At the Fillmore County Board’s November 24 meeting, Commissioner Duane Bakke reported that the COVID cases in Fillmore County have more than doubled in the last couple of weeks. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery admitted there have been COVID cases among the staff or staff that has had contact with COVID positive individuals, requiring some staff members to quarantine. She said she supported department heads who are having their people work at home during this period of peak numbers. However, some work can not be done at home.
After considerable discussion, the board voted to approve closing the doors to walk-in public beginning Monday, November 30. Chairman Marc Prestby voted against the motion. Access to all departments and services will be available by appointment. Hours of operation will be the same as normal.
Phone numbers to contact departments/offices will be posted on the courthouse doors, Facebook, and the county’s website. Commissioner Larry Hindt said the number of cases doubling in this short of time is a concern. Working through appointment only will make it easier to do COVID contact tracing.
Houston, Dodge, and Winona Counties are open by appointment only. Some counties have never completely opened up since the beginning of the pandemic. Statewide there will be no new jury trials until at least February 1.
Public input
Two comments were made through commissioners on the option to appoint the auditor/treasurer, which the county board is considering. Commissioner Randy Dahl reported that Bonita Underbakke expressed her support of an appointed position due to the complexity of the job. Commissioner Mitch Lentz said he had received a phone call from Tom Kaase who questioned whether appointing the position was the right thing to do. He wanted commissioners to remember and be aware of the vote when this option was on the ballot a few years ago. The voters at that time voted to keep the auditor/treasurer an elected position.
COVID-19 CARES dollars
Hillery reported that next Tuesday, December 1, is the deadline for CARES purchases by the county. She expects the county will not be returning any of the CARES funds to the state. The county’s distribution was over $2.5 million. There are more expenses that can be applied for. Some funds have been returned to the county from Rushford Village (over $53,151) and Harmony (over $1,000).
Jessica Erickson, director of nursing, had suggested that CARES funds could purchase office chairs to replace those that are now over 20 years old. She questioned whether the old chairs could go to employees who are working from home due to COVID. Hillery said they also have old monitors that they will have to dispose of. Commissioners had some questions concerning the legality, if employees were allowed to salvage chairs or monitors for a home office. Both Bakke and Prestby expressed their concerns about dispersing public property. Hillery suggested they have a sale as they have a lot of file cabinets that are no longer being utilized. She said she can check into the legalities.
Ron Gregg requested a technology upgrade to conference rooms to allow for virtual meetings. Bakke described the recent difficulties with technology during a SWCD meeting. Hillery said she is working on prices and plans to have everything ready to consider at the December 1 meeting. She admitted there is still a lot of work to be done before then.
Other business in brief
•Sheriff John DeGeorge asked the board to rescind the approval to purchase a 2021 Charger squad car. Instead the Sheriff asked that they approve the purchase of a 2021 Ram 1500 Crew Cab squad car. The Ram pickup is their preferred vehicle, but the department had settled on the Charger because of the availability of the vehicle. DeGeorge said the cost of ownership of the Ram pickup after four years is less due to its retained value over that time period. The board voted to rescind the Dodge Charger purchase.
A motion to enter into a lease of the pickup at a cost of $28,407.60 through the lease program was approved. The actual cost of the vehicle with equipment and lettering is $38,813.56. A motion was approved to purchase the equipment ($8,470.96) and the lettering ($485.00). This vehicle will be used in Harmony, but the county will own the vehicle. Squad equipment that will be reused from Harmony will cost the county a total of $1,450.
•County Engineer Ron Gregg asked for and received approval to make final payments to Rochester Sand and Gravel for two projects; CSAH 44 to the Iowa border and the parking lot behind the county office building.
Two bridge contracts were awarded. Five bidders bid on each project. The low bid was approved for the replacement of a bridge on CSAH 23, Amherst Township. It was submitted by Minnowa Construction in the amount of $231,954.10. The engineer’s estimate for the project was $296,405. The low bid was approved for a culvert replacement east of Highway 52 in Chatfield Township. It was submitted by Minnowa Construction in the amount of $91,497.30. The engineer’s estimate was $114,796.
The board approved the advertisement of two projects, a bridge in Sumner Township and a bridge in Carimona Township.
A resolution was approved identifying the current bridge priority replacement list for Fillmore County. Bridges appearing on this list makes them eligible for funding. Gregg explained the “local planning index” has to be below 60 to make them eligible for funding. The formula is based on the components of the bridge.
The Forestville bridge on CR 118 has been closed since 2009 and it has a local planning index of 30. There was a long discussion about the bridge which is considered a historical structure. Because the bridge is closed there is a dead end on CR 118 from both directions. Commissioner Randy Dahl said he would like to see what it would cost to restore the bridge to a nine ton bridge so cars and a fire truck could use it. Lentz asked that something actually be done about the bridge; not just to talk about it once again. He suggested they turn that part of CR 18 over to the park and build a new bridge to the south of that structure. Gregg said the biggest stumbling block is the Historical Society which doesn’t want traffic by the historical site in the park.
Bakke reported that all 2020 projects have been completed and that the land bridge on CR 5 is open.
•The Delegation Agreement between the Fillmore-Houston Community Health Board and Fillmore County was approved. A Joint Board of Health between the two counties was to be held later this day.
Jessica Erickson reported Minnesota Department of Health grant funds will be used to reimburse costs for COVID contact tracing; $27,769 for Fillmore County and $14,411 for Houston County. Erickson reported that an Influenza Vaccine Program Grant had been received in the amount of $56,739. The extra revenue is to prepare for COVID vaccinations.
•A request to hire Dakota Johnson as a replacement Public Health Nurse starting no later than December 15 was approved.
A request to hire Ashley Simonson as an RN effective no later than December 9 was approved.
The board approved the ability to make lateral transfers of employees among departments. These lateral transfers will only be made with no change in wage and for those with a similar title or job description.
•An access permit was approved for Fred and Darlene Schmidt to property located in section 18 Jordan Township. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained the parcel had been split, creating a new parcel.
•The December 1 county board meeting will start at 3 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. the Truth in Taxation hearing will be held. There will be call-in or Webex options for those who don’t want to appear in person.
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