By Sara Strong
The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved the five-year road and bridge plan to be taken to the next joint meeting of township boards for input.
County Engineer Mark Sehr presented the plan to board members. Major projects in 2002 include rural bridge replacements and work within the city of Luverne.
In Luverne, McKenzie Street will be graded, with curb, gutter and sidewalk work; the school area will gain a turning lane from Dodge to East Park Street, Veterans Drive will be the continuation of the bike and pedestrian path that will continue what is on Blue Mound Avenue through Blue Mounds State Park.
The planned bridge work includes nine in Rock County townships. Sehr is steadily catching up to what the state has determined are deficient bridges. There are 37 that still need work, compared with more than 80 a few years ago.
Rock County's 2002 levy for the highway department is $636,600 and the county has $2,641,969 coming from the state in gas tax revenue and license fees.
Sehr said the department has spent at least $100,000 less than last year because of the small amount of snowfall. However, March can bring heavy snowfall, and the budget year includes November and December.
Pool movements
The commissioners received a draft of what will be advertised to prospective buyers of the Pool and Fitness Center.
The draft is for commissioners and councilmen to review and then recommend any changes before the next joint pool, city and county meeting March 25.
The request for proposal draft includes what the city and county would require of possible future owners, lessees or managers.
The board said it looks forward to any proposals the advertising gets, keeping in mind that any and all can be turned down.
Office security and accessibility
The Minnesota County Insurance Trust reviewed security in the Family Services building. It recommends that the county install a door that's monitored by an electronic buzzer by the receptionist.
The public can enter the vestibule area without approval, but to gain entry through the second set of doors, entrants will need to wait for the buzzer.
The board approved the $6,990 estimated cost for the new security measure.
The building will also get a handicap-accessible door in the front. The door will have a button that can be pushed to automatically open the door.
Disabled people and parents with small children in carriers or strollers have difficulty getting through the heavy doors.
The board approved that at a cost of $5,598.