Public Works supervisor and county engineer Mark Daly displays a map of the 2023 highway projects at the County Board meeting.

Public Works Department director Mark Daly, who is also the senior highway engineer, had a suggestion for the Faribault County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 6.

“We have had little success in hiring an assistant engineer,” Daly said. “With my retirement coming up next year, I want to suggest we begin advertising for a full-time engineer. If we were to fill that position now, it would give us a chance to work together and create a smoother transition before my retirement.”

The board liked the idea of taking a proactive approach to filling Daly’s position and voted unanimously to begin the process of hiring a senior engineer.

Daly then moved on to provide an update on the county roads, beginning with the condition and options for fixing County Road 11.

“The portion of the road we are talking about is the 4.9 mile stretch beginning at 150th Street and going south to County Road 16,” Daly explained. “There are three options which I have outlined for you in your packet.”

The first option would initially be cheaper but cost more in the long run, according to Daly.

“We would do a two-inch mill and sealcoat for $52,000,” Daly commented. “The downside is CR 11 would no longer be a 10-ton road and a future FDR (Full-Depth-Reclamation) and overlay would cost $2.65 million.”

Option number two would be to do a FDR/Overlay in 2023 for $2.3 million.

“To go through with the second option would mean we would have to delay completing some other projects until next year.”

The third option would involve doing a stabilized FDR.

“We need additional design information on the third option before I would feel comfortable making a decision,” Daly added. “I feel strongly that we need to keep CR 11 a 10-ton road.”

Chairman Bruce Anderson addressed the question of when the road should be fixed.

“I feel repairing CR 11 needs to be a priority because of the number of cars which travel that highway,” Anderson explained. “Nobody wants to delay projects, but CR 11 has a much higher traffic count than the other roads we are looking at repairing and needs to be taken care of.”

The board tabled making a decision until more information is available on the third option.

“I should have that information by the next meeting on June 20,” Daly commented.

Daly also provided an update on the ongoing road projects.

“The FDR on CR 9 is complete and the paving is done on CR 13 between CR 2 and CR 4 with just the shouldering remaining to be done,” Daly said. “The paving on CR 13 between CR 16 and 150th Street began today. There were some additional soft spots which needed repair between CR 16 and the bridge over Interstate 90.”

Daly reported that the paving and shouldering were complete on CR 14 and swing-away mailboxes will be installed by the county.

“Paving is set to begin in August on CR 20. The FDR has been done on CR 21 and paving should also begin on that road in August,” Daly added. “All work on CR 69 through Easton, including shouldering, should be done this week.”

Moving on to other topics, the board had a discussion on what to do with the Sentence To Serve (STS) program following the decision by Faribault County STS crew leader Tom Hennis to take the same position in Martin County.

“Tom left on June 4,” Sarah Eischens of the Department of Corrections told the board through a video link. “He now works a lot closer to where he lives. This is a State position and if the board decides to fill the position, I would begin advertising immediately.”

Eischens explained the position would be listed internally but she did not have anyone in mind for the position.

“The state pays for 25 percent of the cost of the position while the county is responsible for the remaining 75 percent,” Eischens reminded the board.

Of immediate concern for the commissioners was the availability of STS crews to provide help getting ready for the Faribault County Fair.

“They have played a crucial part in helping us prepare for that event,” Anderson said. “If the position is not filled, can other Sentence to Serve crews come to Faribault County to assist?”

Eischens replied, “We can reach out to other counties and have done so before. However, it is not a 100 percent guarantee that it would work out for them to be able to provide assistance.”

Commissioner Bill Groskreutz wanted to know if a 30-day out clause was still part of the agreement.

“Yes, if the board provides a 30-day notice they can get out of the program,” Eischens answered. “I would caution that it is tough to get back into a contract if you give it up. I’m not saying it’s impossible, it just might not be easy to do.”

County attorney Cameron Davis was at the meeting and offered his support for the program.

“I am strongly in favor of what STS offers,” Davis said. “I know our prison population is down right now, but that’s a good thing. The STS program is a very valuable tool when used as a probationary requirement.”

The board voted unanimously to continue the STS program.

Central Services director Pam Krill reported Zachary Bartlett was interviewed and offered the job of Maintenance Worker I in the Winnebago Shop of the Public Works Department.

“He has over nine years of experience operating and maintaining heavy equipment,” Krill reported.

The board approved the hiring of Bartlett.

Krill asked for, and received, approval to advertise for sealed bids to conduct a Compensation Worth Study for Faribault County.

Krill also informed the board that during the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session, Juneteenth (June 19) was added to the list of state-recognized holidays beginning this year.

“While the legislation requires that no public transactions take place, as with all state-recognized holidays, there is no reference regarding wages to be paid to employees,” Krill explained.

Commissioner Greg Young responded by saying he felt it was always the intention of the board that once Juneteenth was added as an official holiday, it would be treated as any other holiday and would be a paid holiday.

The board then passed a motion to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for county employees.

A Memorandum of Understanding was passed by the board allowing the Martin County Attorney’s Office to perform prosecutorial functions as requested by the Faribault County Attorney’s Office.

“Because of hiring difficulties, our office does not currently have a second attorney,” Davis explained. “Daily functions of our department require an attorney to be available to handle new criminal charges and other legal emergencies without delay. Should something happen that would make me unavailable to handle an emergency filing, we need to have a back-up plan to ensure that statutory functions continue.”

The board also:

• Approved the request of School Resource Officer Barry Meyers of the Sheriff’s Department to attend a New School Resource Officer Course.

• Granted the request of Vincent Do of the Sheriff’s Department to attend a Glock Armorer’s Course.

• Voted to approve a resolution to support the Blue Earth River Watershed One Watershed, One Plan planning project.

• Approved the purchase of Vanguard Layers for the County Assessor’s Office for an annual fee of $2,887, beginning in June of 2024 and to cancel a contract with Beacon Layers.

• Approved three pay applications for the courthouse HVAC project totaling $66,721.

• Voted to approve courthouse HVAC contract change order No. 1 for concrete and masonry to Donald R. Frantz Concrete Construction at a savings of $23,977.

• Acted to approve a resolution adopting a tax abatement policy for new construction of residential housing.