GOLF CART ORDINANCE DISCUSSED DURING OPEN FORUM

The Murray County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 3rd with all members present. Chairperson Molly Malone led the meeting. Several persons attended the meeting to make comments during the Open Forum portion. Their topic of concern was the new Golf Cart Ordinance put in place by the Commissioners in an effort to control the use of golf carts by children around Lake Shetek. Members of the group found the $30 per person permit charge excessive for those families with several members. Also of concern was the difficulty in purchasing the permits during business hours at the government building for those coming from out of the area. Members of the group, Commissioner Malone, a member of the sheriff’s office and the Deputy Registrar’s office will meet to form suggestions for changes to the ordinance.

Auditor Heidi Winter presented a pay request from Engelkes Electric for the electrical upgrades at Swenson Park in the amount of $40,000. If the work has been completed, Winter was advised to pay the request minus the $2,000 retainage called for in the contract. A donation of $200 was accepted from the Red Rock Sportsman Club to cover electric costs of the aerator on Lake Louisa. Departmental budget discussions were set for two consecutive days in July.

Luke Schryvers, CEO, of the Murray County Medical Center presented his monthly update to the Board. He has been successful in hiring a Clinic Manager, Broolyne Boerboom, and a Marketing Director, Amber Sorenson along with a Dietary Cook and a casual pharmacist. The next step in the EPIC rollout will be payroll on June 19. There will be an adjustment to the payroll date to fall in line with the Sanford system. Test kits for Covid are plentiful and are being make available to those in need of them. The OR HVAC project has been delayed due to difficulty in procuring the supplies. The new system will reduce the humidity levels that have been causing problems. No surgeries will be performed during the two weeks of construction. The past month was busy with $6.5M in Accounts Receivable. There was a net income of $181,000 for the month.

Emergency Management Director Carl Nyquist returned to the Board for an additional $5000 for replacement of the warning siren on Lake Sarah East. The only unit available at this time is equipped with a battery backup with a slightly higher cost than had been approved at the previous meeting. Economic Development Director Justine Wettschrek received approval for a revolving loan fund loan to Antonio Moreno for the purchase of Carlson’s Corner C-Store. The term will be for ten years at 4%. First State Bank Southwest will provide $200,000 and SWIF will provide an additional $50,000.

Zoning Director Jean Christoffels presented the Conditional Use Permit for Spronk Bros. III Real Estate LLLP. The permit was approved for an expansion to 1,440 animal units in Sec. 32 Moulton Township. The CUP to allow a telecommunications tower in Sec. 23 DesMoines River Township was approved. The CUP of USS Slayton Solar LLC was also approved allowing a One mw solar garden in Sec. 16, Slayton Township. The permit calls for a removal time of one year in the event the garden is decommissioned. Another condition was to have a glare study completed. This has already been done and the results provided to the Board members. A Resolution of Support was approved for the Cottonwood River One Watershed, One Plan project. Each governmental entity within the Cottonwood River Watershed needs to take this action prior to application for funds.

Human Resources Director Ronda Radke informed the Board of the hiring of Jesse Ray as a Museum Assistant.

Highway Engineer Randy Groves requested approval for the purchase of a 2022 Cimline M2 Rubber Melter at a cost of $78,500. The machine is used for crack filling and has been rented each year at a cost of $6400 a month. Bid opening for stripping of half of the county highways was set for June 7.

Interviews of candidates for the position of County Administrator will take place next Tuesday, March 11. There was discussion of the best way to handle those and if there would be input from department heads prior to making a decision.