The Todd County board of Commissioners at their Feb.16 meeting passed a resolution containing nine Legislative priorities that they will urge area legislators to support.

The priorities include asking the legislators to support the creation of a committee to study potential revisions to the Minnesota ditch law, support the inclusion of funding for the Perham garbage incinerator in the bonding bill and to act to delay the implementation of new septic system rules by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Commissioners Gary Kneisl and Randy Neumann attended a legislative bonding hearing on Feb. 17, with the purpose of lobbying for Perham incinerator bonding assistance. They also attended a hearing on the new septic system rules.

Commissioner Gerry Ruda said that the Todd County Board will continue to engage in discussions with the legislature directly as well as through the Association of Minnesota Counties and the Minnesota Rural Counties Caucus.

This is the first time that the Todd County Board of Commissioners has developed legislative policies and actively pursued them though lobbying.

In other matters, the county board:

o ACCEPTED a $5,600 grant, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, for creating a hazard mitigation plan. County Administer Nathan Burkett said that the plan is mandated by Homeland Security.

o APPROVED a Conditional Use Permit, and preliminary plat, that will allow Phillip Steuve to start a body shop and sales lot for repairable vehicles in Round Prairie Township. The new business will be south of Long Prairie, near the Midway Gas Station, on Highway 71. Steuve said that his business will include auto body and frame repair as well as a sales lot with twenty to thirty repairable vehicles for sale.

o ESTABLISHED a gasoline charge account with Holiday Station stores. Employees using county vehicles will use the charge account. Burkett said Holiday provides a computerized audit system that allows purchases to be followed, via computer, on a daily basis.

He said he was unaware of any local vendor who provided a similar service.

o WAS INFORMED the county has issued an informal request for proposals for the purposes of finding a service provider to maintain the vehicles in the newly established motor pool. Qualified service stations are encouraged to contact the county zdministrator, or visit the county web site at www.co.todd. mn.us.

o LEARNED that the initial meeting to reorganize the Todd County Economic Development Corporation went well, according to Commissioner Gary Kneisl. The meeting was held on Feb. 9, in Browerville. Kneisl said there will be two more meetings before the Steering Committee selects a board of directors and brings their recommendations to the county board.