County extends State of Emergency through May 5

The County Board met via Webex on April 7. The Fillmore County State of Emergency due to COVID-19 was extended to May 5. The county will continue to provide essential services while limiting public access to county facilities. During this time employees will work from home to the extent possible. The health and safety of county staff and residents is a priority. The county public health department will lead the response to the pandemic in cooperation with state and federal officials.

The county will use Webex as much as possible for board and committee meetings. County Auditor/Treasurer Heidi Jones spoke briefly about the possibility of a delay for property tax payments. As this was not on today’s agenda, this will be discussed at next week’s meeting.

Jessica Erickson, Public Health, referred to a form from the Minnesota Department of Health, “COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance.” It lays out when someone should be sent home or denied entry, when it is safe to return to work after having been confirmed to have COVID-19 or when it is safe to return to work for a person who has not been clinically evaluated and has been monitoring symptoms at home. Erickson said up to this time there has not been any clear guidance. The Exclusion Guidance was approved as presented. 

Erickson said she was going to start asking employees to wear a homemade cloth type mask at work as recommended by the CDC.

An incident command tree was approved. The incident commander is Don Kullot with his deputy commander John DeGeorge. The tree lays out who does what. Kullot is responsible for procurement. He said we have to jump on any resources that are available right away, as they get depleted quickly, adding, “We have been able to get a lot of these supplies before they are gone.”

County Administrator Bobbie Vickerman complimented Erickson, Kullot and other team members, saying they are well prepared, follow guidelines, and continue to work together in a real team effort. The incident command tree for this pandemic event was approved.

Other business in brief

•Prosecution contracts for one year were approved for Canton and Fountain. The county provides prosecution services for each of these cities at an hourly rate: attorney $110 per hour and paralegal $85 per hour. County Attorney Brett Corson said the contracts have worked  pretty well.

•Approval was given for the highway department to purchase a JD 325G skid loader from Preston Equipment for $52,800. This was the lowest of two bids.

Approval was given for the highway department to purchase a Vermeer 5040 Disc Mower from Hammell Equipment for $10,400. This was the lowest of two bids.

•A request to advertise for the CSAH 34 reconditioning project was approved. Approval was also given to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with the city of Wykoff for the reconstruction of CSAH 5 within the incorporated city limits. County Engineer Ron Gregg said the agreement has been signed by the city.

•Sarah Peck and Crystal Smith were hired as intermittent dispatchers effective April 8.

Blake Lea was hired as a replacement Feedlot Officer/Zoning Technician effective May 28. His job description will also include GIS as he has experience in that area. He has completed training at the intermediate septic inspection level.

Jason McCaslin was hired as a replacement county assessor effective April 13. He will telework part-time on an hourly basis until May 11 when he will begin full-time. He will work with the current shared assessor Steve Hacken (Winona County) during the transition period.

•Weston Pease was appointed to represent District 1 on the Extension Committee.