By Joanne Bergman The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Human Resources Director Ronda Radke was the first person on the agenda. Two seasonal museum assistants, Bryann Bose and Nancy Moberg, will return this year. Seasonal Parks Maintenance Workers, Howard Konkol and Michael Carlson will also be returning. Janette Engels has been hired as the Jail Administrator on a full time basis. Ryan Baker will be assigned the role of Investigator in the Sheriff’s Department. Museum Coordinator Jakob Etrheim has submitted his resignation as of May 26th. The hiring process will begin with current employees eligible to apply for the position at 30hrs per week.
Bid opening for a picnic shelter located at Seven Mile Lake Park in Fulda was scheduled for May 23. A construction period of July 31 to November 3 was set to avoid conflicts with the Fulda Wood Duck Days and the Fourth of July.
Sheriff Heath Landsman was the recipient of a $25 gratuity for speaking at the Monday Study Club meeting. This was accepted by the Board for use of that department. The quote of $13,358.80 was accepted for the up fitting of the new Silverado 2023 squad vehicle. This was an increase in cost since the last vehicle was upfitted. Landsman received approval for the purchase of new radio equipment for that same vehicle at a cost of $5,987.52. This will be a replacement of the current equipment that is estimated to be at least ten years old. Five new tasers will be purchased at a cost of $10,372.25 to replace equipment that is no longer supported. Landsman described tasers as “An officer’s best option for less than lethal weapons”.
An agreement was approved with Enterprise Fleet Management for replacement of thirteen County owned vehicles. These will come from the Sheriff’s department, the Parks Department and the motor pool over nine years old or over 100,000 in mileage. These vehicles will become the property of Enterprise for resale. The total cost of the new vehicles will be $41,484. The County is expected to save with lower maintenance costs and in fuel savings. All vehicles are scheduled for replacement over a nine year period with a total savings of $368,000. The County is not obligated to continue the agreement at any time.
Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels presented requests for two Conditional Use Permit Extensions granted for construction of a solar garden. The Lake Wilson Renewables, LLC was granted for one year due to delays in obtaining supplies. Construction is slated in Section 13, Chanarambie Township. The CUP for Spronk Bros III Real Estate LLLP, in Section 32, Moulton Township, will be delayed two years until May 3,2025. The reasons cited were high costs of construction materials, increasing interest rates and unavailability of labor.
The final payment of the plumbing for the new Parks Department building was approved. A six-day delay in completion of the plumbing resulted in liquidated damages of $250 pr day ($1500) subtracted from the balance.
