Posted: 7/24/07
County board receives requests as budget process gets underway
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Fall is budget time for many government entities, and Houston County falls into that category. On Tuesday, July 17, the Houston County Board received several funding requests - from the County Historical Society, and Southern Minnesota Tourism Association.
HCHS request
Houston County Historical Society (HCHS) President Shirley Johnson presented the board with the upcoming yearís projected budget, and an overview of the societyís activities.
The county museum, located near the County Fairgrounds in Caledonia, attracted more than 4,500 visitors during the past 12 months. According to the registration book, persons from 26 states, several dozen countries, and close to 100 different cities in Minnesota visited the museum and/or history center.
Johnson noted the HCHS Board of Directors will be meeting with architects in the near future to finalize plans for the 20,000-square foot addition to the current county museum. HCHS has raised over $550,000 during a four-year campaign, but still needs close to $100,000 to reach its goal.
Commissioner Tom Bjerke asked if there were any grants available to help pay for the museum project.
"Because we are an all-volunteer organization, we donít qualify for some of the grants. If we had a full time employee, say a director, there are grants out there we would qualify for."
Johnson added they have qualified for one grant that will add some money to the building fund once they raise 90 percent of the money needed to complete the project.
Bjerke asked if the HCHS had contacted any philanthropic foundations for help.
"Many of the foundations that do donate cater more to people in need," Johnson replied. "We tried to get a grant from the state legislature, but that didnít go anywhere either."
"Houston County has been so generous to the Historical Society,," Commissioner Ann Thompson said. "Hopefully you can get more local support. You bring many people into the county, and do such a wonderful job preserving and promoting our countyís history. Everyone in the county should be so thankful for what you do. And you do it will all volunteer help!"
Johnson noted they will be advertising for bids very soon, hope to open bids in early September and break ground this fall.
The HCHS presented a request of $42,200 from the county for operating year 2007-08. The request is $4,000 more than they requested last year. The HCHS fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
SEMTA request
County EDA Director Joyce Iverson and Bev Jiardina, who serves on the Southeast Minnesota Tourism Association Board, presented the county board with their annual appropriation request.
According to information provided by SEMTA:
ïLeisure and hospitality gross receipts in Minnesota totaled over $10.2 billion in 2005. This generated over $628 million in state sales tax.
ïOf the 41 million person visits in Minnesota in 2005, 44 percent visited the metro region, 19 percent visited the southern region, 16 percent visited the northeast region and 21 percent visited the north central west region.
ïJobs in the leisure and hospitality industry are expected to increase 19 percent, to 46,000 by 2012..
Jiardina mentioned Southeast Minnesota is becoming a very popular tourist destination and the tourism industry will soon replace agriculture as the number one revenue producer in this part of the state.
SEMTA is asking for five cents per capita from the county, which is the same amount requested for last year. The five cents per capita translates to approximately $1,000, which is what the county board approved in 2006.
In other action
Accounting clerk hired
The board approved the hiring of Janet Becker as the new accounting clerk for the county highway department for 32 hours per week.
County Highway Engineer Marcus Evans said there were 30 persons who applied for the job and nine people were interviewed.
Becker will begin duties on Monday, July 30.
Jailer/dispatcher opening
Personnel Director Tim Comstock reported part time jailer/dispatcher Daphne Fisher submitted her resignation. Her last day of work will be July 31. Comstock was given board approval to begin the recruitment process for a replacement.
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