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CJC planning discussed, land for new parking lot is purchased
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Buying a little more time for the planning stages of the proposed criminal justice center (CJC) and land for a parking lot near the former Meyer Furniture Store building were the two top agenda items during the April 7 Houston County Board meeting.
While the county and the city of Caledonia had agreed during mediation sessions to have the preliminary plans drawn up and approved by June 1 of this year, Commissioner Tom Bjerke feels the county needs to ask for an extension.
“We shouldn’t be throwing a lot of extra money into the planning phase of this, just to meet the deadline,” Bjerke said. “We need to have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to have. We need a ballpark figure on the cost before we submit any plans.”
“My understanding was that we agreed to cut the size of it (CJC) to no more than 65,000 square feet and where it would be located,” Commissioner Dave Corcoran said. “Now we’re not sure if we’re going to have the proper setbacks?”
Discussion on the CJC surfaced when County Financial Director Casey Bradley told the board the city needs to know what different departments are going to be located in the CJC, what the elevations will be, what types of screening will be used and what the potential traffic patterns will be so the county will be able to apply for the proper zoning permits.
“We don’t have to have the completed plans, but we do need to have a schematic,” Bradley noted.
Board Chair Larry Connery reminded the commissioners that the CJC Building Committee had two more meetings scheduled in April and an open meeting workshop on April 23.
“If it appears as if we’re going to need more time, we can take a look at it then,” Connery said.
Parking lot land purchased
The approximately two dozen county employees who soon will be calling the former Meyer Furniture Store building home, will now have a place to park. The county board approved a purchase agreement with Midwest Gas for 1.19 acres of land, which is south of the Meyer building. The purchase price was $40,000, which comes out to $1.20 per square foot.
“We researched past purchases along the Highway 44/76 corridor and land prices ranged anywhere from 25 cents to $2.89 per square feet,” County Financial Director Casey Bradley told the board. “Our original offer was 98 cents per square feet. After some negotiating, we were able to agree at $1.20.”
Bradley said the county highway department will level the land and spread and pack crushed rock on the 1.19 acres, which will more than handle the county employees who will be based out of the former furniture store building beginning this summer.
In other board action:
Software update
The board approved the purchase of new software for the County Assessor’s office. County Assessor Tom Dybing explained that the current Lotus system is 11 years old and not compatible with newer systems. It was pointed out that the county would not have to purchase a new server computer, just the newer software program.
Dybing added that Fillmore County is looking at updating their current system as well. If the two counties do their updates at the same time, they will realize a cost savings.
The county received a bid from Star Tech of Red Wing for $8,910.
Hazard mitigation plan
Emergency Services Coordinator Kurt Kuhlers reported the county’s hazard mitigation plan has been completed and is currently being reviewed by state officials. He felt the review process should be completed by the end of the month. The 300-plus page document has been developed by various township, municipal and county officials during the past year.
Kuhlers also noted that there is still about $1 million in the Workforce Fund, which can be used for flood recovery projects. An additional $50,000 remains in the DNR Flood Recovery Fund.
Kuhlers explained that contractors can be hired to remove debris from streams, creeks, culverts, and bridges through the DNR Fund and then Workforce employees will come in and cut up the branches, limbs and logs and burn it.
Unused vacation/sick leave
The board approved restoring 324.91 hours of sick time and 28.54 hours of vacation time to County Recorder Bev Bauer. The time had been banked when Bauer served as deputy recorder more than 10 years ago. When Bauer was elected County Recorder in November 1998, she requested a 10-year leave of absence, which was in compliance with Minnesota statute 3.088.
“This was banked time in case I would return to the deputy recorder’s position, or until my leave of absence expired,” Bauer explained in the letter to the board. “It is my understanding this is standard procedure to pay it to elected officials unless they have a leave of absence in effect.”
After reviewing the matter, the board concurred with Bauer and approved her request.
Public Health presentation
County Public Health Nursing Director Deb Rock and her staff made a presentation to the board, as April 6 - 12 was National Public health Week.
Those participating in the informative presentation included
• Dana Helton- home care;
• Heather Myhre- health promotion and public health preparedness;
• Lisa Schibner- correctional health practices;
• Mary Zaffke- family health programs;
• Dianne Sullivan- WIC program;
• Mary Thompson- immunization;
• Loretta Lillegrave- a financial summary.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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