The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. On the recommendation of the ARPA Committee three projects were approved. The County has nearly $1.6M from the American Rescue Plan Act of which $992,000 is set aside to fund projects. In the latest action $3,300 will be spent on a laser Fische scanner to improve efficiencies in the government building. $143,781 will replace aging public safety infrastructure with replacement of twenty- year-old fire repeaters and related equipment in the radio plan for a new highway department building. By decreasing the square footage by 2500 ft, eliminating a second floor and modifying other spaces, they propose that the construction costs can be lowered to fall within the budgeted amount. Bids will be opened in early December.
Payroll deduction options will change with the addition of Edward Jones, Slayton office, added to the Roth 457 employee deduction list. VALIC will be dropped as an option with only one employee having opted for the plan.
A Memorandum was approved allowing the Dispatch/ Jailers Union to change the way overtime is figured. The current 80 hrs in two weeks will changed to 40 in one week. The move will reduce payroll costs and improve scheduling with the move requested by the union.
Blue Cross Blue Shield will become the health insurance provider at the start of the new year. The current provider, Preferred One, has been purchased with changes in coverage. A collaborative committee of member counties recommended the change to BC/BS after receiving proposals following solicitation of bids.
Ditch Inspector Travis Radke along with Slayton City Administrator Josh Malchow were present to discuss repairs on Judicial Ditch 17 within the Slayton Golf Course. The repairs were more extensive than had been thought with the decision made to replace additional tile to the outlet. The outlet will remain in its current position or will be changed if that was what was recommended in a study undertaken by SEH.
A Resolution was adopted by the Board of Commissioners along with the Murray County Parks Board in support of the efforts of the Fulda Area Trails Committee efforts to improve safety at the intersection of Highways 59 and 62 in that community.
A Purchase Agreement in the amount of $72,000 was approved for the purchase of the nearby Doom property to possibly be used as a parking lot.
A Preliminary Budget increase of 4.16% was approved. Commissioner Gunnink cast the only negative vote. She had argued that a larger increase should be set to allow for completion of one or more proposed projects. The budget amount was $8,309,623 with final approval to come after the Truth in Taxation Meeting on November 29. At that time the rate increase can be lowered but cannot be raised. $250,000 of the expected $375,000 of wind tax monies will be set aside for capital projects.
