Posted: 1/9/07
County board considering policy for conducting meetings
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
County commissioners are looking at a policy for conducting meetings.
Personnel director Tim Comstock suggested at the January 2 meeting that the board formalize procedures for county board meetings, so that there is a policy for conducting open meetings.
One question is how to limit public input so it doesnít dominate a meeting, Comstock said.
There are models the county could look at, such as a handbook from the league of Minnesota Cities on how to conduct public meetings, Comstock said. It could extend to zoning meetings too, he added.
Tom Bjerke said he wants the public to have an open channel with the county board. Some people perceive the board as hard to approach, Bjerke said.
The policy would tell people how to proceed, Comstock said.
Larry Connery said the board could have something in writing, but should use it as a guideline with board discretion to vary from it.
Comstock agreed with that. He said he would work with auditor and attorney to come up with a draft.
The board also approved Comstockís recommendation to increase the full-time equivalency of Cindy Augedahl from .6 to .8. Augedahl has a clerical position in the county attorneyís office. It was approved through the budget process to meet an increased workload of the office, Comstock said. He will also seek an increase in the other clerical position in the attorneyís office at the January 9 meeting.
Publishing bids
The board approved four bids for printing public notices and advertising.
They were submitted jointly by Jane Palen, managing editor of The Caledonia Argus. She said Minnesota allows a joint bid because it doesnít benefit people of the county to have competitive bids.
"Youíre getting every legal publication of county publications in every legal paper in the county," Palen said.
Thompson said it guaranteed that everybody in the county has a chance to read legal notices.
Bjerke asked if there was a way to cut down on the length of the minutes.
That would be up to the board, Palen answered.
The Argus was awarded Schedule A, which is the minutes, and Schedule B, which is the financial statement, all at the paperís legal rate per line.
The Houston County News was awarded Schedule B, the second run of the financial statement, at the legal rate per line.
The Houston Banner was awarded Schedule C, which consists of items not required to be published in the legal newspaper, at the rate of $5.15 per column inch.
The Spring Grove Herald was awarded Schedule C at $6 per column inch, and Schedule D, which is the delinquent property tax list.
County Road 29 update
County engineer Marcus Evans said that Road Constructors Inc. is still owed $51,583 for the County Road 29 project in La Crescent. He asked if the county should move forward on it. He said he hadnít talked with La Crescent city officials about it.
Graf said some adjoining landowners had problems with slopes from the project. Graf said he would contact the owners and see if the issues had been resolved. If not, they should be addressed with the $51,583 retainage fee, Graf said.
Evans said he would like to see the issue cleared up before the next big project in La Crescent, which is the replacement of the Highway 61 bridge. Bid letting for that project will be at the end of January, Evans said. The county and Minnesota Department of Transportation still need to resolve the signal agreement with it, Evans added.
Thompson also asked Evans to put together a road tour sometime this spring, then do a five-year construction plan.
Other business
ï New officers: The board elected Ann Thompson as chair person for 2007. Larry Graf was elected vice-chairman.. It was the first meeting for second district commissioner Larry Connery, who replaced Kevin Kelleher.
ï Sanitation contracts: The board approved a waste hauling agreement for Harter Quick Clean-up, and gave a cost of living increase to Richardís Sanitation.
ï Appropriations approve: The board approved 12 appropriations for 2007. The top three are for SELCO, $98,375; Houston County Historical Society, $33,200, with an additional $5,000 in matching funds; and Houston County Agricultural Society (Fair Board), $18,000.
ï Disaster credit: The board approved disaster credit of $441.63 for Marshal and Jo Harris of Hokah, who lost their home to a fire.
ï Per diems increase: The board approved increasing the per diems to planning commission members to $60 per meeting; it had been $45. The per diems for board of adjustment menbers was increased from $30 to $45.
ï Computer delegate: Auditor Pete Johnson requested that Carol Hauser be appointed in his place as a delegate to the Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative. Hauser is a better choice because she has kept up with the software changes. The board approved the request.
Caledonia Argus
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507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com