The Murray County Board of Commissioners met on January 18th with Commissioner Molly Malone as Chair. Blake Heironimus, owner of Slayton Plumbing & Heating, used Open Forum to discuss a possible solution for the high humidity in the Law Enforcement Center. His company had installed the system about ten years ago. In his professional opinion the addition of dehumidifiers at a cost of approximately $5000 each would be effective without the $1M cost proposed for an entire new system.
Later in the meeting, the original designer of the LEC HVAC met via video with the Commissioners to discuss the system. It was his professional opinion that the addition of dehumidifiers to the HVAC system should provide the control needed. The discussion will continue with all the parties involved in a solution meeting to talk about it.
Jean Christoffels received approval to purchase two ad-ditional I-LIDS using $26,660 of grant monies. The units will be placed on Lake Shetek at Marsh’s Landing and Ragan’s Landing in an effort to fight Aquatic Invasive Species from being deposited in the waters. Lake Shetek is currently without Aquatic Milfoil that has been found in Lake Sarah. Donna Kor was approved for an additional term on the SAWS Board. Her name had not been received prior to other appointments being approved at the previous meeting.
Human Resources Director Ronda Radke discussed the possibility of changing the Part Time Dispatcher position by the addition of other duties to make it a Full Time position. Open since last June, the PT position has not been filled. The additional salary with the change would be paid by the overtime now being paid to other dispatchers who fill slots. The Commissioners, reluctant to make a change, asked Radke to bring back budgeted salary amounts. The health insurance company is working on methods to reimburse employees for over the counter Covid tests. There are currently five employees out sick. Local daycares have been closed so some employees are working from home if possible.
The Parks Department’s request for the purchase of three lawn mowers was approved. The $32,000 purchase price was offset with trade in values lowering the cost to $11,700.
County Administrator Tom Burke discussed the setting up of a capital improvements fund. New carpets and ceiling tiles in portions of the Administration Building were his first requests for use of the funds.
The Sunrise Terrace Committee requested an increase of rents of $25 per month, the first increase in four years. The increase will allow funds for some interior upgrades such as paint and carpets in the common spaces. There will be some additional personnel costs to cover serving and clean up of meals on weekends and holidays that will need to covered also.