Meeker County Board Meeting

The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has moved to approve of a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of gross revenue hospital facilities notes (series A, B, C, and D), and authorizing the execution of related documents. There is no direct financial impact to the County. The proposed debt of about $30,000,000 will be funded through the Hospital’s operating revenues.

Meeker Memorial CEO Mary Ellen Wells says construction on the addition is expected to begin August 24th, with a ground-breaking event in September. She says the total project cost is now estimated at $55-million. Meeker Memorial CFO Tyler Ulseth directed the Commissioners through the various financial agreements with a slide presentation.

The County Board approved of the local bridge replacement program grant agreement with MnDOT related to state funding for the County-State-Aid-Highway 26 Bridge. Meeker County Public Works was successful in acquiring state bridge funds for the replacement of the bridge over the South Fork of the Crow River. The State funds require an agreement between MnDOT and Meeker County. Structural Specialties of Hutchinson was awarded the bid for the project. Public Works has acquired $494,455 in state funds to assist in paying for the $1.21-million project. Remaining funds will be sourced through Meeker County’s County-State-Aid-Highway construction account.

The Commissioners approved of an amendment to a joint powers agreement with the State of Minnesota for work release. The agreement allows the Meeker County Jail to accept boarders from the State of Minnesota Department of Corrections – Work Release Unit. The agreement establishes guidelines for offenders to qualify for boarding, and the reimbursement rate for boarding. This is an amendment to the current contract increasing the amount of the contract from $150,000 to $250,000.

The County Board moved to approve of the purchase of a marked squad vehicle at $50,869.20 from Tenvoorde Ford for the boat and water patrol; approved of a 6-year interim use permit for aggregate mining and processing at a property in Section 27 of Cosmos Township; approved of the solicitation of a new contract for the operation of the demolition landfill and transfer station; and approved of a county administrator position profile as a search firm is assisting the County Board in the process of recruiting a new administrator to replace Andrew Letson as he will be leaving in mid-October to become the Stearns County Administrator. Pat Melvin from DDA Human Resources of Minneapolis spoke to the Board about the recruitment process.