Posted: 7/19/05
McRae named interim highway engineer
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
A familiar face will lead the Houston County Highway Department until a permanent engineer is hired.
The county board hired Kermit McRae of Caledonia on an interim basis at its July 12 meeting.
He replaces Allen Henke, who resigned on July 1.
McRae, who is active in many Caledonia civic activities, is a retired engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
His $800 per week contract calls for him to be available to the highway department staff approximately half of the work week, and available via telephone at all other times.
Commissioners Kevin Kelleher and Dave Corcoran both spoke in favor of the hiring, which passed unanimously. Kelleher said now is a critical time to have an engineer because it is construction season.
Corcoran said this will work better than borrowing an engineer from a neighboring county.
Other personnel items
The board approved two other personnel recommendations from director Tim Comstock.
ï Bob Jacobson was hired as a sign specialist effective July 18. It is an internal highway department move for Jacobson.
ï The board approved the hiring of a new public health nurse. It is necessary because the county has picked up 109 new caseloads from contracts that it signed recently with two insurance companies. The staffing for the caseloads is 75-1, public health director Linda Grupa said, but other nurses can increase their case loads. The new nurseís salary will be paid for by the insurance companies, and will not cost the county, Comstock said.
Discussion on deputy
The board also discussed for the second week in a row the decision by Sheriff Mike Lee not to hire a new deputy, something he had earlier requested.
Lee, who is resigning on October 31, told commissioners in a June 23 letter that he would like his replacement to hire the deputy.
The board asked to meet with Lee and chief deputy Ken Frank on July 12 before the board meeting, but only Frank attended.
Commissioner Tom Bjerke said that Lee would not swear in a new deputy, which means that even if the county proceeded to hire a new deputy, he or she could not work for the county because swearing in by the sheriff is required.
Bjerke said he was worried about the county incurring overtime without a new deputy. ìThey do need help,î he said.
ìHow do we control the overtime if in fact that seems [to occur]î commissioner Kevin Kelleher asked.
ìWeíll just have to monitor it monthly,î commissioner Ann Thompson responded. ìI guess we have to assess the sheriff is responsible for public safety. Itís in his hands.î
Commissioner Dave Corcoran said he found it ironic that Lee didnít want to hire someone because that person would have to work for someone else. ìWhoopiding. Every day of the week we work for somebody different,î he said.
Kelleher agreed. He said it was inconsequential who a person works for. ìIt is just a little bit childish,î he said.
Other business
ï The board also approved a Alternative Care and Elderly Waiver contract with The Meadows in Mabel to provide assisted living services.
ï The board approved a motion to reseal the airport runway using a ìslurry seal.î The cost is $50,690, with 70 percent paid by the State of Minnesota.
Maintenance supervisor Tom Molling showed board members a sample of the slurry seal material, which is made from coal dust. It is applied as a thin liquid and allowed to dry. Some of it will also be used to reseal portions of Highway 249. Molling said the material is rated to last 5-8 years. Commissioner Dave Corcoran praised the material as very durable.
That would be about right for the airport project, Thompson said, because of the length of time required to implement the Airport Layout Plan that the board passed earlier this year.
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