At the August 8 board meeting, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery suggested a detailed plan to restructure the Zoning Office.
The board had just approved the retirement of Kristi Ruesink, accounting technician, with thanks for her 35 years of service, effective January 4, 2024. She was thanked especially for the advanced notice of her retirement.
Hillery said there have been discussions in Personnel Committee and internally. She noted Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins also plans to retire in five to eight years. The Zoning department is a three-person team including Adkins, Ruesink, and feedlot officer Dallas Dornink. Adkins is trained in zoning enforcement and Dornink is working to obtain certification for septic inspections. Also, some departments have expressed a need for more hands-on abilities with GIS.
The suggestion is to turn the Zoning Office into a Land Use Office. Adkins would be the assistant Land Use Director, which is a change she supports. The Feedlot Officer/zoning position would continue. Then, the county will need to hire a Land Use Director who is septic certified and has GIS experience.
Hillery explained this will save the county from contracting for septic inspections (cost $43,920 in 2022) and allow the county to cease contracting for staff augmentation fees for GIS (cost $54,000 in 2023). To replace the account technician employee is expected to cost ($107,751.96). If this position is not replaced, the total cost savings could be about $205,671.96. She expects a Land Use Director position will cost $142,000. In 2024 this could result in a net savings of $63,000 in contracted costs.
Hillery suggested they try to find a candidate for the Land Use Director position and hire by October 1. The GIS contract expires at the end of this year.
The board unanimously approved a motion to move forward with plans for the restructure as recommended by the Personnel Committee. A motion was approved to advertise for a Land Use Director.
Other business in brief
• Mike Bubany, David Drown Associates, Inc., reported that the city of Lanesboro held a public hearing last night on a Cooperative Property Abatement Plan for the Lamon Housing Project and approved the abatement plan. Richard and Cheryl Lamon are proposing the construction of a 10-unit single-family residential subdivision within the city limits of Lanesboro (close to the golf course). Fillmore County has been asked to provide 15 years of tax abatement (county contribution is to be limited to 75%). A resolution was adopted setting the public hearing for approval of a tax abatement to reimburse developer for public improvement on September 12.
• County Attorney Brett Corson and Public Health Educator Brenda Pohlman reviewed the proposed redraft of the county’s Cannabinoid/THC Ordinance. This draft is for hemp derived products. Full strength THC products can’t be sold until 2025. Pohlman suggested they may look at a separate ordinance for high dose products. The ordinance additions, revisions, and language changes are consistent with state statute. A motion to move to a public hearing on the redraft of the ordinance was approved. Commissioner Duane Bakke voted no.
• A contract amendment with Minnesota Energy Resources Company on an easement along CSAH 17 in the city of Preston was approved. County Engineer Ron Gregg explained the revised location of the easement will include a small piece (15 feet by 30 feet) southwest of the current easement location which is better aligned to hook up the service.
Gregg reviewed a map showing the route of the road tour scheduled for August 15. The commissioners will view projects that have been completed and look at future possible road projects.
• Leroy Eickhoff, public safety answering points manager for the sheriff’s department, explained the need to upgrade the phone systems. The goal is to get a grant to have the new systems installed in the new building. The grant requires a 50% match, which will come from 911 funds. The board approved the application for a grant for new call processing equipment that will require a 50% match from the county.
Eickhoff requested and received approval to purchase equipment and labor for T1 to Ethernet ARMER System upgrade. The total cost for the upgrade will be $12,340. He said departments are moving from old to new technology statewide.
• Diane Olson, fiscal officer for Social Services, reviewed the 2024 proposed budget for Social Services. Increases are mostly due to salaries for new employees for Children’s Mental Health Services (previously contracted out) and health insurance costs. Revenues are also up. There is about a $136,000 net increase in the budget which likely won’t stay that high.
Wanda Berg, Social Services director, reported that a grant that she had applied for to fund Victim Services was not funded. She asked to apply for a Byrne Grant for Victim Services and was given the go ahead to apply for this grant.
• Jessica Erickson, Public Health director, reviewed her department’s 2024 budget. She noted that COVID money is going away. There is an increase of $236,242 in the 2024 budget. There are some grant funds expected to come in which should offset some of the increases.
• Chris Hahn, EDA director, reviewed the 2024 budget. The only change is a 5% increase or $2,254.60 in CEDA professional fees.
• An access permit for property access to CR 14 for a new home was approved for Phillip and Janine Nelson, section 33 of Bloomfield Township.
• The county board next meets on August 22.
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