By Joanne Bergman The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on August 15, 2023. A contract was approved with Lamar to provide two Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) billboards along Highway 59 in the amount of $9,360. The cost of the billboards located in Garvin and south of Slayton will be paid with grant funds.
Auditor Treasurer Heidi Winter presented a Subordination request for approval. A loan for septic system installation costs was provided by Murray County and is being repaid as an assessment on the property. The County takes a lower position to allow the borrower to obtain loan funds for further improvements to the property thereby increasing its value.
The Board adopted a resolution to allow monetary donations to departments to be presented as a listing on a periodic report given to them for review. This will create a savings in employee time over the current system of approving donations individually.
Ditch Inspector Travis Radke presented his report listing two repair petitions; one on JD 28 in Holly Township and the other on JD 19 in Lowville Township.
County Administrator Carolyn McDonald led the Public Hearing on Murray County Ordinance Regulating the Use of Cannabis. The ordinance allows no public use of cannabis in Murray County unless a city adopts a different ordinance. The ordinance will become enforceable following publication. Three quotes were received for the removal of structures located at 2838 Linden Avenue and leveling of the site. The quotes ranged from $8500 to $24,040. The contract will be awarded at the next meeting.
Human Resources Director Ronda Radke informed the Board of the hiring of Kele Moudry as a part time IT Technician. He has been filling the position of IT Intern and will continue his duties in his new position.
Parks Manager Justin Hoffmann was given approval to upgrade the electrical service for eight campsites at Seven Mile Park. Six other sites had been upgraded in 2015. Hoffmann also was given approval to continue concrete improvements in the Horse Barn. A 15x120 section along the south wall is poured with Parks Department staff providing labor. Matt Beek has agreed to continue work at $2,050 and Buffalo Ridge Concrete estimated concrete cost at $5,542.
IT Supervisor Jason Lohrenz received the go ahead to purchase a new copier for the Extension Office at a cost of $8,500 to replace an eight year old unit with high repair costs.
Two members, Mitch Kling and Bill Ufkin, were nominated to continue on the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water board for an additional four-year term beginning January 1, 2024.
A revised employee policy was adopted prohibiting the use or possession of cannabis on the job. Supervisors will become responsible for reporting any suspected use of the substance as a part of the paperwork trail.
Engineering reports will be allowed to move forward on the improvement of County Ditch 41. Twenty six percent of the landowners had petitioned for those improvements. Projected costs of $3.7M will be spread over the 2230 acres in the system dependent on the benefits received with a redetermination of those benefits. The system is located north of Hadley in Lowville Township. Landowners will have an opportunity to review the costs at a further hearing before moving forward with the project improvements.
Recycling changes will be happening in Murray County with plans outlined by Eric Jones from Schaap Sanitation. Households will no longer need to sort recyclables, as they will be provided with a cart, like the current garbage carts, with the cart to be collected in the same way as the garbage carts are. This is called Single Stream Recycling and is slated to begin this fall. This new method will impact the current recycling center; however, it is expected to increase the amount of recycling matter collected.
