Local News

Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Todd County Board of Commissioners Hartford Township seeks help with fire bill by Karin L. Nauber An incident which occurred about a year ago in Hartford Township brought a couple of members, Gene Irsfeld and Alan Perish, from the town board to the commissioner meeting on November 6 asking the board for assistance. The incident was a fire on June 2, 2006 on property owned by Randy Lee John in Hartford Township. A trailer house on the property was allegedly burned down by Timothy Allen John. The Browerville Fire Department responded to the scene. The fire call was paid for by the city of Browerville and the township paid the city back. An attempt was made to put the bill on the taxes of Randy John, however, since the trailer was not the property of Randy, the county took the assessment off. The township believes it should not have been taken off the assessment. Currently, neither man owns any property. According to Hartford Township, the trailer was pulled in without a permit and was burned without a permit. County Attorney Chuck Rasmussen said that there were no solid facts that would apply to the statute. The county board wondered how they could help out. According to Perish and Irsfeld, no criminal charges were ever brought. However, that is a separate issue from the property tax issue. The board suggested that the township talk to their attorney and get an opinion. Commissioner David Kircher said they should get something in writing from the township attorney. The amount for the fire call was $1360. "If you get more information we will help out if we can," said Board Chair Mark Blessing. "I don't know when personal responsibility went by the wayside." Environment and Land Use Management Director Andrew Dahlgren went over the Conditional Use Permits from the planning commission meeting. The board approved them as the planning commissioner recommended. The first was a CUP for MGT Products, LLC for an increase in the number of animal units and to build some additional turkey barns. This property is next to Morrison County. Morrison County has a feedlot setback which Todd County does not. Dahlgren said this issue will have to addressed at some time in the future. The second CUP for Wybierala Investment Limited/Saukinac Campground for an expansion was tabled. An application from Robert Schenk to rezone a government 40 for an additional dwelling site was approved. A CUP was approved for a temporary second single family dwelling on a parcel owned by Fred and Kathern Edenloff. Public Health The board approved the environmental health fee schedule for 2008. According to Director Cheryl Schneider, there were some increases in the fees. Also, because the county contracts with Morrison County for sanitarians, the fees needed to reflect that as well. She said the county's fees were about 75% of what the state charges for like fees. Emergency Management Director Bob Blessing brought in a board action for a revised mutual aid agreement for Region 4. The mutual aid agreement was done in April. Blessing said there were some wording changes so that the agreement stated this was for Region 4 and the counties were listed. He said that Rasmussen had looked it over and he was assured that it was fine. Blessing also updated the board on the sirens in the towns. Currently all the sirens in the county can be activated by the county dispatch except for West Union because funding was not available at this time. He is working on that. Human Resources Approval was given to hire an emergency/temporary registered nurse for public health. Donna Lisson will fill the position for 40 hours every two weeks. The position will not exceed 67 days in a calendar year. The board also approved hiring an emergency/temporary person in the assessor's office. This office has had a person out on leave for quite some time. It will also not exceed 67 days in a calendar year. Perham Incinerator Commissioner Gary Kneisl said they are having a meeting on November 28 in New York Mills to discuss what things they want to have in the joint powers agreement. The four county's involved, Todd, Otter Tail, Wadena and Stearns will be present. There will also be legal advice present.