Rock County Commissioners meet April 16
Herreid Board Room 9:00 A.M.
Rock County Courthouse April 16, 2024
The meeting was called to order by Chair Burger with all Commissioners present. Also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, Deputy Administrator Susan Skattum, County Attorney Jeff Haubrich, Sioux Valley Energy Representative Brandon Lane and Star-Herald Reporter Mavis Fodness.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve the April 16, 2024, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Williamson, to approve the April 02, 2024, County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Evan Verbrugge, Sheriff requested approval to update the Civil Fees to be collected for the following:
•Commission Fees - 7% of Balance
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve the Sheriff’s Civil fees, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Sheriff also presented a brief update regarding testimony given on Senate file 4719, Public Safety Radio Grants Appropriations; the County Board thanked him for his efforts.
Mark Sehr, Engineer, requested to surplus Unit #244, a 2003 Sterling Tandem Axle Dump truck with the snow removal attachments; motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote. The surplus equipment will be sold on a government auction site.
The Engineer presented bids for the 2024 Pavement Marking project:
Sir Lines-A-Lot - Edina, MN $82,322.92
Traffic Solutions, Inc. – Harrisburg, SD $91,397.44
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Williamson, to award the project to Sir Lines-A-Lot for $82,322.92 as per the Engineer’s recommendation, declared carried on a voice vote.
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims with Per Diems of $900.00; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Wiliamson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote. A complete listing of the claims is available upon request at the Auditor/Treasurer's office.
CLAIMS OVER $2,000
CHS INC $8,104.75
COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION 5,741.55
COUNTIES PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY 7,210.00
EMERGENCY AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOG 2,823.80
FALLS ARCHITECTURE STUDIO LLC 14,720.00
FIDLAR TECHNOLOGIES INC 67,685.73
KETTERLING SERVICES INC 9,438.82
LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE 2,125.00
LUVERNE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATI 7,000.00
LUVERNE BUILDING CENTER, INC 3,464.28
LUVERNE/CITY OF 201,354.11
LYON COUNTY LANDFILL 14,967.16
MORRIS ELECTRONICS 7,258.14
MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION 3,384.16
NORTH COUNTRY CHEVROLET 48,304.10
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINN 14,025.70
ROCK COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 4,350.00
ROCK COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES 2,673.83
SANITATION PRODUCTS 42,260.00
SOUTHWEST HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICE 29,112.00
STAPLES ENTERPRISES INC 2,587.76
TOLLEFSON PUBLISHING 7,012.82
64 PAYMENTS LESS THAN $2,000 25,808.97
TOTAL $531,412.68
The Auditor/Treasurer presented the Fund Balance report stating that the first half of real estate taxes are coming in and that she created an Economic Development Housing Aid fund for the receipt of state funds; motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Auditor/Treasurer presented a tax abatement request on parcel #12-0011-000 in Vienna Township, the abatement corrects a classification change only and does not impact the tax amount; motion by Williamson, seconded by Overgaard, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Auditor/Treasurer informed the County Board that with the recent approval of claims for the Transfer Station, they will need to authorize a fund transfer; the Auditor/Treasurer recommended a transfer from Capitol Project funds of $77,339.53. Motion by Williamson, seconded by Overgaard, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Burger, seconded by Reisch, to approve a liquor license for the Luverne Country Club, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was again in receipt of a quarterly budget report for their review; no additional discussion took place.
The County Board was in receipt of the 2024 Tax Rates and Comparisons for Rock County. In summary, the breakdown is as follows:
76.63% - Agriculture
15.50% - Residentials
7.87% - Commercial Industrial
The County Board was in receipt of a letter from the City of Luverne requesting the remainder of the amount pledged from the county for the daycare project. Motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to pay the City of Luverne $200,000, the remainder of the ARPA funds, declared carried on a voice vote. Total paid from the county is $450,000 per County Board action of February 07, 2023.
The Administrator informed the County Board of a collaborative effort to bring a WWII Jeep exhibit to Rock County; the exhibit will be part of a Jim Brandenburg film exhibit and will be used at the Rock County Veteran’s Memorial Museum. The WWII Jeep will become a community asset to be used at various military events. Oldre requested Rock County make a donation of $7,000 payable to the Luverne Area Community Foundation for the project and to be paid from the furniture/fixtures/equipment line of the Veteran’s Memorial Building. Motion by Burger, seconded by Reisch, to approve the $7,000 expenditure, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator stated that he has participated in an EM drill at the hospital and provided project updates referencing the Rock-Nobles Community Corrections and the Terrace project at the Veterans Memorial building. Oldre requested the Building Committee to meet to discuss interior updates that will occur due to the carpet replacement and office re-models on the second floor. Oldre stated that a meeting with SEH Engineering is scheduled next week to review potential expansion details of the Transfer Station.
The Administrator’s office also conducted interviews for the Veteran’s Service Office and Administrative Assistant at Extension with offers moving forward.
Motion by Williamson, seconded by Thompson to submit a letter of support to state representatives for increased legislative funding for mental health services as per a request from the Luv1LuvAll/Brain Health, declared carried on a voice vote.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Rock-Nobles Community Correction and interviews for VSO.
Commissioner Williamson stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Rural Water, Soil & Water Conservation District and One Water One Plan.
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Fair Board, Land Use, Planning & Zoning and interview for the Extension Educator in Rock County.
Commissioner Thompson stated that she attended the following meetings/events: n/a
Commissioner Burger stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Southwest Health & Human Services, Rock-Nobles Community Corrections, interviews for VSO.
With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting was adjourned by Order of the Chair.
(05-23)