Well over half of all Minnesota counties already have a Wheelage Tax; Fillmore County does not. Highway Engineer Ron Gregg provided information about this possible source of road and bridge funding at the July 11 county board meeting. Commissioner Duane Bakke was absent.
During the last legislative session the possible amount for a Wheelage Tax was raised from $10 to $20 per vehicle. In order for the county to impose the tax this year, a resolution will need to be approved before the August 1 deadline. Motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and motorized foot scooters are exempt. Money raised from the tax must be used for highway purposes.
Gregg said the tax was discussed at Highway committee. Commissioner Marc Prestby noted there has not been a recommendation from the committee. The committee will meet again before the July 25 board meeting when a resolution may be considered.
Chairman Randy Dahl suggested the cost of the tax for someone like him with a number of vehicles will be less than the repair of a vehicle caused by hitting a pothole, which may cost significantly more.
Prestby explained why he was against the tax. In raising more money locally we are lessening the responsibility of the state to fund transportation. Dahl responded that approving the tax will show our willingness to step up and do it. But, he agreed the money should preferably be raised by the state, through a gas tax.
Commissioner Mitch Lentz insisted we have a lot of roads that need maintenance. Dahl said Fillmore County doesn’t levy for actual road construction, but suggested we may have to go that way eventually.
Prestby argued that the Local Option Sales Tax that the county imposes raises money from tourists and not just residents. Lentz maintained the state, just like with a state veterans home, wants local money to pay for things. Lentz continued, the Wheelage Tax is an option to take care of roads and bridges that we can’t get people we elect (legislators) to do for us.
Gregg believes it could be looked at as a “user tax.” Lentz said he would like to know what the money from a Wheelage Tax would be used for. At $20 per vehicle it was estimated the county would raise about $460,000 per year. Prestby said he didn’t want to know what it would be used for because knowing would make it political.
Gregg maintained that preservation of existing roads is huge. We need to preserve what we have. This money could be a funding mechanism to preserve recently paved roadways. He insisted he is always looking for ways to stretch our dollars.
Commissioners expect to get feedback from the public on this issue. It will be on the next Highway committee agenda and the next county board agenda.
During “Citizens Input,” Bonita Underbakke of Holt Township expressed her support for a Wheelage Tax. She sees it as a way to save money. It will save money over the long run due to road preservation and save money for repair and maintenance of vehicles damaged on bad roads. She insisted she would rather pay $20 now rather than much more in the future.
Other business in brief
• Final payments to Griffin Construction for two bridges and grading work on CSAH 1 was approved.
Two bids had been submitted for a bridge replacement project on County Road 109 in Beaver Township. Gregg recommended the lower bid from M & K Construction, Inc., Walnut Grove, in the amount of $237,861. The M & K bid was approved.
Approval was given to advertise for Phase 3 reconstruction of CSAH 1, starting from Spring Valley city limits to last year’s construction area. The road will be closed (traffic detoured), local traffic only. Work is expected to be completed enough to allow the road to be reopened for the winter in late November.
• County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman formally welcomed the new Social Services Manager Kevin Olson. Vickerman praised Olson who started on July 5 for stepping up and taking charge.
A Purchase of Services Agreement with Olmsted County to participate in the Crest Initiative for specialized management through the “Whatever It Takes” grant was approved. This is a two-year agreement with Olmsted County acting as the fiscal agent. The Minnesota Department of Human Services grant was reawarded to Olmsted and participating counties in the amount of $340,809 for July 2017 through June 30, 2018 and $200,000 for July 1, 2018 through June 14, 2019.
• Michelle Olson from Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted (DFO) Community Services presented a resolution proclaiming July 16-22, 2017, as “Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week.” She recognized Fillmore County staff and thanked them for the work that they do. “Community correction professionals are a true force for positive change in their communities.” The resolution was approved.
• The second reading updates to the General Provisions policy and the Employment policy were approved. Human Services officer Kristina Kohn said after reviewing the Employment of Relatives policy, no changes are recommended.
A Memorandum of Understanding with Law Enforcement Labor Services was approved. It had been adopted and approved by the union and is in effect until the end of 2017.
• The full board interviewed two candidates for Solid Waste Administrator; Nick Meldahl and Andrew Hatzenbihler.
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