Posted: 2/13/07
County Board votes down water resolution
By Roxy Lassig
Special to The Argus
The Houston County Board on Feb. 6 opted against a shoreland resolution which would require a 50-foot setback from all waterways in the county. The county currently has a 10-foot setback requirement.
Although nine out of the 10 counties comprising the Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board have adopted the resolution, environmental services director Rick Frank says it could actually be detrimental to the county.
"The 10-foot setback is the best management practice for the topography of our area," said Frank. "The 50-foot requirements would push farmers higher up on the bluffs, causing erosion problems in our waterways. What we have now is working. Thereís no need to change it."
Increased rate for private surveyors
The board voted to increase the fee paid to private surveyors from $400 to $500. County surveyor Dick Walter said the fee hadnít been raised in 10 years. The county hires private surveyors to help the county in an ongoing project to locate, monument and prepare a certificate of location of government corners to authenticate property boundary lines.
Walter had requested the fee be raised to $600 but commissioners denied that request because it would cause his department to be over budget for 2007. Walter said the $500 is still below the actual cost of providing the service.
Walters said that the county is about 71 percent finished with the project.
Surveyors completed 45 projects in 2006 at a cost of $18,200.
Recycling brochure to inform public
Houston County has been offered a unique opportunity to inform residents about recycling. Environmental services coordinator Rick Frank has worked with La Crosse and Onalaska to develop a professional, full color brochure at substantially less than it would cost one county working alone.
"Iím hoping the full color, professional design will attract attention and make people want to keep it handy for reference," said Frank.
The various counties, townships and cities pooled their funds so each piece is only $.14 for printing costs. The graphic design costs were also shared. Houston County will order 15,000 brochures to be inserted in county newspapers, distributed through area city halls and chamber offices. The information will also be put on the public access cable TV channels.
Caledonia Argus
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