By Joanne Bergman Murray County Commissioners approved changes to the Murray County’s Home Initiative Tax Abatement Program at their Tuesday, October 21st meeting. The sunset date of December 31, 2025 was removed with no ending date included in the changes. The Environmental Services office is now tasked with the application process. Commissioners will then act on the application before it is sent to the Economic Development Authority office. The Department of Natural Resources has begun the mapping Murray County’s aggregate resources. The action was taken by the Minnesota legislature in 2020 to do a statewide program to determine the amount of non-renewable resources. Government funding of road projects is the largest user of gravel in the state. Murray County has 1,000-2,000 miles of roads, the lowest category of usage. The information will be available by the end of 2026 for land use planning. Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels presented the Conditional Use Permit application of Collyn Doeden for construction of a confinement building in Section 12 Fenton Township. The building will increase his animal numbers from 500 to 990 Animal units. On the recommendation of the Planning Commission, the Commissioners approved the application.
Parks Director Justin Hoffmann was given approval to request bids for new lighting for the racetrack. A recent quote was over the budget amount of $175,000 for the project.
Sheriff Heath Landsman received approval of the contract with River Valley Forensic Services for 2026-2029. Dr. Kelly Mills and her service provides autopsy services for unwitnessed death in Murray County as mandated by law. She is the only source for this service and Landsman has been satisfied with the service.
Facilities Manager Nathan Wurpts was given approval for the purchase of a 2026 pickup for the use of the Aquatic Invasive Species and the Buffer Zone projects with a cost of $55,000 set. The discussion was the cost of leasing versus the cost of direct purchase with the later determined to be the best financially.
The Protective Maintenance contract was approved with Interstate Power Systems for a three year period. This was for the generator that powers the Sheriff’s office during the loss of power. It calls for a yearly inspection of the unit.
