At the September 11 county board meeting, an updated road agreement was approved after a long discussion regarding the number of loads of industrial sand that can be hauled out of the Rein Sandpit per day, Section 35, Holt Township.
Larry Thompson, president of Highland Sand, has requested approval of a new route. The final destination is Prairie du Chien, Wis., where the sand will be loaded on railroad cars.
Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins said the proposed agreement is an update from a previous road agreement. Trucks leave the sandpit property traveling southwest on CR 10 to CR 23, south on CR 23 to CSAH 12, traveling west on CSAH 12 to CSAH 21, and then south on CSAH 21 to Canton, and finally east and south on Highway 52 across the state line. Unloaded trucks will use the same route on the way back to the sandpit.
A letter from Kristine Hall was sent to County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman and distributed to the commissioners opposing the new haul route. She sited economic, safety, and a possible precedent being set for a haul route through this area as reasons to oppose the proposed haul route. Bakke explained people with concerns could have testified during a public hearing at the December 7 Planning Commission meeting. No public testimony was allowed this day.
Commissioner Marc Prestby related that he thought after a meeting in January that there was a compromise limiting the number of loads per day to 75. Thompson said to make it financially feasible they need to stockpile material to load a train to capacity in two days (capacity of 10,000 tons). He maintained less than 100 loads per day will diminish the ability to have an adequate stockpile. He admitted initially, until the pit is more opened up, they won’t be able produce this number of loads per day.
Commissioner Duane Bakke figured 90 loads per day for five days would allow them to stockpile 10,000 tons in a week. He said nothing prevents them from hauling some on Saturdays if need be.
Commissioner Randy Dahl asked if county roads were up to the standards set for state roads? County Engineer Ron Gregg said they are now building roads for 10 ton per axle. Bakke said state roads do not have spring load restrictions. Gregg admitted the width of county roads is a bit different than state standards. Thompson said they would run all year except during the period when road restrictions are imposed.
Bakke explained the updated road agreement is not a reopening of the conditional use permit. It provides for a change in the haul routes. The original agreement allowed 120 loads, but that number has never been met. Bakke noted that a westbound route toward Mankato has been abandoned (not feasible) and an east bound route, CR 10 to Highway 43, has been suspended.
A motion to approve a change in the agreement from a limit of 120 loads per day to 90 loads per day was approved.
A road impact fee for wear and tear on county roads is charged by the county (26 cents per ton) and paid quarterly. This fee will be looked at every two years and adjusted as necessary. The fee was 22 cents per ton in the original agreement.
Any change of the route required, due to an emergency, will be discussed between Gregg and Thompson and brought to the county board for its consideration. Bakke noted that there will not be a temporary alternate route when improvements eventually will need to be made to CR 23.
The updated road impact agreement was approved with discussed changes.
2019 Budget and Levy
Vickerman distributed the budget numbers as of this day, which showed a levy increase of 7.84%. Dahl asked if half of the veterans home donation could be taken out of reserves. If half of the $350,000 donation was taken out of reserves it would bring the levy increase down to an increase of 6.17%. Prestby favored taking all of the donation out of reserves which would bring the levy increase down to 4.5%.
Vickerman pointed out that the preliminary levy will need to be set at the next meeting. She asked the commissioners to give her a goal. There seemed to be agreement to take the Veterans Home donation entirely out of reserves. Goals ran from an increase of 3% to 4.5%. Vickerman said she will work toward bringing back a budget with a levy increase of 3-4%.
Other business in brief
• Three cities (Rushford, Chatfield, and Spring Valley) have passed resolutions supporting an increase in library funding from the county to 40% by fiscal year 2024. Currently, the cities fund 70%, the county 30%. The cities argue that usage/circulation is 60% from the cities and 40% from county/rural residents.
Vickerman explained the county currently supports the libraries with $228,309 for a year. If the increase proposed by the cities was made by the county, it would be paying $405,059 in 2024. The county has offered a three year agreement with SELCO where the county would increase its payment for the libraries by $5,500 in each of three years. She commented that librarians are passionate about what they do. We follow the state statute for the regional library system.
Bakke insisted we do above what we are required to do by state statute. Dahl added Winona and Houston Counties provide about half of the per capita rate that Fillmore County provides. It was noted that if there is no agreement this year, the payment amount stays at the 2018 level.
• There was a request by Daniel Hoag to purchase forfeiture property back prior to the auction to be held this day. The county board did approve two buy back requests earlier, before the properties were published for sale. A minimum price has been set on the property which is in Harmony Township. Vickerman explained there has been interest in the property after the public advertisement. Prestby said if it does not sell at the minimum price or above at the auction this day, it will still be available at the minimum price.
Owners of forfeited property have been notified numerous times over the last few years. Vickerman suggested that in the future a date be set in the resolution after which no further repurchase requests can come before the board. The board having reviewed the letter requesting the buy back, disapproved the written request.
• Four bids were submitted to replace a bridge on CSAH 1 south of Ostrander. The low bid from Structural Specialties in the amount of $483,554 was approved.
• An access permit was granted for Merlin and Karen Ricklefs, Section 25, Carrolton Township. The new access will provide a better sight distance. A stipulation was added that the current access be removed.
An access permit for David and Tammy Schoppers, Section 28, Carimona Township was approved for a new field drive. They are splitting off the homestead parcel and need a field access.
An access permit for Fred and Linda O’Connor, Section 28, Carimona Township was approved to expand an existing field drive to accommodate larger machinery.
An access permit for K5 Properties, Matt Kolling, Section 28, city of Spring Valley was approved for access to a mini-storage site.
• The lowest of three bids from Torgerson-Ostby Floor coverings in the amount of $5,760.50 was approved to replace carpet in the Public Health remodeled area, in part using WIC grant dollars. Seventy percent of the cost will be covered with WIC funding.
• Three bids were submitted to rent the county farm (45.79 tillable acres). The high bid of $256 per acre was submitted by Dean Brink. Approval was given to enter into a lease agreement with Brink.
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