Rep. Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller visited the county board at the December 13 meeting to hear the county’s legislative priorities for 2017.
County coordinator Bobbie Vickerman explained that each year the county and the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) draft a list of legislative priorities. The top priority for the county and the AMC is once again County Program Aid formula revision. The formula revision is intended to reduce year to year fluctuations and protect counties from funding losses when there are shifts in demographics. CPA funding helps counties provide mandated and essential services including public safety, human services, and transportation. Minnesota counties agree that the revised formula will provide a fairer allocation. Legislators are asked to increase the CPA total statewide by $40 million in 2017. Many rural counties have seen a serious reduction in aid over the last decade.
AMC and Fillmore County support continued funding for the Border to Border Broadband Development Grant Program. Last year $35 million was funded for the program, but well over $200 million has been sought through grant applications.
County Engineer Ron Gregg requested long term, sustainable funding and bridge bonding. Thirty-five bridge structures in Fillmore County are currently on the waiting list, total estimated cost of $7 million. Vickerman added that the county opposes the reallocation of non-transportation General Fund dollars to fund transportation. AMC supports a funding package that includes new revenue for transportation infrastructure. An AMC lobbyist noted that it has been a long time since there has been a transportation bill.
Davids insisted he wants to build roads and bridges, adding Governor Dayton vetoed the transportation funding bill. He said he hopes there will be a special session where it can be addressed.
The county and AMC have asked for the restoration of full funding for the Local Road Wetland Replacement Program. Gregg maintained if the funding is not there, the cost comes out of county funds. AMC maintained that recently the state has not been meeting its legal obligation to replace lost wetlands. Gregg said development of one acre of wetland can cost $35,000.
Commissioner Duane Bakke noted that the Root River One Watershed, One Plan is nearly through the approval process. Next will be the implementation of the plan and that will need long-term base funding, instead of having to rely on competitive grant dollars which SWCD people are having to apply for all of the time.
Bakke explained that the county was already 96% in compliance with the buffer law from the start. He expects that there will be a high rate of compliance. SWCD is working with those that have yet to come into compliance.
Human Services Manager Neva Beier requested additional funding to improve the current Minnesota Eligibility Technology System to meet client needs and to greatly improve efficiency. This system is used to determine eligibility for assistance programs. Beier asked for mental health system improvements, especially the availability of more “beds” for children and adults that need a “forever home” as opposed to short term expensive placements that may not be the best environment for their mental health.
Jessica Erickson, Public Health, asked for Local Public Health Funding to be restored. The local tax levy has been carrying more and more of that funding need. Current Family Home Visit Rates don’t cover cost of service, so counties have to use tax levy to fill gaps. The county wants the minimum Medical Assistance reimbursement for public health nurse home visits increased. The trend has been for a decrease in reimbursements. Local public health is mandated by statute and when it is not reimbursed, the cost falls on the county.
Sheriff Tom Kaase was not able to attend this meeting, but his department’s request was to set aside grant funds for security and safety of our court. Without grant funds, local taxpayers will have to pay for court security programs. The county asks the legislature to consider allowing the use of technological equipment for some court appearances by a prisoner, rather that driving significant distances to transport a prisoner to appear in court.
County Attorney Brett Corson asked for some clarification in the state statutes. For example, he said an exception to the medical privilege would allow the prosecution to get blood test records without a search warrant and/or use those records in evidence to show a person was under the influence prior to an accident where there is a death.
Corson maintained that the theft values and related severity levels need updating. Any theft over $1,000 is currently considered a felony. Corson suggested that number should be raised.
The county asks the legislators to seek funding to provide for a veterans home in Fillmore County. Davids noted he had a bill drafted and ready to go.
Comments from legislators
Davids said he doesn’t know where Obamacare is going. He said the governor is right that the high cost of individual insurance and high deductibles is a crisis. Davids questioned how they can make more plans available. Will we need to create high risk pools?
He thanked the county board and Vickerman for keeping them in the loop. He said there will be money in the new tax bill for counties. He agreed they need to work on a formula change for CPA.
Miller told the board that it helps to hear the priorities of the county and the state association. He agreed that fixing health care is a crisis, adding there will likely be changes at the federal level and that he applauded the governor for the rebate idea. Reform is needed.
The legislature has been discussing a transportation bill for a number of years, working toward a long term, sustainable transportation plan.
As 2017 is a budget year, they will be working on the two-year budget for the state.
If there is a special session this next week, something will need to be done on healthcare and also the tax bill that Davids has worked on. Miller said the bonding bill fell apart last session at the last moment because of a light rail amendment. Funding for the Lanesboro Dam was in that bill.
Other business in brief
- Corson updated the board on the status of cases involving the Amish concerning the requirement for gray water septic systems. He said they have been trying to move ahead with the cases and resolve them. Zoning administrator Cristal Adkins reported that the MPCA list includes 22 cases where they have been fined $1,000 for non-compliance. Eight of those have since installed a system, the rest are outstanding cases. Adkins said the penalty is $500 per month for non-compliance, which was suspended at the start of the court case. Corson said each case is more or less individual, adding we are making progress.
- A resolution to sponsor a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Safe Routes to School Project grant application by the city of Rushford was adopted.
- An audit agreement for the services of Eide Bailly was approved. Vickerman said they were very good to work with. • A contract with the Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board for the provision of office space and use of office equipment for the Southern Community Sewage Treatment Facilitator Sheila Craig for 2017 was approved.
- A donation from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) of several ballistic shields for the sheriff’s department was accepted. Total donation valued at about $3,000.
- The CEDA contract for EDA director Sam Smith was approved. There was a 2% increase, for a total of $38,158 for 2017. Bakke commented that he would like to see an effort made to have more coordination between the county EDA and city EDAs.
- The resignation of Evan Krahn, Highway Maintenance Specialist effective December 11 was approved. A request to advertise for a replacement was also approved.
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