By Joanne Bergman The regular meeting of the Murray County Board of Commissioners was held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. All five of the commissioners were in attendance.
Auditor Treasurer Heidi Winter presented the ditch bills for approval. Included in the batch was on for $380 for continued legal work on the disputed County Ditch #11. The MN Department of Transportation has continued to dispute its share of the cost to repair the ditch following a collapse of Highway 30.
The Board approved an amended viewers report on Judicial Ditch 6. This was a matter discussed on March 4. A portion of the system that was not constructed but included in the viewers report did have an effect on the system payments. Bids were opened at 9:00 for several bituminous overlay projects throughout the County. Of the four bids received, the contract was awarded to Knife River at a cost of $3,356,785.05. This bid was well below the estimated cost of the project. A second bid was awarded to Sir Lines A Lot at $115,882.80 for painting the stripes on onehalf of the County roads. This company resulted from the purchase of two companies normally competing for the bids. This bid was higher than had been anticipated.
After a continued discussion the excavation quote to run a drain tile from the property line of the new highway department building across to an intake in the Right of Way of Highway 30 was approved at a cost of $84,040.
Jean Christoffels and Sarah Soderholm presented the Des Moines River Watershed Management Plan and it was approved. Soderholm was lauded for her efforts in the drafting of the plan.
Human Resources Director Ronda Radke received approval for a 25 cent hourly increase to summer park employees. Their wages had been at $13.50-15.50 per hour. Several employees will be returning for the coming season; one for the sixth year. The job description for a Temporary Seasonal IT Intern was approved and will be advertised. The salary is capped at $4,000 and a 25hr per week schedule.
Radke along with Sheriff Heath Landsman presented some revisions to the department’s staffing. The Dispatcher/ Jailer will be moved to Jail Administrator. One deputy will be assigned to General Investigator, an out of class position. One new Deputy will need to be hired. These moves are expected to be a financial savings for the department.
After a video presentation by Wong Nyquist of Enterprise Fleet Management, it was decided to proceed to look at the benefits of leasing to own thirteen of the Twenty Six County owned vehicles in the coming year. The lowered vehicle cost, increased availability of vehicles and the decreased maintenance costs of newer vehicles will be considered with an expected savings over the next ten years of $368,000.
A Closed Session pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D,subd. 2 (b) was the last item on the agenda. Following the session it was stated that action would be taken as discussed during the session.
