Fillmore County Commissioners, at their March 26 meeting, voted unanimously to adopt a resolution encouraging the Minnesota Legislature to pass a bill that provides adequate funding for Minnesota’s statewide transportation system.
This resolution is supported and advocated by the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) and the Minnesota Transportation Alliance. Chairman Duane Bakke noted the AMC hopes to get a resolution of support from all 87 counties. Together they will have a strong voice to encourage legislators to provide long term sustainable funding for roads and bridges.
Commissioner Randy Dahl recalled that just over 20% of funding for the county comes from local revenue, the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and the Wheelage Tax. He added he would be willing to pay some more gas tax if it can keep his car intact.
According to AMC, the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund (HUTDF) gets dollars from the gas tax (now about 28 cents per gallon), license fees, motor vehicle sales tax, and interest. This revenue funds state highways, county state aid highways, and municipal state aid. In 2018 out of $2.3 billion in the HUTDF, about $612 million went to county state aid highways.
None of this HUTDF money goes to the county road system, which in Fillmore County is funded with revenue from the Wheelage Tax, LOST funds, and some federal funding. Levy dollars could be raised to help fund county roads. Other programs that are needed to help fund county roads are the Local Road Improvement Program and the local bridge replacement program. Current funding sources are NOT keeping up with the needs.
The Transportation Finance Advisory Committee concludes the HUTDF annual funding gap is $1.1 billion to $1.47 billion. County roads in Minnesota make up over 30% of the state’s roadways. A long term sustainable funding source will provide stable funding for MnDOT, all 87 counties, cities with populations over 5,000, and townships.
Other business in brief
•April 2019 was proclaimed to be Sexual Assault Awareness Month. “The voices of those who have been victims of sexual violence must be supported and heard.” Sarah Monroe, Victim Services, described several events in April to create awareness at the courthouse including “Living in a Digital World” to be presented by Neil Dennison on April 30.
•Agreements with the cities of Fountain and Mabel for prosecutor services in criminal cases were approved.
County Attorney Brett Corson explained there had been a meeting concerning the Preston Oil Products property which has been forfeited to the state. The city of Preston has expressed an interest in removing the tanks and taking soil borings to test for hazardous materials at the city’s expense. If contamination is found, it is expected that the state may pay for most or all of that expense. If this option were followed, the city would have right of first refusal to purchase the property at a determined market value after it is cleaned up. By consensus, Corson was authorized to continue working with the city toward a possible agreement.
Another property in Preston (residential) was determined to be a public health nuisance. If the landowner is unwilling or unable to clean the property up the county can have it cleaned up/abated and get reimbursement via the auditor assessing the cost of cleanup with property taxes. The pests were removed at a cost of $8,022.54. A resolution was approved to assess the cost of cleanup against the property.
A Schueler Quit Claim Deed and resolution concerning 3.31 acres of property was approved. The legal description was corrected. The county reserves a highway right of way easement (1.95 acres of the 3.31 acres is existing roadway of CSAH 27). A statement reserving mineral rights by the county was removed as requested. Commissioner Mitch Lentz voted no because of the removal of mineral rights.
•Jackson Rindels, an engineering student, was hired to a temporary summer position in the Highway Department effective May 10.
Todd Ragan was hired as an intermittent deputy effective April 1.
•Director of Nursing Jessica Erickson requested and received approval of a partnership with Mower and Freeborn Counties for a project to positively impact students from districts in each of the counties. The program is designed for students with significant challenges that require specialized programming. The goal is to return them to their home districts when they are ready. Fitness, movement, and sensory equipment contributes to this learning process. Each county will contribute $3,122.92 of their SHIP funding toward the program.
Erickson reviewed other programs Fillmore County could support using SHIP funding including breastfeeding supplies and accessories for breastfeeding room, Super Shelf Training, and physical activity and health eating equipment for Mabel-Canton school. The board approved these SHIP expenditures.
•EDA Director Marty Walsh reviewed his 2018 annual report. He highlighted the Bluff County Collaboration, which is an ongoing program involving several county school districts. Houston and Winona County schools also are participating. Economic Development and Workforce Organizations work to help students who are near graduation to understand opportunities in southeast Minnesota. The program connects schools with employers.
•A resolution requesting funds for an educational program on waste reduction from Winneshiek County Solid Waste Agency was approved. The grant of about $1,000 has been received in past years.
•Last December a motion was approved to seek request for proposals for a primary financial institution for the county. F & M Bank provides that service at this time. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman apologized for not moving forward with this. The motion was made in the last meeting of 2018. A new auditor/treasurer, Heidi Jones, took over the department in January. She recommended the county revisit a RFP for a financial institution in one year. Lentz expressed his disappointment that nothing was done before now. Bakke noted reasons for an extension expressed by Jones. It is easy now with the bank just across the street. No timeline was put into the December motion. No further action was taken this day.
•Discussion of Tax Payers Services and location of offices on the main floor of the courthouse was postponed until the next meeting.
•Vickerman noted there were two proposals for central county supply purchasing. Prices from 1Source Office and Facility Supply were slightly higher than prices from Schilling Supply Company. However, Vickerman said they have a good working relationship with 1Source and the extras they provide can save us dollars. She recommended using 1Source for another year and reevaluate then. Her recommendation was approved.