Posted: 10/17/06
County seeking engineering supervisor
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
County commissioners have redefined the job requirements of the proposed assistant county engineer on October 10.
The job will now be re-advertised as an engineering supervisor and not assistant engineer.
The job of assistant county engineer was recently offered to someone, but the person turned it down, personnel director Tim Comstock told the board.
The new job description will decrease the requirement of a four year degree to a two-year degree. It also drops the requirement that the person be registered as a professional engineer.
A very experienced technician could qualify, Comstock said. The starting salary would be up to $47,300.
ìOur goal is to attract the broadest range of candidates,î he said.
In other personnel business, the board approved moving Lynn Reburn temporarily from half-time to full-time as highway department accounting clerk. She will fill in for the accountant, who is going on a leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act.
Other highway news
The board also approved adopting an IRS ìcommuting ruleî that would require county engineer Marcus Evans to pay $3 per day for the use of a county vehicle.
Evans asked commissioners to approve a hearing to move $110,018 from the municipal state aid account to the regular state aid construction account. The county will lose some of the money next year if it isnít done, he said. Commissioners approved it.
The change is due to the City of La Crescent now having a population greater than 5,000. That makes it a Municipal State Aid city. Because of that change, municipal state aid funds that were going to be used on the County Road 29 project are not eligible for use in the city limits.
Other business
ï Wildcat park improvements: Commissioners approved spending about $11,000 to have county highway department employees make improvements on the building at Wildcat Park. Maintenance supervisor Tom Molling said the building needs a new roof, siding, doors, and windows. Employees will do the work in pieces and have it done by next May, Molling said.
ï New trailer at drop site: Environmental services director Rick Frank asked the board to purchase a semi trailer to hold and haul tires at the drop site in Caledonia. The old one failed inspection, he said. Molling has located two at a cost of $4,200-$5,200 each. The board approved the purchase.
ï New server: The board approved the $11,656 purchase of a server for the computers at the sheriffís department. It had been budgeted for 2007 but is needed now, information system director Lindsay Pierce said. He said the old one crashed so a temporary server was installed, The new one will have a five year expectancy, and will be an improvement because it provides continuous back up, Pierce said.
ï Extension agreement: The board approved contracts with the University of Minnesota Extension Service for providing extension programs and employing county extension staff. One is for half-time extension educator for $38,950; the other is for full-time 4-H advisor for $60,600.
ï Contract with SEMDC: The board approved a one year contract with Southeastern Minnesota Development Corporation in Rushford for the Economic Development Authority work provided by Joyce Iverson. The cost is $32,292 for two days of service per week.
ï Public health interviews: Four people were scheduled to be interviewed on October 10 for the position of public health nursing director: Michelle Borreson, Connie Meiners, Debra Rock, and Mary Thompson.
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