The Faribault County Board of Commissioners looked into two funding issues that raised some questions at their Aug. 21 meeting.

The Faribault County Economic Development Authority (EDA) came to the board to request a budget of $50,000 for 2013 which will be spent for a contract for services from the Faribault County Development Corporation (FCDC).

The new contract with FCDC proposed by the EDA would be on a two-year basis, and they are requesting the same budget amount each year.

The board, however, did not vote on the decision at the meeting but took time to discuss the funding request with the county EDA.

Many of the commissioners felt the involvement of the county with FCDC should begin to decrease, which it hasn’t.

“I?don’t know if this should be a core function at the county level,”?Commissioner Tom Warmka says. “This is something that needs to be catching on at the city level.”

The request of $50,000 will be discussed at the next budget meeting and will be looked at in the context of the whole budget rather than approve it separately.

Also, while reviewing and approving the bills the commissioners noticed five charges for $800 from the public works department that raised some questions.

The board approved the bills before John McDonald was present, so discussion didn’t occur until later in the meeting.

It turns out the charges are from inspections that are required before beginning any bridge project.

“It is required that we have a licensed professional come out and inspect the bridges for asbestos,”?County Engineer John McDonald says.

The asbestos surveys are required by Minnesota Department of Transportation and are to be done before any work is started.

“I?usually plan ahead to do four or five at a time and that’s why you see five charges,”?he says. “It saves us a little money if we do them all at once.”

Commissioner Greg Young wondered if this was an inspection that could be done in house.

“Could we send someone to get licensed to do this?”?he asks.

McDonald wasn’t sure and said he could look into it.

Commissioner Bill Groskreutz suggested they at least look into a local place to do the inspections if possible.

“There are places in Wells and Winnebago that do asbestos removal,”?Groskreutz says. “I wonder if they would be able to do the inspections.”

McDonald also presented quotes for maintenance on the fire extinguishers in the public works department.

They received two quotes. Mankato Fire and Safety quoted $1,540 and Blue Earth Fire Service quoted $1,452.50.

The board awarded the work to Blue Earth Fire Service.

In other business on Tuesday, the County Board;

Discussed the wind project in Jo Daviess Township as some commissioners were curious about how the crane will move from site to site.

McDonald said that when they need to cross drainage or culvert areas the crane will need 36-40 feet to cross them.

“They say they will widen the road to cross it and then narrow it back down when they’re done,”?he says.

According to McDonald, the company will assume responsibility for this project.

The Faribault County Soil and Water Conservation District came to the commissioners to discuss which programs they will apply for from the Clean Water Legacy Funds.

Some of the projects they brought up included the Wells Veteran’s Memorial as well as possible storm water infrastructure at the USC?School District.