The first orders of business at the county board’s January 3 meeting were the election of officers and the oath of office for commissioners elected last November.
County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman called the meeting to order. Randy Dahl was elected chairman and Mitch Lentz was elected vice-chairman.
Newly elected Gary Peterson (third district) and reelected Mitch Lentz (first district) and Marc Prestby (fifth district) were administered the oath of office by District Judge Matt Opat. County Assessor Cindy Blagsvedt recited the oath for her office.
Chairman Dahl said we all take the oath very seriously. In his opening statement he thanked people that serve on committees.
2017 Construction projects
County Engineer Ron Gregg detailed planned projects for the coming construction season. The major project will be the continuation of the reconstruction of CSAH 1, which is one of the heaviest traveled roads in the county. This year work will be done north of CSAH 4 to the county line. The county will work with Olmsted County to continue the improvement north to Trunk Highway 30. Work on CSAH 1 north of Spring Valley to the newly reconstructed portion will also take place in 2017. Ostrander will replace municipal utilities beneath CSAH 1 and CSAH 3 within the corporate city limits during the reconstruction of these streets.
The Old Barn Bridge on Heron Rd. will be replaced and pavement will be improved on Grosbeak Rd. to the Lanesboro Fish Hatchery.
The Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) will allow some bridges to be replaced and several miles of road preservation projects (chipsealing) to be completed. Three bridges on county road 117 (east of Wykoff) will be replaced, two of them using salvaged pipe from a state project. Another bridge on county road 109 in Beaver Township is scheduled to be replaced. Gregg noted that LOST funding allows for preservation of existing pavement, making it last longer.
Lentz asked about closed roads in the county due to a bridge being closed, adding he didn’t like dead end roads. Gregg explained that the bridge which has been closed on county road 124 (Lost Loop Rd.), which has very low traffic numbers, will likely be removed from the system. Residents will have to detour a mile or so.
The Forestville bridge on County Road 118 has been closed for several years but is still on the priority list, so it is still eligible for funding. But, there is resistance for historical reasons to replace the bridge. Gregg said the cost of rehabbing the bridge, replacing abutments, would be enormous.
Gregg maintained that they are constantly looking at which roads can be fixed with the funds available. Several factors are considered when deciding which roads to improve; including traffic use, the pavement condition rating, funding eligibility, concrete versus bituminous, and safety issues.
Other business in brief
• Commissioner Duane Bakke reported that he has been approached by a few people that wanted to hunt on county farm land. Because of the special deer hunt to end on January 15, he suggested they discuss it this day. The agenda was amended. The Southeastern Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery is bordered by county farm land. The board voted unanimously to ban all hunting on county farm property because of its close proximity to the Veterans Cemetery.
• Elected official salaries for 2017 were set. Commissioners will received the same 2.5% increase as county employees, setting their salary at $22,109.
• The county attorney salary was set at $104,000. The county recorder salary was set at $65,205. The county sheriff salary was set at $88,686.
• Farm Winery and Agricultural Tourism Business conditional use permits for Dean and Lisa Erickson, Preston Township, were approved as recommended by the Planning Commission. No objections were raised at a public hearing for either permit. Two conditions were put on the Ag Tourism Business permit: no on road parking and music/entertainment must end by midnight. The couple has plans to build a wine tasting and production facility. They intend to host weddings and receptions in 2017 using a tent. Their long range plans include the construction of a permanent venue building for events.
A field access permit for Jerry Terbeest, County Road 5, York Township, was approved. A new access permit to land and woods for Sally Smith and Heather Nierman for an access to county road 104, Pilot Mound Township, was approved.
• The sliding-fee schedule for homecare was increased by $10 as requested by Jessica Erickson, director of nursing. It has not been updated since 2012 or before.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Fillmore, Houston, and Wabasha Counties was approved for person-centered education for MnChoices. The counties will share in the cost. The expected cost per person is $85.
• Bluff Country Reader offered the low bid and was approved to be the Official Newspaper. The Fillmore County Journal offered the low bids for the other printings. Approval was given for the Journal to do the first printing of the financial statement, the second printing of the financial statement, and the printing of the delinquent tax list.
• Vickerman said the county is required to provide public documents when requested. Retention schedule guidelines of the Minnesota Historical Society were approved. They detail how long to keep documents and steps to remove them when they no longer are needed. A data practices guideline policy was approved. A data practices guideline manual was approved.
• Approval was given to continue to pay for flu shots for county employees.
• Approval was given to use the county’s website as an alternative method to disseminate bids.
• Justin Redalen was appointed to the Extension Committee representing District 4.
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