Blue Earth Community Library director Heidi Schutt, left, and Winnebago’s Muir Library director Nicole Krienke are shown addressing the County Board last Tuesday morning.

Concerns over how Faribault County’s libraries operate were brought before the County Board during their regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

“Lately, we have had difficulties having enough members at County Library Board meetings to make a quorum,” Blue Earth Community Library director Heidi Schutt explained. “We would like to ask the County Commissioners to consider simplifying the process by dissolving the County Library Board and having the commissioners serve as our board/advisors.”

Ann Hokanson, director of the Traverse des Sioux Library System was also at the meeting and shared her thoughts.

“If you (the commissioners) became the library board, then you would be operating in basically the same way Brown County does,” Hokanson said. “The library directors could attend County Board meetings twice per year to provide updates and reports. We would also hope one of the commissioners would be willing to serve on the Traverse des Sioux Library Board, but if that is not possible then you could appoint someone else to serve on that board.”

In general, the commissioners were willing to consider the request.

“We would need to gain some more knowledge of what our involvement would be,” commissioner Bill Groskreutz commented.

Commissioner Tom Loveall raised another point.

“We also would need to know how to properly dissolve the current board,” he said. “I do think your idea does have merit.”

The board took no action at the meeting but stated they will attempt to resolve the situation before the end of this year.

Public works director Mark Daly was also at the meeting and reported the designs for the 2023 overlay projects were finished.

“This is the earliest we have had them completed,” Daly said. “I would like to open the projects for bidding on Dec. 15.”

The board approved his request.

As had been requested at an earlier meeting, Daly also shared he had looked into the cost of acquiring solar-powered speed signs.

“The cost of the stationery signs which are mounted on posts is $5,271 while the portable signs, which are mounted on trailers, cost $8,106,” Daly said. “Keep in mind, municipalities are responsible for their own speed signs.”

The board asked Daly to share this information with the cities located in the county and Groskreutz added there may be grants available to help lower the cost of purchasing the signs.

Central Services director Pam Krill attended the meeting to ask for approval of a new hire.

“Public Works Department worker Craig Hougen has announced his retirement effective Dec. 30,” Krill told the commissioners. “He is the Shop Lead Worker. The position was posted internally and Benjamin Bromeland applied. He has roughly two years of experience working for Hougen and has the experience and knowledge to step into the lead role.”

The board approved the hiring.

Commissioners also discussed the possibility of the Faribault County Attorney providing prosecutorial services for small cities located within the county.

“So far Bricelyn is the only city who has approached our office,” county attorney Cameron Davis explained. “I am not looking for any action on a proposed contract at this time.”

Davis told the commissioners the services the county would provide would include the prosecution of petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal and traffic offenses, including criminal and traffic state law violations that arise under state law which occur within the jurisdiction of the municipality.

“What I am currently proposing to the city for the cost of the services is $20 per person for everyone living in the municipality,” Davis commented. “In Bricelyn’s case, that would be $6,780.”

Along with the prosecution services, Davis also had a proposal for an agreement covering crime victim services.

“It certainly is not our intention to take any business away from any law firms,” Davis stated. “We were approached by the city of Bricelyn and asked for help.”

The board also:

• Approved a request by Daly to attend the National Association of County Engineers convention.

• Voted to approve the request of Brady Hanevik of the Sheriff’s Department to partake in a new supervisor and manager skills workshop.

• Gave approval to John Oswald of the Public Works Department to attend a training program sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) at the MnDOT Geometric Design Institute on superelevation, drainage and vertical alignment which will aid in designing highway reconstruction projects.

• Reminded people the first County Board meeting in December has been moved to Dec. 8 to accommodate the commissioners’ attendance at the annual Association of Minnesota Counties conference. The second meeting of the month will be held on Dec. 20, beginning at 3 p.m.