By: Joanne Bergman The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Luke Schryvers, CEO of the Murray County Medical Center presented his monthly report to the Board. The figures for June were slower, a normal month of June for the facility.
Acute admissions remain well behind 2024 with 43 less days.
Swing beds remain strong with 53 more days than 2024. The total cash on hand increased in June to $10.5M with a year to date net income of $58,401.
Schryvers reviewed the Master Plan for the facility with a necessity to replace the X-Ray and MRI that have reached their end of life for support. A solution is needed for better outpatient and Pre-op and Post-op rooms. Additional space for Christoffels presented a request for Well Seal cost share funds through the Redwood-Cottonwood River Control Area for a site in Holly Township.
A Public Hearing was held with approval given for a tax abatement for David and Denise Schreier for the construction of a new home valued at $630,000 at 2431-111th St, Avoca. The abatement will reduce the County’s real estate tax for a period of five years.
Emergency Management Director Carl Nyquist presented the Grant Agreement with MCIT for the replacement of thirteen outdated cameras in the common areas of the Sheriff’s building. Murray County will pick up $1,200 of the $7,999.76 cost.
Nyquist also discussed the Memoradum of Understanding to provide disaster assistance to Southwest Health & Human Services. Training and coordination with other agencies will be more difficult without the federal funding that had previously been available.
Parks Manager Justin Hoffmann presented the quote for construction of a picnic shelter at Sundquist Park on Lake Sarah. The sole bid was submitted by Trevor Rosenbrook at a price of $45,000. The final payment for the electric work for the new Cattleman Building was approved to Mears Electric at $11,750. The new building will be ready for the upcoming Murray County Fair.
An Economic Development Rental Redevelopment Grant was approved in the amount of $7,223.82. Anthony Iverson will be replacing a furnace in a newly acquired rental property. He will provide 25% of the cost with the loan to be repaid over a five year period.
A Commercial Loan was approved to the Murray County Dairy Association for the purchase of a malt machine at a cost of $25,000. The loan in the amount of $15,000 at 2% will be repaid over a four year period with the first payment due October 1, 2025.
A Letter of Support was approved with some reservations on the part of board members. The letter will support alternate methods of providing internet service other than fiber cable to rural areas. The length of time necessary for installation of underground fiber broadband was taken into consideration in supporting the other methods of providing some kind of service to those areas.
Human Resources Director Sharon Giese presented the proposal of MetLife to provide administration of the newly required Paid Family Leave. Employees and Employers will be paying a premium each month towards the plan mandated by the State of Minnesota.
