After the February 11 County Board meeting, employees were recognized for their years of service. Each year employees receive a certificate for serving the county for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, or more years of service.
This year one employee was recognized for 45 years of service. Deborah Jeffers, county attorney’s office, was originally hired in 1975. Julianne Loven, nursing service, was recognized for her 25 years of service. Twelve people were recognized for 20 years of service, two for 15 years of service, and five for five years of service.
The “Safety Award” recipient this year was Jessica Erickson, director of nursing.
County Administrator Bobbie Vickerman thanked all employees on “behalf of the commissioners and myself.” “We do appreciate the work you employees do.”
Other business in brief
•Kristina Kohn, human resources, brought forward several staffing changes. The hire of Stephanie Miner as a replacement full-time jailer was approved effective no later than February 28 as requested by the sheriff. Two intermittent jailers, Karly Flood and Sarah Peck, were hired effective February 26 as requested by the sheriff. Two intermittent deputies, Samuel Judd and Jonah Staffan, were hired as requested by the sheriff.
The hire of Christy Smith as a replacement accounting technician in the auditor/treasurer office was approved as requested by the auditor/treasurer, effective no later than March 2.
A request for retirement from Rebecca Burland, social worker, was approved with thanks for her 21 years of service, effective July 31.
•Anne Koliha and Laura Christensen, SWCD, requested and received approval to close out two Natural Resources Block Grants: the 2018 Wetland Conservation Act grant in the amount of $8,778 and the 2019 Local Water Management grant in the amount of $14,278. All funds have been expended from both grants.
•Terry Schultz, facilities maintenance, recommended using one vendor, Cintas, for countywide first aid kits. Approval was given for six additional kits to be purchased at a cost of about $1,600. He explained that Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) has recommended that no medications be included in the kits.
•Four hauler licenses were approved for 2020. Drew Hatzenbihler, Sanitation, explained all the required paperwork has not been submitted at this time by the other haulers. Commissioner Duane Bakke asked how many haulers are bringing in both recyclables and trash. Only Advanced Disposal is coming in regularly with trash. Several are coming in with recyclables at no cost. Bakke questioned whether the tipping fee increase from $80 to $100 per ton has contributed to the number of haulers taking trash elsewhere. Hatzenbihler said the increase isn’t in place yet and suggested that the fines that were being imposed for cardboard are causing haulers to take trash somewhere else. There is a five-year contract with Winneshiek County. In that contract we have agreed to pay any new fees/fines.
•Jessica Erickson, Public Health, asked for and received approval of the Customer Email/Testing Informed Consent Policy. The policy includes a consent form to give permission for Fillmore County Public Health staff to communicate with a customer by email or text message. The form details risks associated with these forms of communication.
Erickson discussed Healthy Kids Minnesota, which is a program to screen three to five-year-old children via a urine sample for metals and other pollutants. The intent is to recruit 50 to 60 kids to participate in the screening process. The program is paid for by the state.
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