Smile, it is time for Faribault County to get its picture taken again.

Brandee Douglas, GIS (Geographic Informations Systems) coordinator for Faribault County, was at the Faribault County Board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 19, to seek funding for high resolution orthogonal (top down) and oblique (360 degree) imagery.

“Many different county departments utilize this imagery on a daily basis,” Douglas explained. “The county assessor, Public Works director, drainage manager, Sheriff’s Department and Planning and Zoning all rely on the imagery for various purposes.”

Douglas presented contracts with Pictometry International Corp. of Rochester, New York and Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative. The cost of the contract over a six-year period is $198,600, or $33,100 per year and the quality will be improved over the previous product.

“All county departments can access and use the imagery. It is the base map for Beacon and other web maps, and integrates with internal software,” Douglas shared. “The imagery helps with GIS data maintenance and creation, allowing the county to deliver quality data to the public.”

The board approved the contract on a unanimous vote.

Bonnie Christiansen and Michelle Klinkner were also at the meeting to provide a University of Minnesota Extension update.

“I am the regional director for southern Minnesota,” Christiansen told the board. “I am based in Worthington.”

Christiansen said the number of youth participating in 4-H has held very steady in the area, especially compared to some other areas.

“We believe offering programs to our youth is essential,” Christiansen said. “We reach out to kids of all socioeconomic status.”

Klinkner presented a video featuring Lauren Schavey, a 2021 Blue Earth Area graduate, and a long-time member of 4-H.

“Being in 4-H has taught me many things,” Schavey said in the video. “One of the most important lessons I have learned through 4-H is to work with others.”

Klinkner spoke about specific offerings available through 4-H.

“One of the most popular things has been our STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) camp,” Klinkner noted. “We reach out to the kids who are not the traditional 4-H club members.”

Part of their job, according to Christiansen, is to listen to the needs of the community.

“I think it is good you are reaching out to the schools,” commissioner Bruce Anderson added.

Klinkner said they have worked with Blue Earth Area to form a trap-shooting team.

“United South Central has a team already,” Klinkner stated. “We also want to reach out to Genesis Classical Academy. We have already been in contact with St. Casimir’s School in Wells.”

Public Works director Mark Daly was also at the meeting.

“I had hoped to report the work on County State Aid Highway 9 box culverts would be done this week,” Daly commented. “However, there is more grading to be done so I do not believe the project will be complete until the week of the 25th.”

Daly briefly touched on proposed projects for next year.

“The paving is scheduled for CSAH 31,” he said. “Resurfacing County Road 58 in Kiester may or may not happen next year. It depends on whether the city also decides to replace the sanitary sewer and water lines, which would make it a much bigger project and delay the starting time.”

Community Workforce coordinator Emily Davis attended the meeting to provide commissioners with an update on how she is reaching out to area students at Blue Earth Area and United South Central high schools.

“COVID-19 prevented us from having as many in-person events as we would have liked,” Davis shared. “We did film 13 different business tours around the county to share with students at both districts. We also hosted virtual or in-person class presentations when able and met with area businesses to discuss the events we had planned for the upcoming year. We also developed many episodes of a production we called ‘Pick Your Path Podcast.'”

She shared with the board some of her goals for the current school year.

“We have organized and recruited professionals who will help conduct mock interviews on Nov. 3-4. We are also assisting students in connecting them with professionals for the purpose of job shadowing,” Davis commented. “We are working to begin offering CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification, as well as other health care classes to the students.”

Commissioner Bruce Anderson, who also serves on the board of St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center, expressed his gratitude for students being offered CNA certification.

“We need health care workers,” Anderson stated. “I appreciate how you are working with the students who might be interested in the health care field.”

In other business:

• The County Board set 6 p.m., Dec. 21, as the time for the Truth in Taxation hearing. The hearing will follow the regular board meeting, which will begin at 3 p.m.

• The board voted to enlist the services of PFM Consulting to help determine how the $2.65 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds may be spent.

Speaking in support of the decision to hire PFM Consulting, commissioner Anderson said, “I do not think it is right to put all of this on our county auditor (Darren Esser).”

• Training requests were approved for DJ Bullerman, of the Sheriff’s Department, to attend the Minnesota South Central Investigator’s Coalition two-day annual winter conference; Jessica Blair, of the county auditor’s office, to attend the Minnesota Government Finance Officers Association class on intermediate governmental accounting; Merissa Lore and Dustin Anderson of the Drainage Department to attend the Minnesota Viewers Association and Minnesota Association of Drainage Inspectors fall meeting.

• The commissioners voted 3-2 to deny a request from attorney David Frundt on behalf of his client, Margaret Murphy, for loan forgiveness on a home improvement loan the county had with Murphy through the Minnesota Valley Action Council, dated 1995.