The Todd County Board of Commissioners is considering a merger of the Todd County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) with the county’s planning and zoning office, called the Environment and Land Use Planning Department (ELRM).

Although the board took no action during their April 20 meeting, Commissioner Gerry Ruda said the merger would be a positive step forward.

SWCD Manager Sandy Rohr said there would be monetary savings for both the county and the state. The goals of both the county’s ELRM and SWCD are conserving and preserving the county’s resources, she said.

The Soil and Water Conservation District board would remain intact, providing policy setting power over the district, she said. However, she said her board is concerned about the office not being located, as it is now, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency.

Garry Johanson, ELRM Director, said it would be a wonderful merger, with SWCD staff bringing into his office their customer service and resources.

There would be efficiencies and financial savings to be gained, said County Administrator Nathan Burkett. Now would be a good time for the merger because the SWCD has a lease that is expiring, he said. The SWCD could save $20,000 per year in rent and information technology services, Rohr said.

The proposal would have a formal management agreement from July 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2010. This would allow for time to form a joint powers agreement for the merger.

A day after the commissioners’ meeting, Burkett issued a press release making points that were not discussed at the board meeting.

According to the press release, the plan is to have the SWCD take over the administration of the county’s ELRM Department.

Road construction

Commissioners accepted the low bid of $2,605,885 from Knife River Corporation North Central of Sauk Rapids. The company was awarded the contract for this season’s road construction projects. There were five bidders, with the low bid coming in at about $150,000 less than estimated, said County Engineer Loren Fellbaum.

Road work will be starting on four miles of County Road 17 (Turtle Creek Twp.), about eight miles of County Road 18 (Ward and Turtle Creek), ten miles of County Road 22, two miles of County Road 32, and about four miles of County Road 24 from the City of Bertha west to the county line.

Knife River Corporation North Central was also awarded its low bid of $96,987 for bituminous patching on roads throughout the county.

Tri-City Paving of Little Falls was awarded its low bid of $54,892 for shouldering on various roads. Fellbaum had estimated a cost of about $60,000 for this project. He told the board that overall it was a good year to bid these projects.

Fairgrounds

A stage for performances will be constructed in the Beer Garden Building at the county fairgrounds. fair board member Delvin Durheim said the stage would provide both a stairway and a handicapped ramp. The stage can be utilized for many events during the county fair, he said. A building supplier is making a donation of supplies, and a grant application has been made that would help cover most of the costs of the stage, Durheim said. The fair board did receive a grant from the Valspar Corporation to repaint a building on the fairgrounds, he said.

County expenses for

sex offenders

Commissioners voted to send a message to St. Paul regarding unfunded mandates related to costs of civil commitment of sex offenders.

They want the state legislature and governor to know they oppose any legislation which shifts the costs to the counties.

The state legislature is no longer actively considering legislation which would shift these costs to the counties. However, County Attorney Chuck Rasmussen said the issue will not go away. Commissioner Ruda said during the last days of the session things get dumped into bills, and the message needs to be sent now to the legislators.

In other business, the board:

o SET 10 a.m. April 27 for a special county board meeting to discuss the financial situation of the South Country Health Alliance (SCHA). Commissioners have until April 30 to decide if they will withdraw from the county-based joint powers organization which supplies health care coverage for the county’s general assistance medical care clients

o APPROVED a proposal by Larson-Allen to perform an internal controls and process audit of the Solid Waste Department;

o APPROVED applying for government purchasing credit cards, whose use will be authorized by the County Administrator.