With a new year, comes new changes.

Before the Faribault County Board of Commissioners heard from the public, they appointed a new chairman and vice chairman for the year. Tom Warmka took Bill Groskreutz Jr.’s spot at the helm of the commissioner’s ship as chairman, while John Roper was appointed vice chair. Not only that, but all of the commissioners were considered for appointments or reappointments of different committees.

The commissioners also appointed individual commissioners to specific committees for 2016, which included the new transit board.

Mark Daly was in attendance at the board meeting to provide two bits of information for the commissioners. He first wanted to pay Midwest Contracting’s bill for the work they did on a section of County Road 19.

“I think they were great to work with and they were very efficient in the time they were given,” said Daly.

“That is the second time I’ve heard a county engineer mention that Midwest Contracting was a good group to work with,” said Commissioner Tom Loveall. “I think that makes for a great working relationship for the future.”

Daly also suggested to the commissioners that they take a look at some of the county’s out shops that hold county vehicles and equipment specifically, ones in Winnebago, Wells, and Bricelyn.

For the cost of $14,800, Daly wants to have an architect visit the sites to give input and ideas for the buildings that are in need of updating.

“They’re small, I think one of the roofs leaks, and they are usable, but we are not looking at too many more years of use,” said Daly.

Some members of the board were on the fence about bringing (and paying)?an architect so soon for an idea that has not been thoroughly discussed.

“I think I want to wait on this a little longer,” said Loveall.

When it came to a motion, it died for lack of second but was requested to be revisited later on.

“It’s a solid idea,” said Loveall. “I just want to have the idea be a bit more developed.”

Dawn Fellows was also heard by the board as she discussed the progress on the move out to the Ag Center.

“We are making good progress,” said Fellows. “I am out there two to three times a week to make sure we are still progressing nicely. Our tennants in the courthouse will have the opportunity to have a site visit at the Ag Center at the end of the week. I think they’re all anxious to see what their new offices will look like.”

Fellows also brought up the previous concern of setting rates for reimbursements for both county employees and commissioners. After a few questions from the commissioners, Fellows felt it was best to get more information for the board and bring it back to the next meeting.

The board then heard from Lorrie Bosma regarding sewage treatment system business. Two loans and a subordination agreement were brought to the board and all three were approved.

Lastly, the Board of Commissioners went into closed session for approximately one hour to discuss an attorney/client matter. Once the meeting was reopened, the board had nothing to report due to attorney/client privilege.