Ag Society gets grant for building improvements

Historical Society approves ten-year lease for museum at the Todd County Fair

Delvin Durheim, representing the Todd County Ag Society, informed the Todd County Commissioners at their June 7 meeting that they had received a Legacy grant for upkeep of the building and properties at the fairgrounds.

The grant was for a little over $10,000. Durheim said that they would be adding a second holding tank by the wash rack, replacing an exhaust fan that will run quieter and more efficiently and installing more fans in the show ring to move the air and cool it better.

“We thought about ceiling fans, but didn’t know how they’d fare with the hockey pucks,” said Durheim.

They will also be doing some modifications to the horse stalls which don’t get the use they previously did. More room is needed for smaller animals so they will take some of the big stall doors off and replace them with gates for easier access.

He said the Historical Society has agreed to another lease for ten years for the museum at the fair.

“The fair is in July this year instead of August so we need to get this done,” said Durheim.

This is the third Legacy grant they have received.

In other business:

o Gave more information related to the special meeting that was held last week to hire Dan Vogt through NJPA Contracted Services which gives a 50/50 cost share. Vogt was introduced at the meeting. He will be assisting in the Human Resources Department.

o Approved the final payment of $5,711.30 to complete the contract with Marvin Tretter, Inc., for the 2015 Bridge Construction Contract located on 250th St. in Long Prairie Township.

o Todd County and the City of Long Prairie have previously entered into two separate cooperative construction agreements to reconstruct CSAH 40 and CR 86 in the summer of 2016. These agreements specified that these projects would be combined with similar projects in the City of Long Prairie and that the City would hold the construction contract for these projects with the county only participating financially as defined in the cooperative construction agreements.

The City of Long Prairie opened bids for these projects on June 2 and the Long Prairie City Council awarded a contract to RL Larson Excavating of Saint Cloud based on their low bid of $5,388,372.81. The board approved the agreement. 

o Acknowledged receipt of a Hold Harmless Agreement Petition from Henry Theisen for ditch maintenance on CD 25 located in Sections 24 and 25 of Germania Township. 

o Approved a HHA petition (after-the-fact) from Eric Denny for ditch maintenance on CD33 located in Reynolds Township Section 29. This was able to be done because there was no violations detected.

o Approve final plat for Little Sauk Hills Subdivision with conditions. Commissioner Randy Neumann asked who would be enforcing these conditions to make sure it is done.

Planning and Zoning Director Tim Stieber said that his office would be. He added that potential for erosion was what had caused the plat to be denied the first time. They had also originally proposed 20 lots but now three lots were approved.

o Approved the proposed paving project at Battle Point Park at a cost of approximately $6,600. Neumann said that he had solicited some donations and has received $400.

Commissioner Rod Erickson said that the public works department could incorporate the project dollars into their budget and be paid back from the Park and Trails fund over a three year term.

County Engineer Loren  Fellbaum said that was a feasible plan, but not a preferred one.

Erickson then suggested they put the $6,600 into the public works budget and not pay it back. Fellbaum asked if the general fund could help out, too.

He said that it was not a budgeted item, but he was not against doing it. He would rather they used part of the coordinator fund as had been previously suggested.

Auditor/Treasurer Denise Gaida asked if they would continue to solicit donations? Neumann said they would and then those could be earmarked to go back into the fund.

The action was approved using unused funds from the coordinator’s salary.

o Approved the hire of Brittney Just and Sam Larson as a full-time deputies pending the passing of physical exams.

o Approved the hire of Joshua Nice as a full-time deputy pending the passing of a background check, psychological and physical exam.

o Approved the promotion of Samantha Cofell to the position of nursing supervisor.

o Approved the Agreement between the Morrison, Todd and Wadena County Health Board, the delegation counties, for shared staffing to provide public health services.

Neumann asked if there had been any further discussion on creating a regional health board. Health and Human Services Director Jackie Och said there had been limited interest with no discussion at the executive level.

Commissioner David Kircher said he didn’t think he would be interested in any such board as it would take the ability to hire and fire away from individual counties.

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