New Todd County coordinator in place

unty coordinator/human resources director for Todd County, was introduced to the board of commissioners at their regular meeting Aug. 16.

Herges gave a brief rundown of her work history which includes 10 years in the private sector and the last 13 years in Mille Lacs County where she also served as interim county coordinator.

She said that through holding that position, she knew she was capable of doing this type of work. She had served Mille Lacs County as assistant county administrator for around eight years.

She told the board she was very excited for the opportunity to serve Todd County and was excited to get started.

In other business:

o After discussion, the board approved a contribution to the Initiative Foundation for $5,500. The amount requested had been $5,300 which was up $100 from last year. However, Commissioner David Kircher stated that he would like to see that increased more because of all the positive returns to Todd County.

He said that he felt it was important to invest in something that invests back to the county.

Todd County Economic Development Director Rick Utech also spoke about some of the things which the Initiative Foundation has done in the county in the past year.

It was pointed out that for every local dollar contributed, the Initiative Foundation brings $3.80 back to the county.

o An issue in the wording and recording of a property that had been tax forfeited and repurchased by the late Wayne L. Minke and Luanne R. Minke was corrected so that the property could be sold. There was no financial implication for the seller or the county.

County Commissioner Rod Erickson abstained from the vote as he is involved in the purchase of the property.

o Approved an agreement which will authorize the Minnesota Department of Transportation to reimburse Todd County $10,456.99 for the road life consumed by the detour which will make use of Todd County State Aid Highway 46 and Todd County State Aid Highway 51 as a detour route during the contract construction to be performed upon, along and adjacent to Highway 94 at the junction of Highway 27.

o Approved the final payment of $5,910.88 to be paid to Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC for the 2016 Highway Safety Improvement Program Pavement Striping Contract along various highways in the county. Partial payments amounting to $112,306.68 have been previously made to the contractor as work progressed.

o Approved the rezoning of property owned by Roger Hendricks in Villard Township from R-10 to AF-2 zoning with no conditions.

o With several conditions, the Conditional Use Permit for a second single family home on one parcel in the matter of Tim Kasper and Kelli Karst and Eleanora Kasper was approved.

The conditions include:

1) Taking down of signage and no business advertising. An auto body repair business was at one time on the property.

2) Septic design for address 16988. This system failed the compliance inspection.

3) Septic inspection for 16972 submitted prior to home permit being issued 

4) Land use permit for home at 16972.

o Approved opting out of SF2555, the Granny Pod bill.

It was felt that since other mechanisms are in place to establish hardship dwellings in the county, SF2555 is not needed at the present time. 

Kircher asked if they could opt back in if they decided to at some point.

Planning and Zoning Director Tim Stieber said that the commissioners could rescind this resolution if they chose to make SF2555 active in Todd County at some point in the future.

o Accepted the resignation of Matt Danzl, WCA Coordinator. His last day with the county is Aug. 19.

Stieber said he would be seeking input from the commissioners, Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors and staff to evaluate the position, formulate appropriate roles and responsibilities for the position, and bring forth a request to advertise a revised position description at a future board meeting.

o Accepted the resignation of Child Support Enforcement Aide Angela Jern effective Aug. 2. Along with that, the board approved health and human services to recruit and hire a support enforcement aide.