner’s Office, 616 Third Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616 or the Emergency Management Office, 601 Third Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616." For information the notice lists Warren LaPlante, Emergency Management Director, at 218-510-0624 and warren.laplante@co.lake.mn.us, and Matt Huddleston, Lake County Administrator, at 218-834-8320 and matthew.huddleston@co.lake.mn.us.

The excerpted county notice supplied for this report stops after the word "to:" and does not include the detailed list of proposed uses or dollar amounts for the FY2024–2025 Title III allocation. The headline for this item indicates that wildfire preparedness and emergency services are among proposed uses, but the notice text excerpt provided here does not show a full breakdown or an explicit line-item list for those categories.

The notice makes clear the county will place the intended-use item on the Lake County Board of Commissioners agenda about two weeks after the 45-day comment window closes; the notice does not provide an exact Board meeting date or an explicit calendar end date for the comment period. Commenters therefore should submit written materials to the Commissioner’s Office, 616 Third Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616, or the Emergency Management Office, 601 Third Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616, or contact Warren LaPlante at 218-510-0624 or Matt Huddleston at 218-834-8320 for clarification on submission deadlines, the full list of proposed uses, and the Board agenda date. The county’s public notice cites the federal authority as Public Law 119-58 and notes the reauthorization is in effect through FY2028.