COMMISSIONERS APPROVE FLAT RATE FEE FOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Murray County Commissioners on February 3 approved some details needed to move forward with another year of their internship program, which is facilitated by the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council.

The commissioners neglected to budget for the program for 2026, after the last two years of it were funded by ARPA that had been set aside for that specific purpose.

Fifteen college students have gone through the program in those two years at no cost to the student or the business who interned them for 29 hours a week. Roughly half of them have interned at the Murray County Medical Center in various capacities, but the businesses who interned students also included an electrician, health and human services, a church and a finance company. The commissioners, when faced with funding the program on their own, opted to charge a flat fee of $2,750 to a Murray County business that applies for an intern and is matched with one. Chair Mark Carlson did the math and found that an intern at $17 an hour for 29 hours a week over a 12-week period would cost $5,916.

All five commissioners agree that the businesses should have “skin in the game” if they want an intern from this program. Commissioner Roger Zins said the idea of taxing residents to pay for the program was unacceptable.

Commissioner Loy Woelber said he had read a post regarding the MCMC Foundation raising funds for Wonder World and suggested the same foundation could fund any interns the hospital took on.

Maria Peters, who runs the internship program for SWMNPIC, asked if there was any flexibility for businesses that couldn’t afford the flat rate fee. She was told to rule those businesses out.

Approval for up to five interns was given. With buy-in from participating businesses, each intern would cost the county $3,166, for a total of up to $15,830 which would come from the general fund through an economic development line item.

In other business, Murray County Medical Center CEO Luke Schryvers presented his monthly report to the commissioners, letting them know the position for Director of Nurses is open. He said they will be starting the interview process in the coming month.

A power problem encountered during the transition to a mobile MRI has been resolved, Schryvers said. He also reported Clinic Manager Ashley Haskin will be participating in a SOAR Program starting in March.

Statistics for December include 36 surgical procedures, compared to 30 the previous year. Year-to-date, there have been 1,436 ER visits.

For the month there was net income equal to $287,903, and a year-to-date loss of $46,485, Schryvers said, but that number may change after the audit is complete. Of the last 12 years, MCMC has made a profit two of those years. One of those years was 2024.

Facilities Director Nathan Wurpts brought the commissioners the bids for construction of a new motor pool garage to support county fleet operations. Four bids were received and will be reviewed by the building and facilities committee, who will then bring a recommendation back to the commissioners. The bids included a base bid and five alternatives, with totals for the bids ranging from $372,674 to $261,235.

Murray County Engineer Randy Groves presented commissioners with bid results of a culvert replacement near Robbins Slough for $122,521. Commissioners approved the bid from Midwest Contracting and also approved an agreement with Chanarambie Township for the replacement of culverts on 91st Street between sections 18 and 19.

A construction contract with Greystone Construction for the salt and sand shed at the highway department was approved for $365,565. Budgeted equipment purchases of $442,986 were also approved. The equipment includes two new pickups, a road broom, mower tractor and a new swing flail for that mower, a pup trailer and a skid load snow pusher. Trade value on the current road broom will be $11,500, and Groves said several of the old equipment will be sold at auction.