Doug Dawson of CCG, the company conducting the study, informed Gaylord’s City Council last week, that there has been a favorable survey response to the proposed project. If the fiber optics project will pay for itself, he estimated that Internet service could be five to 100 times faster than what it is today.

Dawson said that Minnesota is one of the most aggressive states with the fiber-to-home project. He said that the Sibley County and Fairfax project is unique with the fiber-to-farm aspect.

The fiber optic service is seen as attractive to businesses. Some communities who have the service have found that it has helped to retain local businesses, Dawson said.

Jim Janicke and Larry Bumgardner have both filed for a four-year term as supervisor.

Brad Voss has filed for two-year supervisor’s term, which was created by the resignation of Arden Kuehn. Incumbent clerk Wayne Grams is unopposed.

Kelso Township will have a write-in ballot for the four-year supervisor’s term. No one filed for the position.

Mary Ann Buck filed for the two-year supervisor’s term. She was appointed to the position following the death of her husband, Maurice Buck. Marlyes Latzke has filed for clerk. Long-time clerk Jim Pfarr did not seek re-election. Latzke has served as deputy clerk for several years.

Incumbents have filed for re-election in other area townships.

In Alfsborg Township, James Kuphal filed for supervisor and Walter Asmus filed for clerk.

Allen Fredin filed for supervisor and Lori Doering filed for clerk in Dryden Township.

In New Auburn Township, Dale Schauer filed for supervisor and Donald Wolff filed for clerk.

Ed Pioske filed for supervisor and David Kahle filed for clerk in Sibley Township.

Sibley Township will have two questions on the ballot. Sibley Township will have a question whether or not to combine the clerk and treasurer’s position. Kahle has been serving in both capacities since the death of the township treasurer, Karl Dietz, last year. If the question is approved, the office would be combined beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

Sibley Township’s other ballot question, which will also be asked of Dryden, Kelso and New Auburn Township voters, is whether or not to transition to six year terms for town supervisors. In the past, the supervisors have served four year terms.

Filing closed for township offices August 17.

Tom Phillips, Sibley County Emergency Management Director, told Commissioners last week that a $23,000 matching grant, and two grants without a match for $27,000 and $14,000 have been secured.

The Federal Communications Commission is requiring the change in radio systems by 2013.

It is estimated that it will cost $1.626 million for all law enforcement, public works and emergency services in Sibley County to change radio systems.

Sibley County will be getting the ARMER (Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response) system because it will allow all of the agencies to communicate with each other.

The new radio tower constructed at the Minnesota Department of Transportation site in Gaylord is now operational. Testing of the radios is expected to begin soon.

In other business, the Board of Commissioners:

• Were informed by Laura Reid, assistant director of Public Health, about the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment, which is a change to the state’s procedure of examining eligibility for public programs. In the past, a 28-29 page assessment was completed to determine nursing home or community level of care for clients. Now a 130-140 page assessment will be completed electronically that will also look at personal care assessment and mental health assessments, in addition to nursing home and community level of care. The new assessment is expected to be implemented next July.

• Renewed contracts between Public Health and Julie Helping Hands of Buffalo Lake for homemaker services, personal care assistant services, supervision of PCA; Lee Medical of Glencoe for specialized supplies and equipment; Ace Resource Center, Waconia for personal care assistant services, respite care and supervision of PCA; Connect Care, Hutchinson for adult foster care, extended home care services, home health aide services, homemaker services, professional nursing services; Mommy’s Little Girl, Hutchinson for personal care assistant services, professional nursing services and respite care; First Choice Pharmacy, Gaylord for specialized supplies and equipment; and School health services with Minnesota New Country School.

• Were updated by Public Works Director Darin Mielke on the food shelf building study. Mielke said that if an addition is constructed to the building, it would likely be a spring project.

• Approved an application for a Minnesota Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit for Shady Lane Sportsmen’s Club, Glencoe, in New Auburn Township, for a one day event on Jan. 29, 2011.

Retirees from the Public Works Departments are maintenance employees Bob Plieseis and Dave Kolter out of the Henderson shop, Bill Donnay out of the Green Isle shop, and foreman Robin Doering. Sheriff’s investigator Ellerd Mathwig will also be retiring.

Commissioners earlier authorized advertising for full-time maintenance position. Sibley County will also advertise for a part-time maintenance position, up to 75% time.

The County Board also authorized recruiting for a Sheriff’s Department investigator. If the position is filled internally by a deputy, then a deputy will be recruited. Commissioners also approved recruiting a part-time deputy and a full-time public works shop foreman.

With the four retirements in the Public Works Department, Public Works Director Darin Mielke will be looking at restructuring the department.

Gary Ludwig, director of Trailblazer Transit, explained that two weeks after the July groundbreaking, the excavator noticed that five of the seven soil borings taken on the property were inconsistent to the soils discovered.

Specifications for the building and the preparation of the site was developed from the soil boring results. As a result, more money than expected was spent on excavation.

Ludwig said that Trailblazer Transit was told that the property was virgin farmland. However, what was discovered upon excavation that the two acre site that was given to Trailblazer Transit had been used to dump clean material from Glencoe and state construction projects over the course of many years. The soil borings reported only the first layer, and not the sub-layers of soils, Ludwig said.

Because of the soil problems, SEH charged an additional $6,100 for design fees. The office is now being lowered by one foot, and the garage is being lowered by two feet. There will now be a ramp connecting the office and the garage. The square footage and floor plan of the building remain the same.

By lowering the building, 7,000 yards of black dirt and organic material will need to be removed from the site, Ludwig said.

The Joint Powers Board, last week, removed the $78,000 asphalt charge from the project. An initial change order of $70,000 is predicted.

Additional costs are anticipated for concrete because of the soil issues, Ludwig said.

Soil borings were completed by Northern Technologies. The firm was paid $3,500.

In spite of the soil issues, construction is underway on the building footings. Steel for the garage has already arrived on site.

A revised budget for the building project will be presented at the next meeting, which will be September 23 at 9 a.m. in Glencoe.

In a related matter, the Joint Powers Board voted to delay payment of the additional $12,000 to SEH until the end of the project. The Joint Powers Board, in July, was told that the additional fee was needed in order to expedite the final drawings of the building. Although the revised final drawings were due July 15, they didn’t get completed and provided to Trailblazer Transit until August 18.

Darin Mielke, Public Works Director, Tuesday, explained to Commissioners that two railroad crossings, on CSAH 9 just west of Arlington, and CR 61 just east of Green Isle, have left a drop-off adjacent to the through lanes which used to be filled with gravel shouldering.

In July, the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority, by a 3-2 vote, approved paying the additional expense to provide planking for the road width. However, the Rail Authority, earlier this month, rescinded its motion, feeling that it would set precedence when rehabilitation work in completed in other counties.

Mielke said that it is estimated to cost $2,000 to fix the CSAH 9 crossing. An estimate is not yet available for fixing the CR 61 crossing.

Commissioners unanimously supported repairing the crossings before winter.

In other business, the County Board of Commissioners:
• Learned that the CSAH 11 and CSAH 12 Intersection Safety Projects are currently at the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s central office. It is hoped that the project will be bid later this fall.

• Were informed that the County is waiting for Department of Natural Resources and Corps of Engineers permits in order to begin the Rush River Park Stream Bank Stabilization Project. This is will paid with federal emergency funds.

• Learned that the federal government will pay for 75% of the cost to repair the CSAH 6 box culvert. The state has yet to decide whether or not it will pay toward the repair.

• Approved purchasing an e-mail encryption solution for transmission of private data to state agencies, other counties, and medical facilities for a cost of $6,370 annual. Currently this information is being faxed.

Meetings will be held:

Monday, Aug. 30th
Henderson City Hall at 6 p.m.
Green Isle City Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 31st
Fairfax City Hall at 6 p.m.
Gibbon City Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 1st
Sibley County Service Center, Gaylord at 10 a.m.
Arlington Community Center at 6 p.m.
Gaylord City Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 2nd
Winthrop City Hall at 6 p.m.
New Auburn City Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 3rd
Sibley County Courthouse Annex basement, Gaylord at 10 a.m.

County Commissioners, by a 5-0 vote, approved the measure Tuesday.

In addition, Sibley County increased the health insurance cap by $30 for single coverage and $50 for family coverage next year. Health insurance premiums for next year are increasing $35/month for single coverage and $95/month for family coverage.

With the increase, Sibley County, next year, has the cap set at $540/month for single coverage and $680/month for family coverage.

Commissioner Bill Pinske, who serves on the budget committee, explained that by increasing the insurance cap, this would result in those receiving single coverage getting almost all of the increase paid, and about 50% of the family coverage increase paid.

Commissioners also agreed to include $100,000 in the Commissioners’ contingency fund in the 2011 budget. These funds were included in the budget for possible state unallotment and other needs, Pinske said.

Auditor Lisa Pfarr and her staff will need to make these approved changes to the 2011 budget and levy. Final approval of the preliminary levy will be made on September 14.

Prior to the most recent changes, Sibley County’s adjusted net property tax levy was $10,847,387, a decrease of $36,729 or .34% from the 2010 levy of $10,884,118.

The Board of Commissioners will approve the final levy in December.

LeRoy Grewe, who has held the position since 1978, is retiring at the end of term, Jan. 2, 2011. He submitted his resignation for retirement purposes last month.

Grewe met with commissioners last week to discuss how to fill the position. Avery Grochow has served as assistant County surveyor since the 1970’s. He also said that Luke Kranz, an employee of SEH, is also certified.

A partial list of County Surveyor duties, as prepared by Grewe, include:

• Replace destroyed or unsuitable monuments along with preparation of updated certificates of location.

• Furnish other land surveyors copies of the maps and certificates of location.

• Review all certificates of location filed by other surveyors.

• Assist the Recorder, Title Examiner, Attorney and other County offices with review of legal descriptions.

• Preparation of Auditor’s plats if required.

• Preparation of easement descriptions and highway plats for the County engineer.

• Review all proposed final plats to be filed within the County. If a plat is located outside of a municipality, then the County surveyor is to submit a preliminary report on the preliminary plat to the County.

Those interested and qualified for the position will be asked to submit a letter of interest. An announcement is being planned on Sibley County’s website in several weeks.

County Commissioners approved the rate increase last week.

Three plans are offered – silver, bronze, and health savings account.

The silver single plan will increase $48 to $612/month, while silver family coverage will increase $133/month to $1,695/month.

Bronze single coverage will increase $35/month to $442/month, while the bronze family premium will increase $95 to $1,216/month.

Health savings account single coverage will increase $34/month to $433/month. Health savings account family coverage will increase $93/month to $1,188/month.

Roseann Nagel, Human Resource Director, informed the County Board that a recent survey completed by the Employee Relations Committee indicated that 75% of employees responding would prefer wage increases instead of increasing the health insurance cap.

A law library professional service agreement with Darnell Halverson was also approved. Under the contract, Halverson will work approximately three to five hours/week and be paid an hourly rate of $15. The cost of the agreement will not exceed $4,000/year. Each party will give a 30 day notice to terminate the contract.

In other business, the County Commissioners approved a property tax abatement of $26.05 for David Zellmann.