At the May 12 meeting of the County Board held via WebEx, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery reviewed reopening plans to keep staff and the public safe during this time of uncertainty.
The board unanimously supported sending a letter, which will be signed by chairman Marc Prestby, to area legislators Rep. Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller. The letter asks legislators to consider extending waivers and modifications issued by the Department of Human Services (DHS) until there is a vaccine or an effective treatment for COVID-19. The waivers and modifications have been important to counties in their efforts to serve residents. County staff is using telehealth and other ways to keep children safe, provide access to medical assistance and to ensure mental health treatment is available.
Kevin Olson, Social Services, said it was hard to address mental health issues and also meet social distancing guidelines. The waivers and modifications allow us to maintain health, food and cash benefits without meeting face to face.
Hillery summarized detailed plans the staff has been working on to continue to do business once they reopen services to the public. Some counties are requiring wellness checks. Hygiene emphasis will include hand washing and sanitizer and the regular sanitation of surfaces and equipment. Employees are urged to stay at home when ill. If an employee gets sick, the department head should notify Human Resources.
The board approved the purchase of sneeze/spit guards, which will be movable, at a cost not to exceed $1,500 and glass protectors, which will be permanent, at a cost not to exceed $4,820. These guards are to protect staff and the public. These expenditures will be reimbursable by FEMA. Hillery noted they are also considering tape marks on the floor, limiting use of equipment, and providing physical separation as much as possible.
Commissioner Duane Bakke noted that the changes we have made, like working remotely, have been made through board resolution. The governor has not said much about the operation of local governments. We will make the decisions moving forward; Prestby agreed.
Other business in brief
• Drew Hatzenbihler, Solid Waste, offered several options to consider to satisfy the request by Harter’s Quick Clean-Up for a one time increase in hauling fees for trash and recycling. They had asked for a one time 8% increase. Hatzenbihler explained the reasons for the increase request are that the current contract is no longer profitable for Harter’s due to the collapse of the recycling market and the limited tonnage of each load; they had expected to haul 20 ton but only can haul about 18 ton due to gross weight limitations of 80,000 pounds.
Gary Harter said they had made the assumption that they could pack 20 ton on the trucks, but the trucks themselves are too heavy. The board approved what they believed to be the least cost option for the county over the next five or six years and also the option recommended by the Solid Waste Committee; there will be a 4% increase this year and a 2% increase each of the next two years, plus annual 4%/CPI increase, whichever is less. The 4% increase will be effective June 1.
• The board unanimously approved an agreement to transfer (loan) $75,000 of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 2020 entitlement funds to the city of Blue Earth for the Blue Earth Municipal Airport. An agreement for the repayment plan from Blue Earth to Fillmore County in 2021 was also approved.
• A resolution was approved renewing Snowmobile Club sponsorships for 2020-2021 for Tri-County Trailblazers, Mabel-Canton Trail Busters, Hiawatha I & II and Bluff Valley Riders.
• The Northern Natural Gas Tax Refund agreement was approved. Auditor/Treasurer Heidi Jones explained the settlement amount of $141,306 is the total for all taxing districts. The settlement is the result of the 2015-2016 tax year litigation. The agreement allows for the refund to be put toward 2020 taxes, rather than the county having to cut a check for the reimbursement amount.
• A resolution was adopted establishing an Absentee Ballot Board for the August primary and November general elections. Jones reported that the actual expenses for the Presidential primary election held in March were $49,623.87. This amount has been submitted for reimbursement from the state.
• The board approved an access agreement for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to investigate the Preston Oil Products Company (POP) site which is a forfeited property. County Attorney Brett Corson noted Preston signed an agreement last year with us to see if the underground tanks have leaked, which they have. The MPCA will mitigate and cleanup the property to make it saleable. The MPCA will pay all costs; the county will have no responsibility. The board also approved an agreement for temporary access to Fillmore County right of way adjacent to the property.
• The hire of Donald Hanson as a replacement custodian, effective May 29, was approved.
• A letter of thanks will be sent to Winona County for the temporary shared assessor, Stephen Hacken, and the help provided to Fillmore County to find its own assessor, Jason McCaslin.
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