Todd County Public Health Director Cheryl Schneider met with the Todd County Board of Commissioners at their Tuesday, May 5 meeting to update them on the H1N1 novel influenza virus.

She told the commissioners that there were currently no known or suspected cases of H1N1 in Todd County. She also said that she was in daily telephone contact with the Minnesota Department of Health.

Schneider said that the Department of Health has said that H1N1 is behaving like the seasonal flu every one is familiar with. The department is urging school officials, people in work places, and families to be alert for flu like symptoms. People who are sick should stay home, Schneider advised. She also advised that people take routine common sense hygiene precautions such as covering their mouth when they sneeze or cough, regularly washing hands and keeping their distance from sick people.

Schneider also told the commissioners that her department had done an inventory of supplies that would be needed in an outbreak. Her department had also reviewed the emergency plan.

"It's good to be prepared," she said.

Schneider said that her department is posting information about H1N1 influenza at the Todd County web site.

Roads and bridges

Five hundred miles of the county's more than 600 miles of paved roadway will receive freshly painted center and side lines this summer. The painting project was awarded to Traffic Marking Services of Maple Lake for a cost of $260,596.13. Traffic Marking Services had the lowest of three bids for the work.

The commissioner also approved County Engineer Loren Fellbaum's recommendation to make the final payment of $28,939.13 on the bridge construction project over the Long Prairie River in Hartford Township. Fellbaum will release the funds when he receives notification from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that the bridge construction project's storm water permit has been terminated. The total cost of the new bridge was $549,843.45.

Fellbaum also told the commissioners that the transmission on a 1998 Caterpillar road grader had gone out. He discussed whether the machine should be repaired or whether a new one should be purchased. Fellbaum, and County Administrator Burkett, will review the economics of both options and get back to the commissioners.

Recorder

Plats for new property developments will all now have to be approved by the Todd County Surveyor before they receive final approval. Until now, new developments within the limits of Todd County's towns were exempt from that requirement. Todd County Recorder Cheryl Perish said she asked that the surveyor review all plats because there had been some problems with property boundaries on plats. The review will be paid for by the developer.

Ditch 19

The Commissioners accepted $1,125 in cost sharing funds from the Todd County Soil and Water Conservation District. The money will be used to clean out a sediment pond on Ditch 19.

The total cost of the clean out will be $1,400. The balance will be paidwith funds from the Ditch 19 maintenance fund.

Planning discussions

The commissioners participated in a series of planning discussions initiated by Administrator Burkett.

In a discussion regarding the emergency manager they decided the position would continue to be a part time position. They will continue to weigh the merits of having the emergency manager to be part of the sheriff's department or a stand alone position. The current emergency manager, Bob Blessing, is scheduled to retire at the end of May.

In another discussion they encouraged Burkett to develop a proposed policy to allow county employees to participate in volunteer activities such as fire departments and the sheriff's posse during their work hours.

They also accepted Burkett's plan to reactivate the nine member committee for the county comprehensive plan. Burkett, Zoning Administrator Garry Johansen, and Commissioners Neumann and Ruda will be members of the committee to rewrite the ten year old plan. Burkett said that he and Johansen hoped to have a draft by the end of October.

Burkett presented the commissioners with a study proposal to consolidate departments and work flow in the county. The commissioners had requested such a study in a motion in late October. Burkett said he would be looking for cost savings and improved customer service while he conducted the study. He said the study would be conducted in an open and transparent manner.