The county board approved a transition plan from the current Information Technology staff to complete managed IT services at their July 10 meeting.
At the last board meeting, a three-year contract with Marco for 24/7 coverage was approved. The transition to Marco complete managed IT services is to be complete by October 15. This service will eliminate the need for the IT staff, Jeff Cooper and Scott Johnson. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman said the employees were the hard part of the decision.
Both IT staff members have agreed to work with Marco during the transition period. The question is, are there alternative positions within the county for those people?
Vickerman explained that Johnson had transferred from a position within the Social Services Department. The board approved a transition plan to offer Johnson a position in Social Services, income maintenance eligibility worker, which would be at a similar pay scale. Jeff Cooper is in a higher position and will continue on staff through the transition period. He is seeking employment outside of the county, but is eligible to seek a different job within the county.
Other business in brief
• The county is negotiating a three-year contract with SELCO. There are seven libraries in Fillmore County. The committee has proposed a raise of $5,500 for each year of the three-year contract. A motion was approved to make this offer: $233,809 for 2019, $239,309 for 2020, and $244,809 for 2021.
• A request to advertise for bids for a bridge replacement on CSAH 1, south of Ostrander was approved. County Engineer Ron Gregg explained it is important to replace the bridge this year. A concrete overlay of this section is planned for next year.
• Solid Waste administrator Drew Hatzenbihler presented three bids to draft a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permit application. All bidders could produce a working permit for the Resource Recovery Center. The low bid from Wenck in the amount of $8,000 for labor and expenses was approved contingent on approval of the contract by county attorney Brett Corson.
• The hire of Keyser Wenthold as a summer intern for the Highway Department was approved.
Approval was given to start with an internal posting to advertise for a replacement shop foreman in the Highway Department. The Personnel Committee and the county engineer will review applications.
• Approval was given to promote Corey Merkel, jailer, to the position of jail programmer/trainer. Commissioner Randy Dahl expressed his disappointment that this position remained unfilled for a year and a half. The lack of a programmer was cited in the recent Jail Inspection Report.
• The temporary hire of Char Miner for the election staff was approved.
• Commissioner Duane Bakke commented on the Emergency Management Plan that has been adopted by the Fillmore County Fair Board. He said he appreciated that Emergency Manager Don Kullot assisted the Fair Board with the drafting of the plan. It is well done. The plan was reviewed by the county attorney and will be in place for this year’s fair.
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