Senator Jeremy Miller and Representative Greg Davids attended the December 19 board meeting to hear priorities detailed by each department head.
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery thanked legislators for the 2024 increase in County Program Aid in the amount of $257,257 and County Engineer Ron Gregg thanked legislators for supporting state bridge bonding funds. The county wants the state to provide transportation revenue through general and trunk highway bonding programs for local bridges, local road improvement, and safe routes to school.
Hillery asked that recent THC legislation be revisited so that there is a proper enforcement agency to monitor and ensure legal sales to protect health and safety of residents.
Commissioner Duane Bakke suggested bonding dollars will be requested for the restoration of the existing Forestville Bridge which has been moved off abutments to the side of the river. The restoration of the historic bridge is estimated to cost $1.7 million. The DNR and Historical Society are cooperating with the county on this effort.
Wanda Berg, social and human services, requested a modernization of human services computer programs. Funding for Minnesota Eligibility Technology System (METS) development has been decreasing but needs to increase to achieve operational efficiency. Stable and adequate funding is needed for child safety to prevent child abuse and neglect and to allow for manageable caseloads.
Jessica Erickson, public health, thanked legislators for the increased investment in local public health. The county supports initiatives that will permit two-year RNs to fill Home and Community Based Services. This could help with workforce shortages. The county supports funding that could be used to educate and reach out to residents regarding private well water testing and supports a mitigation plan for nitrate treatment and/or possible cost share for well replacement.
Assessor Jason McCaslin supports a simplification of the Property Tax System.
Heather Broadwater, auditor/treasurer, supports a requirement that all current taxes be paid in full before recording documents that convey legal ownership for whole parcels.
Sheriff John DeGeorge requested funding to help with maintenance and updating costs of ARMER system. He noted there are staffing challenges and asked legislators to consider providing tuition assistance to high school graduates who are accepted into a two-year law enforcement program, which is the minimum education required to be eligible for employment as a peace officer. He requested funding to secure placement facilities for juveniles and mentally ill arrestees. There are no facilities for juvenile detention in our area, nor a sufficient secure mental health facility in the area.
Attorney Brett Corson had requested increased/equal funding for county attorney offices due to significant funding increases for public defense and the courts.
Joel Kroening, solid waste, said the county supports improvements to maximize management of e-waste, including promotion of repair or reuse.
Land Use Director Blake Lea noted the need to address solar panel end of life handling to ensure the financial burden does not fall onto local government.
Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Jason Marquardt asked legislators to make it a violation of the consumer fraud act for persons to receive compensation for assisting any individual with any veteran’s benefits matter. The VSO provides this service to veterans for free and will work to provide the best benefit an individual veteran deserves.
Matt Hilgart, policy analyst for the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), highlighted the need for funding to replace functionally obsolete technology infrastructure for human services which is inefficient and burdensome for county staff. AMC supports state statute reforms to address the impact of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled Minnesota’s tax forfeiture system was unconstitutional. In some cases, local governments were keeping revenue from a sale that was in excess of the total tax debt owed. This has the potential to create new costs for counties and possible financial liability on what happens to past excess takings on sales of tax forfeiture properties.
Other Business in Brief
•A resolution was adopted approving the final 2024 budget. A resolution was adopted approving the final levy in the amount of $13,142,013.00 payable in 2024.
•Erik Sievers, executive director Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center, noted they serve five counties in the area and have served Fillmore County since 2014. This is a non-profit organization and a community leader that delivers responsive and consumer focused behavioral health services.
HVMHC is a certified behavioral health clinic. Sievers said most of what we do is in schools, homes, and locations out in the community. About 75% of the people served are on Medical Assistance. Up to 300 Fillmore County clients have been served on average per year. The aim is to provide all people in need; HVMHC is a resource for people whether they do or don’t have insurance.
According to Minnesota Department of Health data, the suicide rate has steadily increased since 2001. Sievers suggested there still is a lot of stigma in rural areas causing people to resist asking for help.
•Sheriff DeGeorge explained the hourly based contract billing plan in the city law enforcement service contracts with the county. Spring Valley, Mabel and Harmony, Wykoff, Ostrander, and Canton contract with the county for law enforcement services. The billing rate is $61 per hour to keep one deputy on the street. There will be an automatic 3% increase each year. All of the cities have agreed to the structure and cost of the contracts. The contracts were approved as presented.
Spring Valley has had its own squad cars in the past. Approval was granted to purchase Spring Valley’s three squad cars and equipment for $78,000, which will be deducted from the 2024 contract cost for Spring Valley.
DeGeorge reviewed his department’s accomplishments during 2023 and goals for 2024. He made salary requests for 2024 for his chief deputy ($110,942, or a 6% increase) and for himself ($127,920, or a 4% increase).
•An update to definitions in the Abatement Policy was approved as presented by Assessor McCaslin.
•The Southeast Minnesota MN-Responds Medical Reserve Corps Administration Memorandum of Agreement was approved. The renewal of the agreement runs through December 2029 and is between 11 southeast Minnesota counties so they can use each of the others as a resource in the event of a disaster.
•Approval was granted for Board Ratification PH-DOC 2024 contract which will run through December 2028. The user group MnCCC software is used by public health; the cost share for Fillmore County is about $28,000.
•The purchase of three Opioid goggles for use in schools and county programs was approved. The total cost for the goggles, shipping and training is about $13,380 and will be paid out of Opioid Settlement funds.
•The low quote for a radiant heater unit for the Canton Shop at a cost of $4,995.31 was approved.
The purchase of a 2023 F150 4×4 super cab pickup at a cost of $42,351.28 was approved using 2023 dollars. The truck was ordered in 2022. A purchase of a second pickup at the same price was approved using 2024 dollars.
•Fuel system upgrade (EMV compliant Fuel Master Head) for the airport was approved at a cost of $14,011.15, which includes installation. A state grant will be applied for which may pay 70% of the cost.
•Approval was granted to purchase a conference table at a cost of $2,267 for the pilot’s lounge/conference room in the new airport terminal.
•The second reading of the Paid Time Off policy with draft changes was approved.
•Phone stipends were approved for 2024 at a total cost of $10,620.
•The resignation of Trevor Hershberger, part-time jailer, was approved after eight months of service.
•Approval was granted for the 2024 non-union pay plan with a 3.5% cost of living increase.
•The county board will meet next on January 2.
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