The Todd County Commissioners accepted the resignation of long time Social Services Director Frank Sandelin at their Tuesday, Jan. 17 meeting. Sandelin said he has been with Todd County Social Services for thirty-one years. He started with the agency in 1980 and became its director in 1984.

“I’ve known Frank since I’ve been with the county,” county commissioner, and former Todd County Sheriff, David Kircher said. “Over the years I’ve learned a lot from him.”

“You are respected and you will be missed,” Commissioner Randy Neumann said.

Sandelin’s retirement will be effective on June 1.

Economic development

Todd County Development Corporation Executive Director Rick Utech told the commissioners that there is a lot of business construction going on throughout Todd County.

“That is very exciting to see,” Utech said.

Utech appeared before the commissioners to make his quarterly report. He said that 2011 had been a successful year for the development corporation. Utech said that a revolving loan fund had been established in June and that the first loan from the fund had closed in December. The loan was made to KB Specialties of Grey Eagle. Utech also pointed out that the development corporation had succeeded in putting together a contract to open a Small Business Development Center in Long Prairie.

“ The center can be used by people planning to go into business or by an existing small business,” Utech said.

Under Utech’s leadership the development corporation met, or exceeded, all of the goals set for them by the county board for 2011.

Utech said that in 2012, the development corporation will start a membership program to wean it from reliance on county funding. The county will provide the development corporation with $82,100, as well as office space and support, in 2012. The development corporation will hold its annual meeting on Monday Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Browerville Community Center.

Staples overpass

The commissioners signed an agreement that lays out the responsibilities of both the City of Staples and Todd County in regards to the Highway 10 and Burlington Northern overpass in Staples. County Engineer Loren Fellbaum said that once the City of Staples signs the agreement, a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, and an agreement from the Minnesota Department of Transportation are obtained, the project can be let for bid.

Fellbaum showed the commissioners a computer-simulated video of the overpass design. He said that when the project is complete that traffic coming from the south of County Road 21 will cross over State Highway 210 and continue north. The reconstructed roadway north of Highway 210 will take traffic to the bridge over the railroad and Highway 10. After crossing the bridge traffic will be able to access Highway 10, downtown Staples, or Warner Road and Central Lakes College.

Construction on the project will start in April or May and be completed by November.

Conditional Use Permits

The commissioners approved three Conditional Use Permits including one near Cedar Lake in Little Sauk Township. Under that permit, Tammy Bruder received the go-ahead to establish a fifteen unit assisted living business in an existing home now owned by Warren and Mary Dreger. Bruder is a nurse.

In a separate action the commissioners approved a month long public comment period for the revisions to the county’s Land Use Ordinance. The comment period will be open from Jan. 17 to Feb. 17 and will be followed by a public hearing. The 142-page ordinance can be found at the county’s website or can be viewed at the county administrator’s office.

“The rewritten ordinance will be more streamlined and shorter,” Commissioner Gerald Ruda said. Ruda was a member of a committee that spent months working on rewriting the ordinance. “Each time we were able to shorten the ordinance by eliminating a paragraph or a page the committee cheered,” Ruda said.

Bills

The commissioners approved the payment of 157 different bills for a total of $211,506.97. Among them was a $2,100 payment to S.W. Recycling for the recycling of electronics devices. There was also a bill for $2,456.38 to the Kandiyohi County Sheriff.

“We have an inmate that we are housing in the Kandiyohi jail because he is too uncontrollable for our staff,” County Administrator Nathan Burkett said.

Social media policy

At Burkett’s recommendation, the commissioners adopted a Todd County Social Media Policy. Burkett has been discussing the possibility of a Todd County Facebook site.