LWV Observer – Georgiana Campbell
All Commissioners were present.
Business of various kinds was before the commissioners today.
Mary Ho, representing the Community Health Board – Much of this business involved agreements between the Minnesota Dept. of Health and the Rice County Community Health Board. These agreements were, for example, to reimburse the county for money they spent on activities related to hepatitis B and also related to children ’s visits to local clinics participating in the Minnesota Vaccine for Children Program. There was also a similar agreement regarding Rice County providing diagnosis and treatment to Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care eligible children in the County for the next year.
Parks and Facilities head, Joe McGough, asked the Commissioners to approve the design and engineering proposal for Law Enforcement Center renovations in the amount of $87,500. This proposal came from I & S design and engineering services. The total construction budget for the Law Enforcement Center Renovations is $1.5 million.
Fran Windschitl, Auditor/Treasurer – The first business here was to have approval for the shift in County Library Taxing Authority to the City of Lonsdale. (Lonsdale has built its own library.) The commissioners approved the resolution to this effect. The other major concern discussed was the MN Snowmobile Trail Assistance Program. This is a Grant-In-Aid agreement for the Faribo-Sno-Go Club in the amount of $20,924.40. Windschitl also presented the current financial projection.
Planning and Zoning , Kevin Murphy (serving in this position during the time that the department head is on leave)– A time for the public hearing of the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance requested by James Huddock (Webster).
Sheriff’s Office, Richard Cook – Sheriff Cook presented a request for adoptions to the Civil Process Fees and for adoption of adjustments to Jail Fees. Doing this increases revenue from jail fees. One of the expenses handled by the Sheriff’s office is the serving of papers, often about 3,000 per year.
Administration, Gary Weiers – Recently Weiers and those staff working with technology have been meeting to plan for their future use of technology. This has grown from their interest in streamlined methods, consideration of the funds available, and interest in new technology and in technology governance structure.
The meeting of the Rice County Housing and Redevelopment Authority was the final business matter on the agenda. It constituted a report on the agency’s work and probably made many present reflect on the extensive work accomplished by the HRA staff.