County Engineer Flesch re-appointed for four-year term

Board also proposes
funding agreement for
Lake Zumbro District
by Ruby White
County Highway Engineer Dietrich Flesch was re-appointed to another four-year term by the County Board at their May 19th meeting.
All commissioners were present for this meting, along with County Administrator Michael Plante and County Attorney Karrie Kelly.
According to Minnesota Statute, all re-appointments shall be for a term of four years and made in May of the year in which their terms expire. His current term expires this month. Don Springer moved for re-appointment, Brian Goihl seconded and it passed unanimously. Goihl said that both the Highway Committee and the Personnel committee had recommended Flesch’s re-appointment.
This action followed an announcement that Flesch had been successful in obtaining a highly competitive, $500,000 Local Road Improvement Program Grant from the Minnesota State Transportation Fund. Without this funding, a major road project in the Elgin area would require the use of County State Aid or Levy funds in that amount. Springer and Rich Hall moved to execute the grant agreement with the Commissioner of Transportation.
Other Highway Department business included accepting the bid of Chippewa Concrete services, Inc. of $4,616,166.42. The projects to be covered under the contract thus awarded are on County Highway 25 from the Olmsted County line to approximately 500 feet east of Minnesota Highway 42 near Elgin, with an offset right turn lane and concrete pavement; and on County Highway 2 from Wabasha County 25 to Minnesota Highway 247 near Elgin with bituminous reclamation and concrete pavement. Both projects have been planned for years. The State Local Road Improvement Grant of $500,000 just mentioned, as well as other Federal Aid grants, will help pay for this project.
In additional Highway business, the board also unanimously approved advancement of $1,821,956 County State Aid Construction Account funds for road projects in 2015, a one-time advancement. The amount will allow the Highway Department to do projects that wouldn’t get done otherwise, according to Flesch. There is no cost for the advancement. The County has done this before. Goihl and Key moved.
For the board’s information, Flesch said that the city of Wabasha had requested repair work (seal coat) at Second Street and Pierce Avenue at a cost of about $26,000. He said it would require more oil because of the condition of the road. The contract will be brought to the Board at the next meeting. He recommended moving ahead with this project.
Lake Zumbro
The board approved a proposed funding agreement for the Lake Zumbro Improvement District (LID) which involves an approximately $10 million proposed dredging project on the lake, which is silting-in. The State has allocated about $3.5 million for this project. Eighty percent of the lake and lake-side properties and businesses are located in Olmsted County and twenty percent are in Wabasha County. Since 2010, the Wabasha and Olmsted County Boards have tried to work collaboratively to make the dredging project a reality. At one point, under a different County Board, Wabasha County withdrew from the LID. With new members on the board, Wabasha County decided that it was in the best interests of the County if they re-joined the LID in order to get the project going again. However, Olmsted County has only recently begun to discuss the project with Wabasha.
In March, 2015, the Olmsted County Board appointed two members to meet with Wabasha County officials to negotiate a proposed funding agreement. This agreement came to the board at this meeting. It has four parts: 1) Wabasha County would agree to contribute $100,000 toward the LID project; 2) Olmsted County would agree to contribute $300,000 to the LID project; 3) Payments would be spread out over a number of years, about 5-10 years; 4) Olmsted County would agree to be the fiscal agent for the project.
This is not a binding resolution, but an effort to get the LID project off the ground, the board agreed. Olmsted County hadn’t, at the time of the meeting, voted on this proposed fund agreement, and they might not pass it. Goihl, who has represented Wabasha at recent talks, said, “Eighty percent of this project is in Olmsted County. Wabasha is NOT going to fund Olmsted’s share.” Hall, who has also attended the joint meetings, pointed out that the major part of the dredging is in Olmsted County, not in Wabasha County.
Springer, who has also been attending the joint meetings for a number of years, said, “We are trying to do something to get Olmsted County moving. This is a long-term investment for Wabasha County to protect our property values.” He added, “This is an investment in our future...the businesses there pay a lot of taxes.”
Dean Albertson, chairman of the LID, was present and reviewed a history of the project, up to the present. He said, “LID depends on (both) counties’ support. We are at a critical point now.” He added that they need $500,000. He had no criticism of the Wabasha County Board, saying, “You have done everything possible.”
When the proposed funding resolution came up for a vote, it passed 4-1, with Hall, Goihl, Key and Springer voting yes. Board Chair Mike Wobbe voted no.
Plante will send the proposal and the board’s action to Olmsted County, telling them, “This is our bottom line. If Olmsted doesn’t accept it, the resolution is void.”
Property Valuations
Assessor Loren Benz gave a presentation on property valuations. He said, “My department staff spends most of their time on Agriculture values which is difficult to keep track of.” He indicated that Ag values have increased in recent years. He also provided some statistics regarding homesteaded versus non-homesteaded properties.
The board offered their thanks to Benz for his years of service, and wished him well on his retirement at the end of June.
CJC Bond Refinancing
Finance Director Deb Koenig and Brenda Krueger of Springsted, Inc. gave a presentation on Bond Refinancing for the Criminal Justice Center. Two options were presented. The board has been considering a change with the bonding procedure for the CJC. Krueger said that Springsted monitors the activities of the counties to see if there is any place for savings. Koenig emphasized that any change didn’t have to be done now, but it is something to consider.
Krueger noted that interest rates had not come up. Koenig added that they can’t predict how they will go. She suggested waiting a little longer to see what they do before making any changes. No action was taken.
Social Host Ordinance
Barb Quade, from the Sheriff’s Department, was present for the formal signing of the Social Host Ordinance. Goihl moved for approval, Key seconded, and it passed unanimously. This ordinance is an attempt to curtail underage drinking, and makes it a misdemeanor for any persons, including parents, to host an event or gathering at public or private property where alcoholic beverages are available to persons under age 21.
Quade also presented the 2015 Federal Supplemental Boating Safety Patrol Grant contract which is a reimbursement grant of $5,875 for the 2015 fiscal year. The grant provides overtime reimbursement to offset additional costs in association with water patrol during times of high watercraft use and allows for additional enforcement and patrol. The Sheriff’s Department is required by the State to provide water patrol. Springer and Key moved.
Auditor/Treasurer
Auditor/Treasurer Denise Anderson was also present with three items, all of which were approved by the board. The first was a 1 to 4-day temporary on-sale liquor license for the Mazeppa Area Jaycees to be in effect for July 18, 2015. Key and Springer moved. The second was a 3.2 on-sale beer license to Mazeppa Area Jaycees; and an on- and off-sale 3.2 beer license to Roy’s Tavern. They were approved by the Sheriff and County Attorney. The third item was a premise permit for the Millville Valley Legion Post #579, Zumbro Township, for pull tabs at the Golf Course. Springer and Goihl moved.
Also Approved
In other business, the Board unanimously approved:
•setting June 2, 9:15 a.m. as the date and time for a public hearing to hear public comment on the proposed Clean Water Plan for the Wabasha Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD). Springer and Hall moved.
•authorization for the Wabasha County Attorney’s Office to enter into the Master Subscriber Agreement for Minnesota Court Data Services through a system managed by the Office of State Court Administrators. Springer and Hall moved.
•the Consent Agenda, which consisted of claims, May 5th meeting minutes, meal vouchers, per diems and job description and position classification for Administrative Specialist (pay grade 3, non-union). Springer and Key moved. Hiring for this position was approved in the 2015 Budget.
Staff Updates
In Staff Updates, Environmental Services Director Kevin Krause provided an update on the weight delivery contract for Solid Waste disposal. He said, “It calls for all pickups east of Highway 63 to be delivered to the LaCrosse facility; and everything west to go to either Red Wing or Olmsted County. Both are burning facilities, not landfills.” The County has a contract with the LaCrosse facility for a specified amount of tonnage of solid waste, but there is no penalty if deliveries don’t reach that amount. Krause said two haulers have not reported anything going to LaCrosse.
Springer pointed out the need for a contract with the haulers. He felt they should know that if the contracts are not being met, they (the haulers) may lose their licenses. “It is a statutory violation if they don’t have a license,” he said. “No contract, no license,”
Springer suggested giving them a certain amount of time, about two to three months, to get their records in order. Their reports will need to match the LaCrosse records, he said.
Administrator’s Update
In the Administrator’s Update, Plante said that they are making progress with the status of the SWCD contract. The recycling sheds were put up for sale and only one was sold. The others will be disposed of.
Commissioners Reports
In the Commissioners Reports, Wobbe had a Common Board meeting with Wabasha city officials and school officials. The City Police Department has added a Police Sergeant position. Their proposed event center is moving forward, as is the Riverfront Task Force. Wobbe also sat in on a South Country Health Alliance meeting as alternate for Springer, who was out of town. They are trying to do more work in-house, he said, instead of vendoring things out, as a cost-savings measure. Hiawatha Transit is continuing to grow and is approaching the summer pool runs. They are looking for drivers and are considering some Saturday runs. The River Run (from Kellogg to Wabasha to Lake City then to Red Wing) is popular. He noted some retirements in Public Health will be coming up soon.
Goihl had a Personnel Committee meeting that morning. They are looking at options, he said.
Hall had a Southeast Water Resources meeting. Their funding has been cut in half and they have had to cut back on programs. He had a SWCD meeting that morning and saw a demonstration about water run-off. He noted that there is a lot of education going on behind the scenes.
Springer and Key had no meetings.
Board Concerns
In Board Concerns, Wobbe noted that Human Resources Krista Bedsted has resigned.
Goihl and Hall said they would like their Agenda Board packets to be mailed to them rather than by e-mail.
Hall asked if they would be having any board meetings in Plainview. In the past, these meetings had been poorly attended. Plante noted difficulty in setting up times for these meetings, but said he would try again.
Springer said they are trying to set up a Common Board meeting for the Zumbro Falls and Mazeppa area. There is the one in Wabasha and one with Elgin, Millville and Plainview.The meeting adjourned following this segment.