The Cook County News-Herald is reporting that
“The Board of Commissioners resolved to extend the effective duration of the land use permits issued to properties within the Ham Lake fire area from the existing one-year timeframe to a three-year period.”
They make it sound like the permits still had to be applied for within 180 days of the date the structure was destroyed, but I think it is a very good thing to extend those building permits.
I’m sure it was a horrible experience for people to go through, having their cabins destroyed, so I like that the county passed this effort to give a slight break to some people still trying to rebuild. I heard that some of the cabins were not able to be insured at a value high enough to allow a full rebuild. We ended up being able to help a few people with their new structures. It feels good to help people enjoy their cabin again, their lake again, and to start really getting past the destruction of the Ham Lake fire.