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Murray County Commissioners L to R: Roger Zins, District 5, Dennis Welgraven, District 3 (2025 Board Chair), Mark Carlson, District 2, Jackie Meier, District 4 (2025 Vice Chair), Loy Woelber, District 1.
By Joanne Bergman The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in its first session of 2025 on January 7. The first agenda item was to administer the oath of office to three newly elected commissioners. Loy Woelber will represent District 1. Mark Carlson will represent District 2 and Roger Zins will serve District 5. The oath of office was next administered to County Assessor Chad Benda. The newly elected Chair of the Board will be returning commissioner Dennis Welgraven. Commissioner Jackie Meier will serve as Vice Chair.
A seasonal liquor license was approved for Trails Edge with a term of April 1 to November 30. Auditor Treasurer Heidi Winter was given approval to pay certain claims in 2025 that become due between meetings of the Board. A resolution was passed to use the website as the posting site for all paid claims as well as the audit. Paper copies will be provided on request of citizens.
Fourth quarter 2024 donations were accepted. The only donation listed was that of two benches for East Lake Sarah Park by the PALS organization. A lengthy list of appropria-tions and dues to be paid in 2025 totaled $537,038.75. Of those $205,057 is slated for Murray Soil and Water, $70,550.00 to Plum Creek Library System and $124,730.00 to Southwest Health and Human Services (Public Health).
Parks Director Justin Hoffmann requested a bid opening on February 4th for construction of a Cattleman Association Building on the fairgrounds. The current Sheriff’s storage building will be demolished and replaced with the new building. The County will support the project with $110,000 along with funds from the Cattleman Ass’n and an EDA loan.
Highway Engineer Randy Groves received approval to request a speed study from MnDot for a section of Highway 30 west of the City of Slayton and for a section of Highway 59 north and south of the City. The speed limit may or may not be changed as a result of the study. Groves department is not allowed to make any changes on State highways.
Groves also made two purchase requests. One for a shop forklift long enough to reach the mezzanine with equipment at a cost of $$38,467. The other was for two carts to move snowplow wings at a cost of $6,822. Both items were included in his budget and are below the estimated costs.
Economic Development Administrator Justine Wettschrek discussed the ARPA funds designated for family daycare providers. There are 21 such providers in the county each with a list of needs some of which are state mandated requirements. There are $28,854.30 in the fund with a five member board making the decisions. The board has approved the use of $21,000 in payments of $500 per site and $50 per child for each provider. An additional $15,000 will become available to the program if Murray County is not successful in obtaining a grant for an Electric Vehicle Charging Station grant.
An agreement was approved for administration of Local Homeless Prevention Aid monies allocated to the County. United Community Action Partnership (UCAP) will administer the funds as they already have the programs in place for this type of service. Program funds allotted for 2025 are $16,019 and for 2026 will be $10,656.00.
Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels presented and received approval of the preliminary plat for the Shetek Headwaters Addition. The addition includes three residential lots for 5.1 acres in Section 11, Lake Sarah Township.
A large portion of the meeting was used to assign Citizen and a lengthy list of Commissioner Committee appointments. There were changes to the Citizen appointments. Molly Malone will be replaced on the Murray County Medical Center Board by Judy LaBoda. Two members, Kevin Vickerman and Ronald Holinka with an addition of a new member Trevor Humphrey, reduced the Planning Commission to seven members. Valarie Kastner, Greg Grant and Kyle Krzmazick will serve on the Shetek Water & Sewer Commission.
A closed session was held to discuss legal strategy in actions brought forward by the Sheriff in regard to his salary. When the commissioners came out of closed session, they approved for their attorney to draft a response.
