The Todd County Commissioners still have not decided what to do about the designation of a Veterans’ Scenic Highway.

During their Jan. 5 meeting, commissioners unanimously agreed to reconsider a motion made on Dec. 15 which created the designated highway. The reconsideration was made after commissioners learned that some Todd County veterans’ organizations opposed portions of the proposed route.

The proposed highway would loop through 93 miles of county roads, and would include the road to Battle Point Park and a one mile section of County Road 55, along Lake Osakis.

Both the American Legion and the VFW Posts of Long Prairie have stated in a Jan. 12 letter to the board that they are very much in favor of a scenic highway to honor veterans. However, they would like to exclude the Battle Point Road, stating that it is a small township road that may not be able to handle the traffic. The letter also said there is a “personal agenda” to the proposed one-mile section of County 55.

The idea for a Veterans’ Scenic Highway originated with members of a group that opposed development along County Road 55. At the county board’s Jan. 19 meeting, Kathryn Edenloff of Osakis told commissioners she wants to honor veterans. She had proposed renaming the one-mile section of County 55 at the Dec. 15 meeting. Funding for new signs and their installation would come from Ellsworth Johnson, a resident on County 55, according to Long Prairie Attorney Randy Brown.

A resolution by Commissioner Randy Neumann to support the Dec. 15 resolution failed on a 3-2 vote. Neumann, along with Commissioner Mark Blessing, voted in support of that resolution.

Speaking to a packed boardroom on Jan. 19, Commissioner Gerry Ruda said he had hoped that the groups of people in the county could reach an agreement. Veterans’ Service Officer Peter Bersheit was asked by commissioners to facilitate a meeting with veterans’ organizations before the next board meeting in February.

Ruda said he would like to see a new resolution that moves the issue forward. The board wants to truly honor each and every veteran, he said.

Conditional Use Permits

Commissioners unanimously granted a Conditional Use Permit for Laurence and Arlene Fox of Hartford Township. The permit will allow them to modify and expand their existing chicken butcher facility be adding a kill floor to process red meat for retail sales and custom processing.

A Conditional Use Permit was also granted to Jacob and Emma Miller of Eagle Valley Township to open a retail business. This business will make, sell and repair leather goods such as harnesses, saddles and accessory items.

Preliminary plat

Ben Zacher of Blue Spruce Development was granted approval for his preliminary plat of a development called Sandy Shores Too, on Lake Osakis.

He had been granted several extensions in order to work on complex drainage and shoreland issues. Ruda said he thinks everything done on the preliminary plat will be in the best interest of Lake Osakis.

County drainage ditches

The county ditch inspector was given permission to grant one-year extensions on Hold Harmless Agreement petitions. Landowners submit these petitions when they are working on ditch projects at their own expense. A one-year extension may be granted from the original petition date, provided that the project has not changed from the original permit. This will allow landowners time to complete a ditch project on their property.

Commissioners accepted two petitions for drainage ditch maintenance. The petitions

are for County Ditch 20 in Staples Township, and County Ditch 4, in Iona Township.

Road construction

The public works department will advertise for bids to overlay four miles of County Road 74 in Moran Township in this upcoming construction season. The project, estimated to cost $290,000, is in this year’s budget and would be funded by county taxpayers’ dollars.

However, County Engineer Loren Fellbaum said there is a possibility that the county could receive less state aid funding for road construction this year, thus putting a strain on the county’s budget.

With the exception of Commissioner Gary Kneisl, commissioners agreed to go ahead with the bidding. He said the county should have the money before spending it, and that the project could be put off until next year.

Sewage treatment rules

New rules mandated from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency MPCA) were sent back to the county’s planning commission. The new rules are for sewage treatment systems. The planning commission is to develop a draft ordinance, hold public hearings and bring a final draft back to the commissioners.

The Minnesota Rural Counties Caucus has sent a letter to the MPCA, stating they are not in support of the new rules. Letters will also be sent to state legislators, said Board Chairman David Kircher.

If the county does not adopt the new rules, they could lose some state funding, said Garry Johanson, Environment and Land Resource Management Director. The MPCA has granted counties an extension into March to develop new ordinances on the rules, he said.