The Fillmore County Board held their last meeting of 2020 on December 22. On December 14 and 15, the Minnesota state legislature approved a second round of county administered business and nonprofit relief grants. The grants are intended to provide financial aid to businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by an executive order related to COVID-19. Fillmore County will receive a total of $415,630.39 of which $10,137.33 will go to administrative costs. These grants must be awarded by March 15.
The county plans to have applications available for businesses and nonprofits by January 6 or soon after. The intention is to prioritize those that haven’t received funding.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue is also providing relief payments to eligible businesses. More information can be found here: COVID-19 Business Relief Payments/Minnesota Department of Revenue (state.mn.us) The DOR will send these dollars out. The county may be able to check to see which businesses received these DOR dollars when prioritizing applications for business and nonprofit funding described above.
Fillmore County CARES Act funding totaled $2,578,859. The county spent $2,190,324.63. The county sent a total of $457,069.54 back to the state, of which $388,534.37 were county CARES dollars. The balance of $68,535.17 were dollars returned from the cities of Rushford Village, Harmony, Lanesboro, and Fountain.
Jessica Erickson, director of nursing, gave an update on COVID. Cases are starting to come down; Public Health is current on contact tracing. The county is expected to get its first 50 doses (100 shots) of Moderna’s COVID vaccine in a week. The first shots will be distributed equally among EMS workers in the county. The second shipment is expected early in January.
Budget/Levy
The 2021 budget in the amount of $35,890,491 was approved; the budget includes levy dollars, state and federal funds and other revenue. A resolution was was approved for the levy payable in 2021 in the amount of $11,525,822; this represents a 2.84% increase over last year.
Other business in brief
• County Engineer Ron Gregg provided quotes for the purchase of two tandem 2021 Mack trucks from Nuss Truck and Equipment for a total cost of $226,639.83 with the trade of two used trucks. The quote for snow plow equipment for the two new trucks was submitted by Universal Truck Equipment at a cost of $203,686. Approval was given to order the trucks and equipment as submitted. Funding for the snow plow trucks and equipment was in the 2021 budget.
• Sheriff John DeGeorge reviewed accomplishments of 2020 and goals for 2021. Both goals and accomplishments reflect the efforts of both the sheriff and his chief deputy. He requested a 2% increase in his salary over 2020, or $110,205. He also requested a 2% increase over 2020 for his Chief Deputy Lance Boyum or a $94,566 salary.
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery updated the board on the progress of the Jail Assessment Committee. Sheriff DeGeorge expects they can have a document prepared in six or seven months; the document will present four options and the cost of each, plus the pros and cons of each option.
• Approval was given for the promotion of Erika Draper, RN, to the position of Public Health nurse, effective December 25. She has completed PHN requirements.
• Lori Affeldt, Finance director, asked for and received approvals to make adjustments recommended by the auditor. A Procurement Policy and Investment Policy will be put into place as recommended by auditor. After a review of banks in the county and quotes submitted by three banks, the board decided to continue banking with F & M Community Bank.
An authorization was approved to pay regular bills through the end of the year.
• Approval was given for Lori Affeldt to serve as a temporary auditor/treasurer. She will get a one step increase in pay during the interim period for her added role. She has no interest in the auditor/treasurer position long-term. During the interim period Hillery will sign on accounts to maintain checks and balances.
Char Meiners was recognized and thanked for her willingness to serve as A/T for Fillmore County from before the primary elections through the end of this year. Hillery said Meiners created an environment where she brought the team together. Approval was given for a letter thanking Meiners on behalf of the county commissioners for her service.
• Three conditional use permits were approved as recommended by the Planning Commission. Public hearings were held for all three at a December 17 Planning Commission meeting. A CUP applied for by Dominic Crawford and Caleb Short for a private cemetery to be located in section 32 Fountain Township was approved. Six conditions were attached to the CUP.
A CUP applied for by John and Arlene Gingerich was approved for a private cemetery located in section 9 Spring Valley Township. Six conditions were attached to the CUP.
A CUP applied for by Caleb Benson, section 27 Newburg Township on the north side of Mabel, for a used car sales lot was approved.
• Kevin Olson, Social Services, requested and received approval for 2021 Purchase of Service agreements with Families Service Rochester, with Hiawatha Valley Mental Health, with Zumbro Valley Health Center, and with Work Force Development Inc.
• The CEDA contract was approved for 2021. The renewed contract represents a 3% increase, not to exceed $41,695 annually for 16 hours per week.
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