| Asst. County Engineer appointed as interim highway department head | | Print | |
| Written by LOREN UNDSETH |
| Thursday, 29 October 2009 08:38 |
|
Abbreviated report. The Wadena County Board approved the appointment of Assistant County Engineer Jeff Adolphson as interim Highway Department head at their October 21 meeting. Commissioner Bill Stearns presented the Board with a continuity plan for the Highway Department following the resignation of Engineer Joel Ulring. The plan will involve using a licensed engineer from Todd County on a part-time basis as well as using State Aid Engineer Calvin Howison as a resource. Adolphson does not have licensed engineer certification. The Board will continue to look into the possibility of permanently sharing a highway engineer with another county. Highway Department Engineer Joel Ulring presented the board with contractor quotes for a five-year road maintenance contract for 34 miles of roads within Aldrich and Wing River townships. Ulring had recommended to the board that maintenance for the roads be contracted out in order to eliminate the need to fill an open position in the department. Commissioner Ralph Miller shared with the board a letter he had received from the Aldrich Township Board Chair Renaye Seaton that requested that the road maintenance not be contracted out by the County and that the board wait on making a decision on it until a new engineer was hired. Commissioner Rodney Bounds agreed that a long-term contract should wait until a new engineer is hired. Bounds also stated that he was aware of a plan drafted by Maintenance Foreman Vern Kemper that would allow for plowing of all roads currently maintained by the County with no increase in staff. Ulring said that he had not been informed of the proposed plowing plan. Commissioner Lane Waldahl indicated that he had also been contacted by Aldrich Township and felt the issue should be tabled. A motion by Commissioner Bill Stearns to accept the low road maintenance quote failed due to lack of a second. Ulring’s last day with the County Highway Department was October 23. The Board approved a road maintenance agreement with the City of Wadena. The City will be taking care of road maintenance on seven and one-half miles of CSAH 50, CSAH 20, and CR 103 within city limits. Similar agreements with the City of Staples and Thomastown Township are pending. Solid Waste The Board approved job postings for three full-time solid waste positions: Solid Waste Lead supervisor and two Solid Waste attendants. The Board approved a letter of intent regarding Wadena County’s participation in a joint powers board to oversee a solid waste collaboration involving the Perham Resource Recovery Facility and Wadena, Otter Tail, Becker, and Todd counties. Temporary Solid Waste Director Mike Gibson informed the Board that the shared department head agreement with Otter Tail County was not ready yet. Gibson told the Board that only one quote had been received for the office remodeling at the Solid Waste building. The Board approved a waste haulers license for Long Prairie Sanitary Services. The Board approved using Johnson & Son to install a directionally bored water line into the Solid Waste building. The Board approved selling the department’s retired cable truck to the highest bidder with no minimum. Sheriff’s Office The Board approved a motion to append the department’s budget and to create a reserve fund to allow for purchase of a new K9 patrol dog. The department’s current K9 dog will be retiring in spring 2010. |