By Joanne Bergman The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 07, 2023. Commissioner Jackie Meier was not present for this meeting. County Auditor Treasurer Heidi Winter was given approval to engage the State Auditor for the 2022 audit. The cost is above that of an auditing firm with the benefit coming with meeting all of the State’s standards for the audit.
Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels presented the final plat for Autumn Blaze Estates. The Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the one lot in Section 35, Lake Sarah Township.
The Lake Sarah Dam project will move forward with Houston Engineering continuing the planning and bidding process with a possible bid letting in late summer of this year. The Arch Rock Rapids construction for Lime Lake has been delayed by the winter weather conditions. DNR regulations in regard to spawning season will further delay it until later in the year.
The Commissioners will be submitting comments to the Public Utilities Commission regarding the inadequacies of transmission lines in our region. Wind tower production has been drastically curtailed due to the lack of sufficient transmissions lines. This was done without notice to taxing entities receiving payments based on the production.
Murray County Medical Center CEO Luke Schryvers presented his monthly report of activities. The staff of MCMC was commended for their efforts used to determine the facility as one of the top 100 Critical Access Hospitals for 2023 by Chartis. Physician recruitment continues with two new resumes received. Both candidates in residency programs and will be available summer of 2024. Urology services are no longer available with the retirement of the provider. A Pain Clinic is now available through Carol Campbell, CRNA. A low dose lung cancer screening will now be available as a preventable measure. Low patient numbers, surgeries and ER visits for the month of January resulted an income loss of $49,380 for the month.
Weather has curtailed the schedule for heart and vascular services. The rescheduled dates may also have to be rescheduled if the current weather forecasts are true. COVID cases have dropped and masking protocols will change once again. March was proclaimed as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It is a cancer that is preventable, treatable and beatable and is the second leading cause of death. It is being seen in increasing numbers in 20-49 year olds.
Sheriff Heath Landsman received approval of the Law Enforcement Contracts for the cities of Avoca, Chandler, Currie, Dovray, Hadley and Lake Wilson. Each city pays $10 per resident for the service.
County Attorney Travis Smith received approval for a State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement that allows his office to efile criminal charges.
The additional cost of running a water and sewer line under Highway 30 to connect to the new highway maintenance facility was approved. The rising cost of materials over the estimates of two years ago was cited as the reason, along with additional requirements of the State of MN DOT.
The Commissioners concluded their meeting with a tour of the newly constructed Parks Maintenance Building on the fairgrounds.
