By Sara Strong
Rock County Sheriff-elect Mike Winkels updated the Rock County Board of Commissioners on work he’s done before he formally takes office in January.
The department advertised deputy openings in the department made available by retiring investigator Clyde Menning and a part-time deputy.
The entire process probably won’t be completed until next fall, but the applicants have been interviewed, and they’re completing tests and other phases for the process.
Besides being involved in the hiring process, some deputies will move up within the department.
Four employees have shown an interest in the investigator position Menning will vacate when he retires.
One is interested in drug investigations, in particular. "There’s a lot of issues that a drug investigator may have that a regular investigator might not have — and he couldn’t drop other investigations for drugs," Winkels said.
Winkels said he’s trying to work out a plan to allow qualified department members, eager to step into the position, do so. He said a rotating two-year term as investigator might work.
Under that system, investigators would devote time to certain unsolved cases even after they left the post. The lead investigator at a given time would also have people in the department to help if cases piled up.
Another issue for the department could be the initiation of some community members as volunteers or employees of the sheriff.
Winkels said, "I feel that there are a lot of people who are willing to do detail work for us — transfers or traffic control."
He’s gotten calls inquiring about that concept already. Some of the detail work could include transferring prisoners to the Prairie Justice Center in Nobles County, traffic control during parades or extra patrol during street dances or the Rock County Fair.
This additonal help would save overtime costs for the department and free deputies and sergeants to do regular work while on duty.
Any civilians working on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department would receive a radio and a night stick, and the public would be able to distinguish them from sworn officers.
County salaries
The Board approved 2003 hourly and salary pay rates, employment contracts and elected salaries at its Tuesday meeting.
Newly-elected auditor-treasurer Gloria Rolfs has a salary of $38,000 and sheriff-elect Mike Winkels’ salary is $55,500.
Jere Ohme, recorder, will earn $46,275, increased from $44,250. County Commissioners received a $500 raise, earning an annual $12,500 in 2003.
Contract employees also finalized salaries. They are: Kyle Oldre, county administrator, $65,448 — increased from $64,000; county attorney’s office, $65,000 — the same as last year; Mark Sehr, county engineer, $71,575 — increased from $70,000; and Randy Ehlers, director of Family Services, $65,000 — increased from $62,000.
The county tries to keep its salaries comparable to other counties of similar size.
The pay plan for other county employees this year will range from $7.46 to $26.42 per hour depending on length of time employed and job duties.
‘Livestock friendly’
Andy Steensma, Luverne, spoke to the Rock County Board Tuesday, voicing objections to the county becoming a designated "Livestock Friendly" county.
The county received information on the possibility of becoming Livestock Friendly and referred the option to the Planning and Zoning Board to research.
"I always thought Rock County was livestock friendly," Steensma said.
He spoke on his own behalf, but is a former legislator and worked for Farmers Union.
He said the biggest drawback to having a livestock friendly designation is the change in control.
"We want production, but I think we’re best off if we keep the control local," Steensma said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture grants the Livestock Friendly title to counties that agree to follow federal zoning restrictions, which are less stringent than Rock County’s current restrictions. One major difference is that Livestock Friendly counties require less setbacks for new feedlot facilities.
The Department of Agriculture lists the Livestock Friendly counties, which then hope to increase population as a result of drawing more producers.
"I just want to bring it to your attention that I have some concerns," Steensma said.
One of his major concerns, he said, wasn’t that large producers would operate in the county. In fact, he’d like to see current, local producers be able to expand.
Steensma said he worries that people without an interest in the local environment would be running large livestock operations and could leave problems behind.
Commissioner Ron Boyenga said he would like the county to be able to encourage production and protect quality of life issues at the same time.
Commissioner-elect Richard Bakken said, "I think we have learned that we don’t want to give up what we’ve fought so hard to get. … I would be cautious about jumping into bed with [the USDA]."
The Planning and Zoning Board will probably look at the issue after the first of the year.
Bike trail crossing
With the new bike and pedestrian path ready for finishing work, the Rock County Board and County Engineer Mark Sehr discussed the possibility of changing the yield sign to a stop sign north of Luverne.
The Blue Mound Avenue path crosses County Road 6 at a T in the road by the state park.
Vehicles would cross the bike path if traveling east on County 6, and a stop sign may allow drivers more opportunity to notice bikers or pedestrians if making a right-hand turn from Blue Mound Avenue.
A traffic safety engineer from the state will look at the trail and recommend a course of action to the county.
Sehr gathered accident histories from the intersection from 1984 to the present. Almost all accidents were one-car or deer hits, and none were two-vehicle collisions, so Sehr theorized that a yield sign is adequate.
Statistically, Sehr said, 60 to 80 percent of drivers don’t come to a complete stop at rural stop signs when there is a clear road view, as it is in this case.
Administrator Kyle Oldre said the county may want to consider the stop sign because of the amount of young people that will probably use the bike path, also noting that pedestrians are less visible to drivers than other vehicles are.
Even if a stop sign won’t replace the yield sign, Sehr said the county will post the trail crossing so drivers and pedestrians are aware of each other.