EFFORTS TO FUND VALHALLA ROAD TO CONTINUE
The Murray County Board of Commissioners met on September 7, in a regularly scheduled meeting. There were no conflicts of interest indicated. Minutes of both the August 24 and 31 meetings were approved. There was no one for Open Forum.
Travis Radke presented his ditch inspection report with only one incident. Following the recent heavy rain a large washout measuring 10 ft by 15 ft and 7 ft deep at 71 Lakeview Drive in Section 36 of Lake Sarah Township was found. The tile line installed in 1920 is believed to run below a home on the site. When conditions permit the tile can possibly be moved to an easement area between two homes.
Murray County Medical Center CEO Luke Schryvers presented his monthly report of activities and finances. He first noted the retirement of Arl Weinrebe on September 23 after nearly 40 years in the maintenance department. His replacement has been hired. There are currently four other open positions at MCMC with offers having been extended to fill each of them. A new medical provider, a native of Northern Minnesota, has agreed to serve in a locum capacity to determine his “fit” prior to becoming a permanent member of the medical staff. The installation of the electronic records system, EPIC, has been slightly delayed due to a cyber attack of the Sanford system. EPIC is due for completion in March 2022. Inpatient numbers were down in August. Expenses were high due to three pay periods during the month. There are $2.6 M in unrestricted cash and $2.3M in restricted cash with additional funds in Covid pandemic relief. There is a September 30th use by date on those funds before returning them. There is a possibility of that deadline being extended. Positive Covid tests have increased dramatically from none in July to one daily in August. Vaccination clinics continue to be scheduled. Boosters will be available as soon as they are approved. ICU beds have become scarce and hard to find for those patients in need of transfer.
Zoning and Ag Inspector Jean Christoffels presented three items to the Board. They approved a contract with Lamar for two billboards for Aquatic Invasive Species notices. The contract calls for thirteen weeks and $335 for each of two billboards. The Board did ask that an additional $150 each be used from the AIS funds to change the graphics to draw attention to the boards. The second item was the extension of the Conditional Use Permit of Cannon River, LLC for installation of a One Megawatt Solar Garden in Sec 15 of Leeds Township. This was the second request made for an extension with this one being made due to difficulty in obtaining materials. The new date is June 30, 2022. The next request was for approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Beeck’s Gravel & Excavating. Beeck’s will be opening and operating a gravel pit in Sec 1, Belfast Township on the site of a former operation. They will clean up and reclaim the land to meet the requests of the landowner upon closure of the pit. A silt fence will need to be placed to protect the wetlands adjoining the site. All three of Christoffels agenda items were approved.
Ronda Radke, Human Resources Director, discussed the costs of hiring one Full Time Sheriff’s Deputy to fill the role water patrol and part time deputy. Natural Resources Grant Funds and AIS funds will be used to cover up to $35,500 of the estimated $67,750 salary. This was given the approval by the Board.
The Public Hearing was continued for discussion of a revised Golf Cart Ordinance. The ordinance will call for only licensed drivers for them and only on roads designated in the accompanying resolution. Any regulation of the carts is for county roads only as cities within the county can set their own regulations. The ordinance is designed to protect those in the carts from vehicle traffic around the lakes. State laws regulate ATV’s and other vehicles.
Lars Johansson spoke on behalf of the Shetek Area Lakes Ass’n requesting an Environmental Impact Study. His association has been working with area legislators to obtain funding to widen and improve County Road 13 as it crosses the three dikes on Lake Shetek into Valhalla Island. The road flooded in 2018 stranding the residents of the island and poses a danger to those walking or riding a bike as there are no paths for those purposes along the road. The cost of the study will be included in the County share of any funding from the State of Minnesota. The project has been termed “high priority” with a projected cost of $4.5M.
County Highway Engineer Randy Groves asked that the date of October 19 be set for opening of bids on upcoming projects. Culverts on CSAH 7 and CSAH 25 have already been granted funds along with replacement of a bridge on CR 86. A light grading and drainage improvements are included for CR 86. The final project will be reconstruction of CSAH in Hadley. Preliminary work could begin this fall on any of these.
County Administrator Thomas Burke asked for approval of three resolutions. The first calls for support of the efforts of Randy Groves and the Shetek Lakes Area Ass’n to obtain funding for the CSAH 13 project. The next called for the formal approval acceptance of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. The third recognized the approved usage of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. A committee will be formed to discuss those uses and present a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The final item for discussion as presented by Burke was the acceptance of $7500 as the annual contribution for the County Veterans Service Office Operational Enhancement Grant Program. Burke informed the Board of a scheduled call from the CDC Office of Work Place Safety for discussion of the indoor environment and health hazards in the Sheriff’s office building. Someone has apparently submitted a complaint in that regard.
