Posted: 6/14/05
Lee, Henke resigning from county
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Two long-time Houston County employees will be leaving this year.
Sheriff Mike Lee gave his resignation, effective October 31, to the county board in writing on June 7. He was not at the meeting.
County engineer Allen Henke also informed commissioners that he would be resigning effective July 1 of this year.
Lee worked as a deputy with the county from October 1975 to August 1978. He was rehired as deputy in February of 1985, then was elected sheriff in November of 1994.
Leeís letter stated that he was retiring for personal reasons. (His letter of resignation is printed on page four as a letter to the editor.)
Commissioners will now research their options to fill Leeís position for a year. His term was set to expire on December 31, 2006.
Henke, who is moving to North Carolina, drew praise from several commissioners. Dave Corcoran said Henke had done a lot of good work on township bridge replacement. Larry Graf passed along compliments from some ìold crusty boysî that had praised Henkeís work in the past six months.
Henke began working for the county in November of 1989, and was appointed engineer on May 1, 1998.
Personnel director Tim Comstock said that Henkeís staff was good and would be able to fill in during the interim period while a new engineer is being sought.
The Fillmore County engineer can sign any documents that require an engineerís signature. Comstock added.
Personnel items
The board approved putting Tony Schulte on the payroll as a maintenance specialist. He will work in the Spring Grove shop.
Gabrielle Augedahl was approved as a 60-day employee in the nursing department. until a receptionist is hired.
Caseload grand approved
The board also approved a caseload grant from the Minnesota Department of Corrections to Houston County Court Services for $35,895 per year for two years.
The grant is used to employ a third agent, Lou Ferguson. He does things like drug and alcohol testing, juvenile curfew checks, and follow-ups with offenders at their residences at non-traditional hours. Ferguson also works with people who are under pretrial release conditions.
The job is intended to promote accountabliity and rehabilitation efforts, according to Kevin Siebold, director of court services. ìMost agencies across the state are using it the same way,î he said on June 10.
Caseloads were getting too much for any rational follow up to be done, Siebold said, and the grant really helps.
Building inspector debate
The meeting concluded with a 20-minute discussion on whether the county needs a building inspector.
The county board has sent out letters to cities in the county asking if they would be interesting in sharing this position. Some commissioners feel that having a building inspector could eliminate construction-related problems for people, and could identify buildings that are being built for purposes other than those stated on building permits.
Joe Doucet of Caledonia and Paul Zilly of Spring Grove said they did not like the notion of a county building inspector. Doucet said it would end up being an unnecessary expense for the county.
Zilly said people can use private inspectors who want an inspection. He said the county could be liable if there were problems with a house that it had inspected.
Commissioner Tom Bjerke said that having an inspector would bring uniformity to building standards.
ìIs this a free country or is this the Socialist States of America?î Zilly countered.
Kelleher said he didnít buy that point. People have been bilked by contractors doing shoddy work and leaving town, he said. The county should try to mitigate those things, Kelleher felt.
ìWeíre all against people scamming other people,î Zilly said.
Trying to patch holes is a good thing, Doucet said, but building a good building is the contractorís responsibility.
Donít try to fix a small problem with a sledgehammer, he added. People who donít build up to code should get ìstomped on,î Doucet said.
City of Spring Grove administrator Tom Falbo wrote to the county board on May 18 that his city does not want to share a building inspector position with the county.
Commissioners added to restraining order
A harassment restraining order on Rickey George of Violet Hills, Arkansas, now includes Houston County commissioners.
Judge James Fabian ruled on June 1 that phone calls George made to second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher were ìharassing in nature.î
George can now contact commissioners only through writing presented to the auditorís office, or by scheduling a meeting with the entire board. He cannot have direct telephone contact with any commissioners or their families.
Kelleher asked for the restraining order after George had called his house and talked with Kelleher, his wife, and his 15-year-old daughter. The conversations were ìoftentimes rambling and upsetting especially to his wife and daughter,î according to court documents.
Judge Fabian added county commissioners to a July 30, 2004 Harassment Restraining Order against George. That order also includes county personnel director Tim Comstock, and it states that George cannot enter the courthouse without a pre-planned appointment with a specific department.
George has five other harassment restraining orders against. him. He has also been charged with harassment stalking, violating a harassment restraining order, obscene or harassing phone calls, disorderly conduct, making terroristic threats, driving without a valid Minnesota license, and fifth degree assault. He is currently undergoing a second competency evaluation to see if he is competent to assist in his own defense, and if at the time of the offense he knew right from wrong.
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