Senator Jeremy Miller and Representative Greg Davids listened to Fillmore County department heads as they reviewed their legislative priorities for the 2020 session at the February 4 County Board meeting.
County Administrator Bobbie Vickerman started by thanking the legislators for their support in 2017 to add additional dollars to the County Program Aid program. The formula was improved and provided stability at that time. This year she asked that they consider how new program changes to existing programs could affect counties, if they also don’t provide long term funding and sustainability.
Fillmore County has not been able to find and hire a qualified assessor. She requested that the legislature review the requirements for a county assessor to be qualified by the state. Assessors are required to have a cumulation of nine years and three levels of certification (CMA, AMA, and SAMA). The requirements are considered excessive.
County Engineer Ron Gregg addressed transportation funding. He reported that in order to rebuild the county’s infrastructure today, to do needed resurfacing of rural and urban county state aid highways and to replace county bridges listed on the bridge replacement priority list, the county would need over $72 million. He encouraged the legislators to go after sustainable funding. Thirty bridges have been required recently to be posted at five or eight tons. The average school bus weighs 8.5 to 11 ton. We need to address bridge bonding and the state aid system. The Local Road Improvement Program was not funded last year. When the money has been available, the county has applied successfully for these funds and improved several roads.
Social Services Manager Kevin Olson maintained the Social Services delivery system is out of date. A modernization of human services programs will build a more effective delivery system and avoid high administrative costs both for state and local governments.
The state requirement for a licensed alcohol drug counselor will more likely cause a discontinuation of the service in many counties. A certification process for county staff will allow a continuation of the services.
More beds are needed in the county and state for adults and children to improve mental health systems.
Director of Nursing Jessica Erickson asked that the Local Public Health Grant be replenished to former levels. The county supports limiting youth access to tobacco and restricting sale of flavored tobacco.
Auditor/Treasurer Heidi Jones asked that there be a requirement for all current taxes to be paid in full before the recording of documents for legal ownership of whole parcels.
She asked that local government units be protected from accrued interest due to a tax court finding involving valuation discrepancies made by the state on personal property. Court procedures can take a couple of years. Davids said the Department of Revenue (DOR) dropped the ball, adding counties are not responsible for state valuation errors. Matt Hilgart, Association of Minnesota Counties government relations manager, said the DOR wants counties to maintain a kind of layaway fund in case of a state valuation error. Davids insisted the DOR needs to take responsibility for this.
Sheriff John DeGeorge asked legislators to look at options to provide funding for ongoing maintenance and improvements to the court security system. He also asked for funding for maintenance and updating of ARMER system. The county has areas where there still is not good radio communication. A fix could include more towers and/or radio repeaters which would be costly.
Both DeGeorge and County Attorney Brett Corson asked that no changes be made to the criminal forfeiture laws. Forfeiture laws discourage criminal activity, when money and assets are taken away that have been used in the commission of a crime. Both men also wanted legislators to carefully consider industrial hemp regulations. These regulations need to be clarified to allow for adequate enforcement and to protect the public.
Corson asked that a block be added to all deeds that must be checked for septic system compliance for the transfer of land in Minnesota. This would be similar to the requirement for a block to be checked for well compliance on deeds for the transfer of land.
Corson recommended that the time for commitment of repeat mental health patients be extended to allow for stability, longer monitoring, and assurance that the patient is taking appropriate medication.
Drew Hatzenbihler, Solid Waste, asked that counties be fully reimbursed for collection and recycling of e-waste.
The Zoning department spends time and money enforcing Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rules for subsurface treatment systems. More money should be directed to county/local level to insure compliance.
Lastly, the county supports funding for the staffing of the new veterans home.
Hilgart, AMC, listed several AMC priorities. He said transportation funding is a top issue every year. There is room for compromise on this issue, so we can get something done. Local road and bridge funding is key. Gregg said currently there is $43 million of bridges sitting on the shelf because the funding is not there.
Senator Miller commented that it is helpful to hear your priorities and important to hear feedback from our constituents.
Representative Davids noted it is a bonding year, adding the bill will not be as big as that proposed by the governor, but substantial. What the counties need is always a big concern.
Other business in brief
•The board approved the appointment of Stephen Hacken, Winona County Assessor, as a temporary assessor for Fillmore County. Hacken was sworn in by Judge Matthew Opat. Hacken is expected to work about 10 hours per week for Fillmore County. He said he will do his best to help out.
•The final payment to PCI Roads, LLC was approved for the concrete paving portion of CSAH 1 north of Spring Valley to Highway 30. The total contract was about $6.5 million. The final payment was $320,153.25. The total cost of the reconstruction of CSAH 1 was a little over $14 million.
Commissioner Duane Bakke commented that much of the state aid money went to CSAH 1 over the last three to four years. Going forward these funds will be available to be spent on other projects.
Approval was given to purchase a 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab at a cost of $27,990.52 (includes tax) for the highway department.
•Emergency Management Director Don Kullot requested and received approval of the 2019 Emergency Management Performance Grant. The $20,864 grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is a matching grant for the same amount.
•A conditional use permit request from Eric Udelhofen of Fillinona Solar, LLC for a solar farm on property in section 15, Fountain Township was approved as recommended by the Planning Commission. The 20-acre site is adjacent to a MiEnergy substation. A condition for the permit is a requirement to have the boundary of the approximately 20-acre site surveyed.
•Kristina Kohn, Human Resources, presented a draft for an advertisement to recruit a replacement feedlot officer. Approval was given to place the ad.
The resignation of Daniel Byer, custodian, was accepted with thanks for six years of service, effective May 28.
Leave a Reply