Committee of the Whole/Work Session
Present: Docken, Purfeerst, Underdahl, Hoisington, Malecha
- Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
- Public Comment: At each committee of the Whole Work Session meeting, the floor will be open to solicit public comments on items on the agenda after they have been presented. A comment card will need to be filled out in order to speak about any of the items. Public Comments will be limited to two (3) minutes for each person, subject to the discretion of the County Board Chairperson.
- Dennis Lubbe: Highway updates.
- Mr. Lubbe began with recognition of law enforcement and their response to the interstate (35) highway crash last week, along with all the road construction in the county. 35,000 vehicles per day on Interstate 35; any disruption causes ripple effects.
- Highway user tax distribution fund will allow additional revenue; 40% to maintenance, the remainder into construction. Nice additions to the overall budget. Has been factored into the draft of 2024 budget.
- Decker Avenue to Cty 1 corridor project with city of Dundas plans are moving along; will move ahead to get consultant on board for analysis.
- Few weather delays this season. Lonsdale storm/sewer work is complete. His pipe crews will move to finish storm sewer and underground water work at new safety center site in Faribault. Lonsdale road work will start now.
- Culvert work ongoing in Faribault. Cty Road 9 work should be done this week.
- Vesili work starting with few challenges anticipated.
- Cty road 76 is near completion, painting and rails being worked on.
- Gravel contract is ongoing, dealing with no moisture on gravel roads, difficult to maintain.
- Question from Purfeerst: are all gravel roads classified as gravel?
- Lubbe: Gravel might be crushed limestone, which is dustier than classified gravel. Some roads are mixed asphalt and gravel, less dusty, but require more maintenance. All maintenance depends on volume of traffic, truck traffic, stop signs (high volume is 350 vehicles per day, low 35-40). Dust control (calcium chloride) is possible, costs money. Dry conditions x 2 years a problem.
- Question (Docken): calcium chloride does work, is mixed with the aggregate to lay down more efficiently, but wash boarding is still a problem with dry conditions.
- Hoisington: appreciates the work that Dennis and dept does for the county.
- Human Resources: Adam Johnson
- Remote work policy draft is nearly complete; there have been concerns raised about security policies. Proposing that the policy could be approved with understanding that the details around security will be fleshed out separately. The security concerns could be addressed in a checklist which is more easily updated than a full policy. Spoke with Dave Berken about criminal justice information, as well as the county attorney’s office.
- Questions:
- Docken: Clarification about the updates- changes could be within departments, not always needing commission approval. Concept of remote work policy is broad, with specifics outlined in checklist.
- Underdahl: Security concerns are not new; policies are in place, the additional work is around remote work. Speaks to hybrid work, combination of remote/in office, feels it is advantageous, for individual well-being.
- Malecha: agrees with hybrid work. Feels there is a disconnect between full remote and being in office 2-3 times per week. Policy brings structure. Wonders how often such policy would be reviewed.
- Johnson: no specific time set yet, feels will be ongoing at this time.
- Underdahl: feels review should be structured in, with the board.
- Docken: agrees review necessary.
- Hoisington: nice to consider a 6-month review. Concurs with comments about hybrid model.
- Purfeerst: wonders if 6 months is right time, or whether review should be sooner.
- Johnson: looking at other counties, Kandiyohi, Fillmore regarding their policies.
- Hoisington: will this be reviewed with county attorney?
- Johnson: yes, ongoing. Policy to be reviewed by the board in one months’ time.
- Public comment: Tina Stadler (on line): “Government work should take place in government buildings. If security is a concern, put boundaries around what should be secure. “
- Hoisington: thanks Tina for her comment.
Adjourned
