At the September 27 county board meeting, commissioners set the preliminary 2017 budget and levy. Early 2017 budget proposals projected an increase of $1.4 million, or about 15%. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman, working with department heads, identified reductions and/or additional revenues to reduce early budget proposals significantly.
The latest number for the preliminary budget showing a budget increase of $875,313, or an 8% increase. This was higher than the goal of about 6% that commissioners set a few weeks ago.
Vickerman suggested that there could be a few additional savings to be found, still some options for cuts. However, there is one big unknown, the yet to be contracted cost for the transportation and disposal of solid waste. This convinced most of the commissioners that they best not cut too deep. When the final budget and levy is approved in December the levy can be lowered, but not increased. The preliminary budget and levy was set with the 8% increase. Chairman Marc Prestby voted no.
The county has a temporary agreement with Waste Management to transport solid waste, ending October 31. A Request for Proposals (RFP) for the transportation and disposal of solid waste from the Fillmore County Resource Recovery Center was approved at the August 23 meeting. This approval was made pending the county attorney’s review. The proposals will not be received and opened until October 21 and are expected to be considered by the board at the October 25 meeting.
Solid waste administrator Jon Martin reviewed four bids he had received for a compactor. He recommended a 4-yard compactor from ABM, a complete unit less electrical hook-up, at a cost of $35,870. The compactor will allow for huge reductions in the number of loads of waste to be transported. The compaction should allow one semi to haul four to five times the weight, saving on transportation costs. Martin explained the compactor will be anchored to the concrete floor. The planned installation of the compactor was noted in the RFP. The purchase of the compactor was approved.
A request to retire from Jon Martin effective October 31 was approved with thanks for his 20 years of service. Commissioner Duane Bakke expressed his concern that with Martin’s retirement there will not be anyone at the Resource Center with a solid waste certification. He added there is a lot of unfinished business, referring to the RFP for solid waste transportation and disposal.
Martin responded that there has been no sense of urgency with the RFPs. He noted he has been telling people about his plans to retire for awhile. Kristina Kohn, Human Resources, said she can’t do a lot until there is an official notice of resignation. Martin did give the normal 30-day notice. Prestby said they asked for more notice than a month, telling Martin that you are leaving us in an awful position.
County Engineer Ron Gregg, before accepting his current position, was a county engineer/solid waste administrator for another county. He said he has let his solid waste certification lapse, but has been checking into it. There will be a training for a land fill operator in mid-November. Commissioner Randy Dahl also opened a discussion about the possibility of transferring Solid Waste to Highway.
Other business in brief
• Authorization was given for Ron and Lana Gehling, Ron-Aire, LLC, to perform aviation services as an aircraft dealer at the airport. The business will be operated out of a hangar at the Fillmore County Airport.
• The purchase of an HP Designjet T730 printer at a cost of $2,826 was approved as requested by Gregg to replace a 16-year-old failing printer.
• The highest bid of $221 per acre submitted by Matt Gulbranson was accepted to rent 44 or so acres of county farm land. The 2-year contract for 2017 and 2018 will bring in about $10,166 of revenue for the county or about $3,600 less than the 2015 and 2016 contract.
• Vickerman reviewed the 2015 audit report prepared by Eide Bailly. She noted there had been a $1.2 million increase in the fund balance in 2015. The financial report was accepted as presented.
• The appointment of Andy Bisek, District 4, to the Planning Commission was approved. He will replace Jim Keune, who has retired from the commission. The board thanked Keune for his service over the last 17 years.
Bakke noted that there was discussion at the Planning Commission about updating the Comprehensive Plan. He has asked county board members and planning commission members to review the plan. There is the possibility that some things need to be changed on a plan that is over 10-years-old.
• A permit for a second access to County Road 14 for Hank and Barb Horstman, Section 31 Forestville Township, was approved. The second driveway will give them access to the area where their horses are housed. The existing access is to their cabin.
• A permit for an expanded access, to accommodate large machinery, to County Road 17 for Curt and Renee Hegg, Section 7 Harmony Township, was approved.
• A Marco Preferred Service Plan costing $9,000 was approved, which reflects a 10% discount.
• The purchase of a Samsung Color Laser Printer for the Zoning Office with Feedlot grant dollars, costing $649, was approved. Commissioner Mitch Lentz voted no. He is in favor of looking into centralized printing next year to save money; one printer per building instead of one per office or couple of offices as is the current practice.
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