In a flurry of rescinded, new and dead-for-a-lack-of-a-second resolutions, the Todd County Board of Commissioners attempted to put a lid on the controversy swirling around the Veterans Memorial Highway at their March 2 m.eeting.

The first action the commissioners took was to rescind their Dec. 15, 2009 resolution. The December resolution was to accept the recommendation of the Todd County Parks and Trails Board to designate a Todd County Scenic Loop, to be called Veterans Scenic Drive. The resolution did not mention a specific route for the scenic drive but many people believed it would include the long controversial County Highway 55, on the south end of Lake Osakis.

At the March 2 meeting, Commissioner Ruda urged his fellow commissioners to wait until veteran’s organizations from Long Prairie met to discuss the matter later in the week. He said action to rescind the resolution was premature. Ruda and Commissioner Neumann, voted against rescinding the Dec. 15 resolution. Commissioners Kircher, Blessing and Kneisl voted for it.

The second action by the county board was to pass a resolution to establish a route for a memorial highway. The resolution, which Ruda also said was premature, will create a Veterans Memorial Highway from the northern border of Todd County, at County Highway 23, to Bertha. There the Scenic Drive will connect with County Road 11, which passes through the center of the county, until it reaches Stearns County near Sauk Centre. In this new resolution the commissioners expressed hope that Wadena and Stearns counties would extend the scenic route into their counties. The commissioners directed County Engineer Loren Fellbaum to work with veteran’s organizations to come up with a plan for signs.

During the discussion regarding the new route, Commissioner Kneisl used profanity directed against Commissioner Neumann. Without being asked, Kneisl later apologized for his profanity. County Board Chair Dave Kircher, in response to a comment from the media, said he was not able to control what he called the “kneejerk” out bursts of his fellow commissioners.

Finally, Commissioner Neumann made a motion to create a spur from Highway 11 to Battle Point Park on Lake Osakis. No other commissioner seconded Neumann’s motion, so it

died. A spur connecting Veterans Memorial Park, in Long Prairie, with the Memorial Highway was discussed but not voted on.

Human resources

Solid Waste employee Lenny Doroff received a promotion to Grade 19. Doroff has been over seeing the day to day management of the county’s solid and hazardous, waste facility since late December. The promotion reflects his recently acquired responsibilities. County Administrator Nathan Burkett said Doroff is not taking on the policy-making responsibilities held by former Solid Waste Administrator Tim Cadwallader, however.

Assistant Todd County Engineer Ryan Odden has resigned and taken the position of Wadena County Engineer.

Livestock Advisory

Board At the request of Extension educator Randy Pepin, the Commissioners reappointed Leland Buchholz, Russ Keller and Jeff Rohde to serve four-year terms on the Todd County Livestock advisory board. Shawn Rowe and Bruce Paskewitz were appointed to complete the terms of two members who had resigned.

Last summer the board held a farm breakfast near Grey Eagle. The breakfast attracted over 400 people, according to Pepin. Pepin said that a June 12th breakfast is scheduled this year. The location will be disclosed later.

Pepin thanked the commissioners for their support of the Livestock Advisory Board.

Solid waste

The commissioners, Administrator Burkett and, the owners of Long Prairie Sanitary, Lert and Lona Zander, began a discussion that will likely result in the drafting of a new Todd County Solid Waste Ordinance. The intention is that the new ordinance will be similar to that of the other counties that are members of the newly formed joint powers board that will manage the Perham incinerator.

Great River Regional

Library

Commissioner Ruda said that the GRRL library board is nearing the end of its planned reorganization. He said that a report would likely be ready before the end of the month. More efficient use of staff will be an important part of the reorganization plan, according to Ruda. Commissioner Ruda, who is a member of the library’s board of directors, is also a member of the committee drafting the recommendations for reorganization.

County

administrator’s

report

Administrator Burkett told the county board that Verna Toenyan, the county Aging Coordinator, deserved recognition for her extra effort and leadership, in obtaining a grant from the Initiative Foundation. The grant will allow the exploration of possible services for the elderly. The commissioners asked Burkett to extend their thanks to Toenyan.

Burkett said that the new county motor pool is nearly organized and will be used on a trial basis starting March 15. He said he hopes that it will be fully operational by mid-April. He also said arrangements had been made with a local vendor to provide gas for the motor pool vehicles when they are in Long Prairie.

Burkett and the board members, were critical of the staff of the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) for recently drafting legislative positions without consulting its member counties. One of the recommendations is for the state to save money by reducing the state patrol by fifty percent. The Association said that the highway patrol often duplicates local policing efforts and fails to coordinate with local law enforcement. The association said their proposal could save the state $75 million. The association also recommended having counties take over responsibility for state highway maintenance, except for freeways.

Commissioner Ruda called the various recommendations shocking.