The Murray County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, June 07, 2022. Approval was given for a payment of $6,300 to Engelkes Electric for the electrical work needed to expand Swenson Park. Approval was also given for a gambling permit application to allow Currie Town & Country activity at Pelican Cove. This continues past practice under a new ownership.
The ARPA committee presented the expenses to provide fiber optic internet service to the Health & Human Services and Highway Department buildings. $10,000 will cover the cost of providing the line with an additional $17,000 for equipment and three years of the service lease. The final two years of the lease remains unfunded in the amount of $14,400 with a plan to have Health & Human Services charged for use of the cable. $2,600 in engineering costs to update the HVAC in the 911-server room will also be funded with ARPA funds.
A public hearing was held for a new Off Sale Liquor License for the new owners of Carlson’s Corner. On/ Off and Sunday liquor along with food sales will now be available at that location.
Murray County Medical Center CEO Luke Schryvers received approval for a USDA Grant application to fund a new pharmacy dispensing system at a cost of $160,000. He updated the Board on the past month’s finances showing a net income of $130,000. While income has risen increased expenses have slowed the amount of net income. The surgery HVAC is now being replaced with no surgeries scheduled for the ten to fourteen day period of construction.
The Bid Opening for County Highway Maintenance Striping were opened with Traffic Marking Service providing the low bid of $108,118.14. The estimated cost was $99,000.
A later Bid Opening for construction of the County Bridge in Currie brought only one bidder forward. The bid of Prahm Construction, Inc. was $1,509,798.65, well above the estimated cost of $1,179,201.50. Construction cannot be started until November 1 and must be completed by June 15, 2023 to avoid times of heaviest traffic.
Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels presented the Conditional Use Permit that will allow Bavaria Solar LLC to construct a One MW solar garden in Section 20 of Leeds Township. Eight conditions were placed on the permit requiring the company to work with local and county officials. Novel Energy Solutions requested an extension of their permit for construction of a solar garden due to difficulty in obtaining the needed materials. A new date of December 31,2023 was set for completion.
Parks Director Justin Hoffmann presented revisions to the Parks Board By-Laws and Parks Rules. The by laws were changed to allow the EDA Board member voting powers on the Board. Jason Kirchner will assume the new role. The revised Park Rules will require grey and black water to be discharged at a dumping station, not on the ground. Decks will be allowed on campers if they are temporary and do not have a foundation. Five additional seasonal camping spots are available at Swenson Park at a pro rated cost of $780. With at least twentytwo names on a waiting list it has been decided to hold a lottery for those five spots.
Chief Deputy Heath Landsman received approval for an agreement to allow MVTV to install a wireless antenna on the Fulda tower. The addition will improve Internet access at the site for emergency personnel with MVTV paying $600 per year for tower space. Landsman also received approval to accept the State of MN Boat & Water Grant in the amount of $3486. This offsets the costs of the officer patrolling the lakes.
A Public Hearing resulted in the adoption of a revised Golf Cart Ordinance. A permit will be required for each cart and not for each driver of the cart as required by the previous version. The ordinance became effective as of the meeting date of June 7, 2022. For the current year one permit from the household must be affixed to the lower left window of the cart. The fee for each of any other permit purchased for drivers in the household will be refunded if they are returned to the Sheriff’s office prior to the end of the year.
