Shoes, plows and policy were the focus of the Tuesday, Jan. 9, Fillmore County commissioners’ meeting.

Human Resources officer Kristina Kohn returned to the boardroom with a shoe reimbursement request for $28 for a member of the Local #49 Union, as well as with the first reading of proposed changes to the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action policy.

The shoe reimbursement raised questions because of the manner in which the shoes were purchased and the receipt turned in. A first motion was made to approve the shoe reimbursement, but members of the board did not volunteer a second, so the motion died for lack thereof.

Discussion followed, and Commissioner Randy Dahl asked for the board’s interpretation of the reimbursement policy, after which Commissioner Mitch Lentz, chair of the board, asked Dahl to reconsider making his first motion. The board voted in favor of the reimbursement.

Next, Kohn brought forward the Equal Employment Opportunity policy – the board wanted to know if some language changes would be necessary in regard to the phrase “any other protected status” – and Kohn replied that the language was included by state or federal government. The policy’s second reading will be handled at a future meeting and any changes that need to be made included in that second reading.

Highway department

Highway engineer Ron Gregg came before the board to ask for permission to purchase two electric message boards and to share the first reading of the county’s snowplowing policy.

He outlined that there were bids from Smart Street Rental for two used signs at a total of $12,400 and two used units from Quality Traffic Control at a total of $17,550. He requested that the board consider allowing the purchase of the message boards from Quality Traffic Control because they are newer and have modems on them so they can be changed remotely.

The commissioners concurred with a vote, agreeing with Gregg that they will be needed when County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 1 is closed for the summer to make way for paving. Drivers from out of town follow their GPS and often find themselves in the middle of construction, which could be rather expensive for the county if new pavement is disturbed.

Gregg noted that if the county’s snowplowing policy were to be approved, it would be published so that the public can see it.

“This helps define what we do and lets the county know what to expect from a snowplowing policy,” he stated.

Dahl pointed out that he had concerns with the portion of the policy that cited that no emergency plowing would be done at night unless there is a true emergency. He said that he didn’t agree with that part at all because he felt if there was ice on the road and a pileup of cars, the road should be plowed or sanded.

Highway foreman Brent Kohn posited that the county can’t cover the plowing and sanding 24 hours a day.

Commissioner Duane Bakke said, “The bigger question is ‘How do we operate’.”

Kohn explained that there are instances in which he must use his discretion to determine the balance of hours a driver has worked in comparison to the necessity of a road being cleared.

Dahl related, “This is me, as a commissioner, telling them what we expect from them. I don’t like the word ‘not’ in there…we just had a big kerfuffle over shoes, so this is policy, and I’m not going to leave anything in there that I don’t like.”

Bakke asked Kohn what he was attempting to change or improve, and the foreman replied that he was trying to reach some clarity as to what Fillmore County’s plowing and sanding guidelines are.

“This policy was pulled off five different counties’ sites, so this is widely used…for (law enforcement), I thought this might let them know what it is so that the deputies know what is ‘slippery,’ because some of them will think it’s slippery and others will drive in anything,” Kohn clarified.

Bakke observed that the words “will not” are in bold print on the policy, referring to the policy’s statement that emergency plowing won’t be carried out unless absolutely necessary. Dahl reiterated that he was uncomfortable with that statement and that he felt that changes to the policy could be made.

Kohn acknowledged that the policy was being read for the first time, so changes could be included.

Dahl remarked that the majority of accidents along the road near his home occur at night when drivers lose control on an icy hill and that he has spent time assisting them out of the ditch.

“I just don’t like a policy that says ‘no.’ I’m questioning the need for a policy if we’re already doing it,” he added.

The county apparently already has a policy in place, and Bakke suggested that the public may need to be able to read it. The policies will be distributed to the board for review before the new policy’s second reading.

Semcac annual report

Semcac’s executive director, Wayne Stenberg, and housing coordinator, Cindy Vitse, presented the annual report and updated the commissioners on the organization’s accomplishments over the past year.

It was noted a new senior advocate, Marite Olmstead, was hired to help provide guidance for senior citizens who would like to remain in their own homes.

Rolling Hills Transit – Semcac’s bus service – is now operating in Olmsted County as well as in Fillmore and Houston.

Stenberg added that Semcac logged 78,000 hours of volunteer time given by approximately 1,600 volunteers.

Other business

Administrative items encompassed approving the $6,875 invoice for annual maintenance of firewall appliances with The Barrier Group.

The commissioners also awarded the 2018 county printing bids. The Bluff Country Reader will be the printing place for the delinquent tax list and the second fiscal statement, but all other county printings will be found in the Fillmore County Journal.

The consent agenda included payment of the $9,539.50 first quarter Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) invoice for economic development staffing services.