By Jan King Todd County reporter

The Todd County Commissioners, at their March 17 meeting, agreed to continue looking into what it would cost to upgrade a county-wide public safety communication system. The federal government is requiring an upgrade by Jan. 1, 2013.

The county sheriff will solicit bids for an engineering study and possible funding sources. Some equipment purchases might qualify for grant funding, said Robert Cuchna, dispatch supervisor in the sheriff's department.

The consensus of a meeting held on March 11 was in favor of an upgraded system, called ARMER, if a federal grant is available, Cuchna said.

Some of those attending this meeting were representatives from ambulance, fire and city police departments throughout the county. This upgraded system could cost about $1.8 million.

Battle Point Park An agreement was made with the Sauk River Watershed District for a shoreland restoration project at the county's Battle Point Park on Lake Osakis.

The project will begin on the north side of the park, said Lynn Nelson, director of the Sauk River Watershed District. Loose rock riprap will provide bank protection, and there will be native vegetative plantings to reduce erosion, she said.

The Todd County Soil and Water Conservation District is providing plants, said Gloria Stevenson, GIS and Land Services Manager.

Funding for the project is through grants (75 percent) from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Stevenson said. The county and other entities will be responsible for a 25 percent in-kind contribution, she said.

This is an exciting opportunity to preserve a very important cultural part of Todd County, said Commissioner Gerry Ruda. The commissioners would appreciate volunteers to help with watering or weeding of the new plantings, said Commissioner Randy Neumann.

Zoning administrator

candidate

Garry Johanson said that passion and a desire to solve problems drives him at his work. Johanson, who interviewed for the position of County Zoning Administrator, answered questions from the county administrator and the board.

Johanson said he is currently a development consultant in the Fargo area. He has served six years as the Planning and Zoning Administrator for Hubbard County, and has also served for four years on the Park Rapids City Council.

A team management style is a good way to get things done, he said. It would be important to attend meetings of the townships who do their own planning and zoning, and to have meetings between developers and their neighbors to address issues, he said.

Johanson was one of four candidates interviewed by the county's personnel committee, said Human Resources Manager Karla Nalezny in a telephone conversation after the board meeting. At the next board meeting, she will be asking commissioners to make an offer to Johanson for the position, which has been open for several years.

Historic courthouse

courtroom

Commissioners had no comment when asked why the local community theatre, the Prairie Players, moved their spring production from the historic Todd County Courthouse to the Morrison County Courthouse. County Administrator Nathan Burkett also would not comment, saying that this issue was not on the commissioners' agenda.

After the board meeting, Burkett said it was too expensive to repair the plumbing in the historic courthouse, which he said could cost up to $20,000. County offices moved out of the historic courthouse and into the main street government center. The building has been empty since Hands of Hope moved several years ago.

In a telephone conversation with Commissioner Gerry Ruda following the board meeting, Ruda said the Prairie Players approached him about using the courtroom in the historic courthouse for their production.

Ruda said he told them he would do whatever he could to make it happen.

Apparently the plumbing was a major challenge, and there was no way to make it workable, Ruda said. He was not aware the production had been moved to Morrison County until he received a mailing several days ago, he said. Ruda was not in the boardroom at the time when the other commissioners refused to comment.

Public works

Commissioners accepted the low bid of $83,014 for metal culverts from Johnston Fargo Culvert Inc. of Fargo, North Dakota, based upon a recommendation from County Engineer Loren Fellbaum. There were two other bidders for metal culverts for this year's construction season, with a high bid of $92,120.

"Bids were down three and one half percent from last year. That's a good sign," Fellbaum said.

Road restrictions are also being placed on area roads, he said.

Feedlot report

The number of feedlots in the county increased by 85, according to a report submitted by Zoning Coordinator Andrew Dahlgren. Todd County has over 1,100 feedlots of various sizes, he said in a telephone conversation after the board meeting. The increase, from about one and onehalf years ago, includes new and expanded feedlots.

Dahlgren said his department is required to inspect seven percent of the county's feedlots per year. He said most were pretty clean, and any problems would be directed to the Todd County Soil and Water Conservation District for help with cost sharing.

In other business, the board:

o GRANTED an extension of up to one year to James Sladek for a final plat of the subdivision called Sauk River Overlook in Little Sauk Township, due to the current real estate market;

o APPROVED a Conditional Use Permit for Central States Tower Holdings to erect a 400 foot communication tower for wireless telephone operations. The tower will be located west of Little Osakis Lake in Leslie Township.