By Joanne Bergman The regular meeting of the Murray County Board of Commissioners was held on Tuesday, November 07, 2023. Commissioner Welgraven was not present for this meeting. The payment for repair of drainage ditches shared with neighboring counties of Lyon and Nobles was approved in the amount of $91,155.33.
CEO Luke Schryvers of the Murray County Medical Center presented his monthly report. Patient numbers in September were some of the highest seen in the last 36 months with those activity levels continuing into October. ER and clinic visits have also sharply increased. Hospital inpatient and outpatient along with clinic revenues are all above budget for the month. Expenses have also been above budget, however, net income remains positive year to date at $60,725.
Dr. Goldammer will begin seeing patients the week of November 13th. He is relocating from Iowa on a one year contract. Physician recruiting continues with a potential candidate visit to Slayton planned on December 8th . Surgical services will be offered on a three Tuesdays a month schedule through a contract with Dr. Byron from Sanford Worthington. Dr Snow’s last day of surgery will be November 21.
New changes to Minnesota law will be affecting MCMC. There will be increased screening to assess public health eligibility and charity care at the time of admission. Part time employees will receive one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hrs worked as a result of another new law.
Highway Engineer Randy Groves was present for the opening of bids on three projects planned for construction. Bidding was active with eight submissions. The low bid from Towne & Country Excavating of Garvin at $684,040 was accepted.
Assessor’s Office employee Selena Lopez Cardenas was promoted upon successful completion of coursework. Charlotte Seeger was approved for the position of Human Resources Director. She comes with both educational and work history to the position as Ronda Radke is retiring.
Economic Development Coordinator Justine Wettschreck presented an agreement that will provide $115,000 over a three year period for students working on an internship basis with businesses in Murray County. The program is slated for fifteen positions at $17 an hour for 29 weeks. The funding will come from the AARP funds received by the County. The Southwest Private Industry Council will be leading the program. An employer may not replace another worker with the intern.
Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels presented the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission to approve the Conditional Use Permit of Nobles Coop Electric for the construction of a substation in Section 21, Slayton Township with completion in 2025.
The Preliminary Plat of Pelican Bay Addition in Section 24, Lake Sarah Township was approved on the recommendation of the Planning Commission. The plan calls for 29 riparian lots and two outlots on a General Development Lake. The elevation of the lots above the flood plan has been increased to allow for the development. Gravel mining will continue on an outside area of the development.
Area Fisheries Supervisor Ryan Doorenbos presented the plan to remove an electric barrier for the Fulda Outlet dam installed in 2008 and to replace it with a mechanical barrier. The electric barrier no longer functions and is not considered an effective method of preventing movement of unwanted species, e.g. carp and buffalo. An amount of up to $15,000 was approved from the Invasive Species fund for the mechanical barrier.
Terry Nelson of Woodstock Communications was present to discuss upcoming plans to provide broadband services to areas of the County. Focus is on Lake Sarah Township, Chandler and the west portion of the City of Slayton. Projected costs in Murray County will be nearly $11 Million to provide service to 2125 households. Federal and State grants will provide a portion of those costs. Murray County has dedicated any interest income over $500,000 a year to providing services until 95% of the County is covered. That is projected at nearly One Million dollars currently.
Two Commissioners have been recommended for renewal to the Red Rock Rural Water System Board for a four year term. They are Jay Takle of Murray County and Paul Johnson of Jackson County.
