The Murray County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Auditor Treasurer Heidi Winter presented the second pay request for work completed in the renovation of the Courts Building restrooms. This was in the amount of $18,453.775 on a total contract of $101,296.
Ditch Inspector Travis Radke discussed needed repairs on Judicial Ditch 14 in two locations, one in Leeds Township Section 4 and the other in Chanarambie Township Section 1. Both of these sites have had prior repairs caused by the amount of water running through the tiles. The advice of Bolten & Menk will sought in determining the repairs. A tile under the road on County Ditch 11 near Hadley will be replaced by the Murray County Highway Department during the upcoming construction of the road.
Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels was given approval of the agreement with Cameron Township, Chanarambie Township and Northern Wind Development on the use of the roads during the decommissioning of windtowers and construction of new towers. Northern Wind Development will be removing 65 towers and replacing them with 45 new towers. County Highway Engineer Randy Groves will act as overseer in the maintenance of the roads. Christoffels also updated the Commissioners in regard to the 34% decrease in wind tax revenue the County will be receiving. Without prior notice, $450,000 will be paid as wind power has been curtailed in the Fenton project. This, as explained by the power company, has been due to lack of sufficient transmission lines. Murray County’s concerns will be emailed in a report to the Public Utilities Commission.
Bids were opened for the construction of new Parks Maintenance Building. The low bids for electrical, plumbing and construction work totaled $371,090, and amount $5500 over budget. It was decided to proceed with the project and to work with contractors to keep costs within budget. Construction will not begin before September 6 following scheduled events on the fairgrounds.
Historical Museum Coordinator Jakob Etrheim presented the final payment for the Dinehart House Restoration Project in the amount of $8,888.30. It was determined that there is a one year warranty on the exterior paint. A grant will be sought to replace the windows as the next project; therefore the current windows were not painted during this phase of restoration.
Human Resources Director Ronda Radke presented the names of several new/returning employees. Nicholas De-Muth will be Site Coordinator at End o Line Park after several years of experience there. Jason Ross has been hired as the new Dispatcher/Jailer in the Law Enforcement Center. Howard Konkol will return for his fourth year as Seasonal Park Maintenance Worker. A policy allowing nursing mothers a twelve month period for expressing breast milk was rewritten to provide a private space for doing so during rest and lunch breaks. Donnie Engesser asked for and was given an extension of his medical leave of absence.
City of Slayton Administrator Josh Malchow presented documents for signatures as the City and the County cooperate in a $2.8M grant to provide fiber optic broadband service to portions of the city and Slayton Township.
