The Murray County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on April 19. All members of the board were physically present for the meeting.
The first action of the board was to accept the donation of soy tires, a value of $730.56, to the Sheriff’s Department. Approval was given to the application of Westbrook Firemen Relief Association for an Off Site Gambling permit. This was for a raffle to be held on June 5.
Auditor-Treasurer Heidi Winter updated the board on redistricting based on the 2020 Census. Murray County will remain in the 7th Congressional District. The county will be moved entirely to Senate District 21 and MN House District 2A. All precincts and polling places within the County will remain as they were. Based on census figures the population of Murray County has dropped from 8725 to 8179.
Zoning Administrator Jean Christoffels and Parks Manager Justin Hoffmann were present to discuss a grant application for work on the Lake Sarah Dam. The plan is to replace the current dam with Rock Arch Rapids. The grant request will be for $333,000 with a match from Murray County of $33,300. It is expected that this will be a 2023 project which allows time to budget that match. The grant application was approved for submission.
Bids were opened for the Swenson Park Campground expansion. The plan calls for thirteen new camp sites and moving of four others to allow for an access road. Hoffman expects the work to completed late spring/early summer. The electrical bid of $44,300 was awarded to Engelkes Electric. The dirt will be removed by Brett Muecke Sand & Gravel at no cost. The gravel bid was awarded to Muecke at $11,270.64.
Chief Deputy Heath Landsman presented the estimated cost of $20,269.75 for Up-Fitting the 2021 Tahoe vehicle purchased last fall. It has taken this long to obtain a price. Approval was given for an “up to” price of $41,155.00 for another replacement vehicle. An earlier attempt had been attempted but with the manufacturer stopping production of pickups. There was discussion in regard to questions that have arisen in regard to the Golf Cart Ordinance. Landsman has sent copies of the ordinance and road maps to all the campgrounds in the area. The carts permitted only on the roads as marked by licensed drivers.
Human Resources Director Ronda Radke presented the list of hiring for seasonal positions. Nathaniel Kleven will be working with Parks Maintenance. Bryanne Bose will return to the museum for her fifth year. Nancy Moberg will return to the museum for her second year. Ryan Risacher is a new for the Highway Department as a Survey Tech. An extension of unpaid medical leave until May 3 was approved for Don Engesser. Jon Visker will be rehired as the Temporary Assessor Intern with a limit of 500 hours. Jessica Bjerke will become the new Sunrise Terrace Director as Carol Veldhuisen retires.
Radke presented a long list of changes to the Preferred One health insurance plan; most of those were changes in language. The interviewing process for a County Administrator was discussed. The decision was to first have the applications reviewed by the Personnel Committee and to then have the entire Board interview the final two candidates.
