The Todd County Board of Commissioners agreed at their Jan. 5 meeting to reconsider their Dec. 15 motion to create a Veteran’s Scenic Highway.

The roadway would loop through 93 miles of scenic Todd County roads.

Commissioner Gerry Ruda, who raised the issue, said that when he voted for the resolution he was under the impression that Todd County veterans’ organizations supported the proposed route. Since that time Veteran’s Service Officer Pete Berscheid has received letters from numerous veterans groups, including those in Long Prairie, Eagle Bend and Bertha, opposing the proposed route. Commissioner Kircher said he also had heard from the commander of one veteran’s organization who opposed the route.

It was stated at the Dec. 15 meeting that neither the Long Prairie Legion or VFW had taken a positive or negative stance on the route, according to a report in the Long Prairie Leader. Now, according to Berscheid, both organizations are opposed to the designation.

Although the Veteran’s Scenic Highway was to have traveled through much of the county, it included the controversial County Road 53 at the south end of Lake Osakis. The idea for a Veterans Scenic Highway originated with members of the group that opposed development near the area. Ellsworth Johnson, who was involved in a lawsuit regarding development on the Lake Osakis road, had agreed to pay for signs on the Veteran’s Scenic Highway, according to Commissioner Randy Neumann.

The decision to reconsider their motion does not mean they have rescinded their motions, the commissioners said. They will consider the designation of the route more thoroughly at a meeting in the upcoming weeks.

The vote to reconsider the designation of the Veteran’s Scenic Highway was not on the commissioners public or revised agenda.

2010 schedule & officers

The commissioners established their meeting schedule for 2010. As in the past, meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The four months that have five Tuesdays will also have a third meeting.

Since 2005 that third meeting has been held in the evening. The commissioners agreed to once again hold the meeting in the evening to give the public an opportunity to attend county board meetings.

The commissioners also scheduled a series of nine planning sessions throughout the year.

David Kircher was elected board chair and Mark Blessing was elected vice chair. The commissioners thanked Commissioner Kneisl for his service as board chair in 2009.

Official newspaper

The Staples World was once again designated as the county’s legal newspaper. As in past years, the World will contract with the Eagle Bend, Browerville and Long Prairie newspapers to also publish Todd County’s official notices. The World will receive $9.15 per column inch for its services (an increase of twenty cents from 2009) and split that amount with the other county papers.

The Todd County web site was also designated as an official publication for the county. Having the web site serve as an official publication improves the transparency of county government and the speed at which information is available to the public, according to Commissioner Kircher and County Administrator Burkett.

The Long Prairie Leader was designated as the additional official newspaper. The Leader generally publishes the county’s financial statements and delinquent tax list.

Sheriff

The commissioners approved receipt of a $1,000 grant award to the Todd County Sheriff’s Office from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety due to Todd County’s efforts in the Safe and Sober Challenge of 2009. Todd County won third place in the state for its efforts.

Sheriff Mikkelson credited Todd County Deputy Grinstead for organizing the office’s successes in the Safe and Sober Challenge.

Mikkelson said that the deputies had agreed to use the money for required emergency vehicle training. Their decision, he said, would save taxpayers $1,000.

County economic

development corporation

The commissioners voted to take over the management of the Todd County Economic Development Corporation for the next six months. With assistance from Administrator Burkett they will appoint a steering committee that will create a direction for the non-profit corporation. When the committee has completed its work, management of the corporation will be turned back over to its board of directors. The steering committee will be made up of leaders from agriculture, education, manufacturing, medical care, tourism and other sectors of the county economy. The development corporation has been inactive in recent months.

In other business, the commissioners:

o ADAPTED minimum salaries for elected officials. The minimum salary for county attorney was set at $56,070. The minimum for the recorder is $41,909. The sheriff’s minimum salary is $52,403 and the auditor-treasurer’s bottom line was set at $44,451. Burkett said that the minimum salaries were set using the compensation system used for all other employees. This step is normally taken every election year

o ACCEPTED a $25,000 grant on behalf of the veteran’s service office. The money will be used to support the services of an assistant veteran’s service officer, according to Veteran’s Service Officer Pete Berscheid. Berscheid said that without the grant funds there would be no funding for the position.

o WISHED Jim Jedlicka a happy retirement and thanked him for his 15 years of service at the county transfer station.

O APPROVED new $20 fees in the recorders office for amending a marriage license and obtaining a waiver for a minor to marry. Commissioners dropped the idea of licensing ministers and priests.