A crane operator from New Ulm extended his boom over 185 feet to lift equipment onto the roof of the Faribault County Courthouse.

Faribault County’s two parks, Pihls Park and Woods Lake, continue to grow in popularity.

“They generated $40,000 in revenue, which is the most ever for one year,” Public Works director Mark Daly said.

According to Daly, who spoke at the Faribault County Board meeting last Tuesday, March 21, there are more improvements on the way.

“Pihls Park will be getting 10 new lakeside sites which the county will work to install as soon as the weather is fit. The tentative rates for the new sites will be $400-$450 for a seasonal rate or $40-$50 for a nightly rate,” he mentioned. “We are also going to purchase and implement reservation software so people can go online, make their reservation and pay for it with a credit card.”

Daly said the improvements must stay within the 2023 budget.

“We had looked at applying for a Minnesota Department of Resources (DNR) grant,” he explained. “However, there were too many stipulations and the grants were too restrictive.”

Daly also presented an agreement with the DNR to detour Interstate 90 ramp traffic onto county highways while the freeway is under reconstruction.

“The roads affected will be County State Aid Highways (CSAH) 1, 6, 8, 16, 17 and 23,” Daly commented. “The work to be performed on Interstate 90 is from 1.95 miles west of Trunk Highway 169 to .09 miles east of Trunk Highway 22. The county will receive a payment of $29,520.”

While on the topic of roads, board member John Roper expressed his concern about a pothole in Rome Township on 470th Avenue south of Frost.

“I have been contacted by people living in that area who are worried the pothole could cause an accident,” Roper said.

“We have several potholes which need fixing,” Daly replied. “The problem is, if we go out now and use cold mix to fill in the pothole, it will not last. As soon as it warms up, the crews will be out with hot mix to repair the potholes properly.”

Daly also asked for, and the commissioners voted to grant permission to advertise for two township bridges to be replaced.

“One of the bridges, which has been closed since 2020, is located at 165th Street over Center Creek,” Daly said. “The other bridge spans Elm Creek at 190th Street.”

Daly and the board also discussed the sale of the building owned by the county which is located in Frost. It was decided to put the building up for public auction prior to May 31.

Also going up for public auction will be 4.64 acres of tax forfeited land in Foster Township. A private auction for this land was held on March 6, but no offer was made at the opening bid amount of $29,900. This auction will also be held prior to May 31.

Also, at the meeting, the board was introduced to the new University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Emily Ovrebo.

Ovrebo who has been on the job for just over five weeks, is from the Wells area where her husband, Taylor, farms.

“One of my goals I want to focus on is working with the area schools,” Ovrebo said. “That is something I will be working on over the summer so I have a plan in place for next year.”

Also introduced at the meeting was Megan Cook, who has been working as a secretary in the Extension office since last June.

“Megan did a great job of keeping things running while we were searching for a new educator,” Regional Extension director, Bonnie Christiansen, commented.

There was also some news regarding Christiansen’s position.

“I have been working out of the Worthington office but covering four counties in this area,” she explained. “Recently, the University of Minnesota made the decision to add another Regional director to increase the total number from 10 to 11. The new director will operate out of Mankato and will take over the responsibilities for Faribault County.”

The commissioners expressed their gratitude for her service.

“We are sad to hear you are leaving,” board chairman Bruce Anderson said. “You have been great to work with and we appreciate your service.”

County auditor/treasurer Darren Esser announced the regular board meetings will return to the courthouse beginning with the April 4 meeting.

The board also:

• Approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for PCi Roads to erect a temporary concrete batch plant site for use during the reconstruction of Interstate 90. The five-acre site is in Section 10 of Emerald Township on land owned by Garry Martin.

• Voted to approve the hiring of Marsha Leschefske to work in the County Attorney’s Office. She will replace Mary Eckhardt, who is retiring.

• Approved payment of six courthouse HVAC construction pay applications, in the amount of $296,652.

• Passed a motion approving pay application No. 7 to Kraus-Anderson Construction Company, in the amount of $81,288.

• Approved two change orders for the courthouse construction project, in the amount of $1,541.

• Voted to approve the training requests of Erin Beske of the Sheriff’s Department to attend a course on basic data practices and Jacob Pettit, also of the Sheriff’s Department, to attend a Realistic De-Escalation Instructor Course.