Koochiching County commissioners Tuesday accepted a recommendation to provide a permit for blasting and crushing rock at a foreign trade zone east of International Falls.

The action is intended to make a portion of the FTZ ready for development. The FTZ is jointly owned by International Falls and Koochiching County.

The board approved a conditional use permit sought by the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, which manages the FTZ, and the county Highway Department, which will oversee the blasting and crushing by private contractors.

Chairman Wade Pavleck was absent from the meeting, as he was on county business attending a National Association of Counties meeting. As a result, Vice Chairman Brian McBride guided the meeting.

Material from the blasting and crushing will be stored at the site and used as needed. The permit sets hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and establishes a pre-blast survey of structures and wells and notification of blasting within one-quarter mile of the area.

The proposal calls for 70,000 to 80,000 cubic yards of material to be crushed in a three month period.

In related business, the Highway Department will seek bids to blast and crush at the FTZ site, with the contract expected to be awarded by the county board Aug. 30.

In other business Tuesday, the board increased the salaries of the county attorney, sheriff, auditor-treasurer and recorder, effective July 1, by 1 percent in a cost of living adjustment.

In addition, the board increased the salaries by 1 percent and approved a benefit settlement for 2011 and 2012 for non-union hourly employees and non-union salaried employees. The 1-percent wage settlement is the same level of increase approved earlier for other groups working for the county.

The board also increased the mileage rate for county employees to the Internal Revenue Service standard of 55 cents per mile.

The board approved the hiring of Mark Pelowski as a full-time dispatcher for the Sheriff’s Office. Pelowski replaces Gary Loop, who recently resigned from the position.

In another employee action, the board deferred grievances from two unions to the Personnel Committee. The Law Enforcement Labor Services union is grieving the county’s adjustment of bonus vacation balance for two employees. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, courthouse chapter, is grieving the decision of the auditor in hiring a tax coordinator from the union job posting based on seniority.

Also on Tuesday, the board acknowledged a $1,000 donation from the Trails End Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. County Land Commissioner Dennis Hummitzsch said the money will be used to purchase a brush mower, which will be used to keep trails and wildlife openings clear of larger vegetation.