Local News

Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Todd County Board of Commissioners-Work Session Commissioners cover a variety of topics by Karin L. Nauber Joe Krueger and Randy Mechels were at the regular commissioner meeting on December 18 representing the Long Prairie Community Group which is hosting the Prairie Fest this coming summer. Krueger highlighted some of the entertainment and activities which will be taking place. Auditor/Treasurer The board approved two abatements. One was for Neil and Denise Meierhofer in the city of Osakis. An RV was being classified as a mobile home. The other was for Robert Zinter in Long Prairie Township. The value of property was lowered for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Approved a resolution to approve the 2008 county levy in the amount of $12,552,144. They also approved the 2008 individual department budgets. Approved a temporary liquor license for the Double Eagle Golf Course for January 12. Approved a one day raffle gambling permit at the Hub Supper Club on February 2. Approved the annual Memorandum of Agreement between the county and the University of Minnesota for providing extension programs locally and for employing county extension staff. The board also approved the Memorandum of Intent for the Nutrition Education Program. Public Works Approved three road projects which would be federally in the 2012 Area Transportation Improvement Plan Project Nomination. They are County State Aid Highway 1, CSAH 23 and CSAH 51. Approved changing 2.1 miles of CSAH 55 from Highway 10 in Todd County to CSAH 2 in Wadena County from a 9 ton road to a 10 ton all-season road. Tests were conducted and there should be no damage to the road making this change. The board approved the purchase of a new culvert steamer for $14,270.99 from Hotsy Equipment of Minnesota. The old culvert steamer was unreliable and unsafe to operate and replacement parts were no longer available. There was a discussion about snow plowing at Battle Point Park. Public Works Director Loren Fellbaum said that it was not near any of their routes for plowing and that they don't typically plow parks or public accesses. Fellbaum said that it would probably be a third or fourth day cleanup after a snow event. Commissioner Randy Neumann said that the main concern was the dry hydrant that was located out there now. Fellbaum asked if they had contacted the townships about plowing the park? "Why would we contact the township when it's a county park?" asked Neumann. "Because they are in the area plowing," replied Fellbaum. Environment and Land Resource Management Manager Andrew Dahlgren said that the dry hydrant by Cedar Lake off Highway 71 is maintained. "This is something to serve the people. I don't know why we are arguing about who pays for what? Who cares if you drop your blade and plow part of a township road to get there?" said Commissioner David Kircher after the discussion had continued for a while. "It's a county park. We have a hydrant out there to benefit the health and safety of the citizens," said Neumann. "Does the hydrant give the people out there a better rating on their (insurance) coverage?" asked Kircher. Neumann replied that it did. Fellbaum said that he had been looking for direction and that as long as it was known that it was not a first priority for them to clean, unless it was an emergency, he was okay with the county plowing the snow. Environment and Land Resource Management Approved a Conditional Use Permit for Laurence Troyer to operate a furniture business and build a 30' x 50'. Approved a CUP for expansion of the recently permitted auto recycling business Long Prairie Tractor Parts. The request is to build a 45' x 48' addition with a height of 16' on the north side of the building rather than raising the roof as was originally planned. Approved revoking the CUP for Jeffrey Kuhlmann which issued in November 2006 for furniture store structure and operation, operation of a trucking company, operation of a repair shop for semi-trucks and trailers, operation of a sales lot for sale of cars, semi-trucks, semi trailers, flatbeds, dump boxes and for an addition to the structure for use in the business. It was revoked because the conditions of the CUP have not been met and the site, according to the report, is "an eyesore and needs to be cleaned up." A CUP was approved for Michael and Elizabeth Schmitz for a single riparian lot subdivision with private sewer and water named "Victory Shores". Approved an extension for Anthony, Genevieve and Marvin Zilka for their subdivision in Kandota Township. Also approved an extension for "The Shores of Latimer" in Round Prairie Township. Dahlgren presented information on the comprehensive plan. He said a survey is now available to get as much public input as possible. The survey will be available in the planning and zoning office, the public libraries and will be sent to the cities and townships for them to fill out. It is also available online on the county's website at: http://www.co.todd.mn.us. Just click on the Comprehensive Plan Survey link. Sheriff's Department Approved acceptance of a snowmobile safety enforcement grant in the amount of $12,430. Human Resources Approved the resignation of Shelly Switters as part-time jailer-dispatcher and the termination of Ann Mikel because she did not complete the training for the position. Along with that board action, the county approved the hiring of Jennifer Becker and Chelsea Greenlee as part-time jailer-dispatchers. Approved the non-union staff salary agreement. To maintain a uniform salary schedule the same offer was given to the non-union staff as to union staff as far as cost of living adjustment raises and step increases for eligible employees. Kircher said, "In the future, when we look at potential revenue from taxes, we may have to look at staff reductions. Health insurance will be catching up to us soon, too and we may not be able to keep up with these increases in 2009 and 2010." The board also approved the non-union home health aide salary agreement. After three calls for a second to the board action, Kircher gave a second to approve hiring a social worker in the mental health unit. The action was approved, but Kircher asked to see the numbers of all employees in all departments full and part-time. The board approved the salary agreements with the auditor/treasurer and the recorder. They will receive the same COLA adjustments as were offered to the union employees and will be eligible to be awarded a step increase back dated to July 2007 in the form of a separate check to be paid in 2007. The argument was made that they were eligible for the step increase in July and they did not receive it. South Country Health Alliance Brian Nasi presented information about the SCHA and his role as CEO of the organization. He said that the number of enrollees has increased from 15,000 to 25,000 for 2007. A large undertaking for the organization in 2008 is they will be building up their own provider network. He expects this to take place over the next six to eight months. He did say that in 2007 SCHA would be looking at a deficit for this year. He said that dividends, once the county was eligible to receive them, would depend on a good claims year versus a negative claims year. Distribution that was done with the original nine counties in the group was done so the company value would be less, making it easier for other counties to buy in. Kircher asked if there was any way that SCHA could provide care to inmates. Nasi said he would look into that possibility. Public Health Approved the waiver contract with Season's Adult Foster Care in Staples. Approved the sale of a 1993 Ford Tempo. Along with this, approved the purchase of a used car as a replacement for up to $12,000. Approved the transfer of public health money from 2007 to pay for a portion of the SCHA buy-in fee of $156,939. The other half plus interest payments will be made through social services. Tri-County Regional Services Center Approved giving their support to this project and the request from the state legislature for further funding for the project. The project is to build a new regional services center in Upsala. The center would serve Todd, Morrison and Stearns counties. The center currently serves over 300 meals a day in the three counties including the inmates at the Todd County Detention Center. The Upsala Community Center currently has $73,588 for this project and is requesting assistance from the state legislature in the amount of $500,000. According to Kircher, the center would also house the city hall, the senior center, a community center and a library in addition to the nutrition center.