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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BLUE EARTH COUNTY, MINNESOTA

The County Board of Commissioners met in the Commissioners' Room at 6:00 p.m. Present were Chairperson Lin Barnes, Commissioner Leon Tacheny, Commissioner Colleen Landkamer, Commissioner Al Bennett, Commissioner Alvis More, County Attorney Ross Arneson and County Administrator David Twa.

1. AGENDA REVIEW
Commissioner Bennett moved and Commissioner Landkamer seconded the motion to approve the amended Agenda to include a Noise Standards Resolution, Ditch petitions from JD #1 and CD #3; 13 County Water Planning Resolution and Mr. Larry Brandenburg, comments on regional dispatching. The motion carried. 97-165

2. COMMISSIONERS' COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Commissioners reported on committees that they have attended since the last Board Meeting.

3. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Mr. David Twa, County Administrator, presented the following items for the Boards consideration.
Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve the April 22, 1997 Board Minutes. The motion carried. 97-166
Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion to approve the following Bills:
Bills for Week of April 28 - May 2, 1997
Grand Total $601,653.45
Bills for Week of May 5 - 9, 1997
Grand Total $2,330,495.11
Bills for Week of May 12 - 16, 1997
Grand Total $3,157,557.37
The motion carried. 97-167
Commissioner Tacheny moved and Commissioner More seconded the motion to approve the following Personnel items:

Employment of Lee Browne, as a Building Maintenance Engineer (B23), with a starting salary of $12.44 per hour effective May 14, 1997. (Physical Plant)

Resignation of Daniel Nelson, Dispatcher (Part-Time) (B23), effective May 9, 1997. (Sheriff)

Authorization to initiate recruitment for a County Assessor (D61). (Land Records)

Mr. Jerry Kallheim, Land Records Director, presented information of the Tax-Forfeited Lands Sale
Commissioner Tacheny moved and Commissioner Landkamer seconded the motion to approve the following resolution:
BLUE EARTH COUNTY BOARD RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The County Board of Commissioners of the County of Blue Earth, State of Minnesota, desires to offer for sale certain parcels of land that have forfeited to the State of Minnesota for non-payment of taxes, and

WHEREAS, Said parcels of land have been viewed by the County Board of Commissioners and have been classified as non-conservation lands as provided for in Minnesota Statutes 282.01.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners hereby certify that all parcels of land on the attached list have been viewed and comply with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 85.012, 92.461, 282.01, Subd. 8, and 282.018, and other statutes that require the withholding of tax-forfeited lands from sale.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners hereby request approval from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the sale of said lands.

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Tacheny seconded the motion to approve the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION
OF SUPPORT FOR
NATIONAL GUARD COMMUNITY
AND TRAINING CENTER

WHEREAS, the current National Guard Armory in Mankato is inadequate because it:

1.

Does not comply with codes for safety or handicapped accessibility;

2.

Is not set up for emergency housing in case of a disaster;

3.

Lacks necessary drainage and is prone to flooding in periods of heavy rainfall; and

4.

Lacks necessary space for parking, storage, and classrooms, and

WHEREAS, a National Guard Training and Community Center provides a number of advantages to the City of Mankato and Blue Earth County, including: emergency shelter, civil defense and disaster preparedness, distribution point for food programs, emergency and civil defense operations center, testing location, and public hearing and meeting space, and

WHEREAS, a new National Guard Training and Community Center could provide space for City and County functions including shared uses for fire, police, dispatch, and training, and

WHEREAS, a new National Guard Training and Community Center would be funded 75% Federal, 12.5% State and 12.5% Local for the basic building; and enhancements which benefit both the National Guard and the local area would be funded 50% each, and enhancements strictly for the benefit of the local area would be funded 100% locally,

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth County Board hereby supports the concept of a new National Guard Community and Training Center, and the County, in cooperation with the City of Mankato, agrees to provide funding for that portion of the local costs necessary to complete the project.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth County Board agrees to provide up to $10,000.00 to match funds pledged by the City of Mankato to be used for identifying and planning a site for the National Guard Training and Community Center.

Commissioner More moved and Commissioner Landkamer seconded the motion to approve tax abatements to Dennis Hinrichs, RR 2, Box 1D, Lake Crystal, R09-12-05-426-004 K-91475 for taxes payable in 1997; Timothy Miller, RR 1, Box 272-A4, Rapidan Township R48-13 06-200-004 K-204950 for taxes payable in 1997 and Petrie Development Corp., Mankato Depot Addition Lot 4 Blk 1, Mankato R01-09-18-101-005 K-389396 for taxes payable in 1997.
The motion carried. 97-171
Commissioner Landkamer moved and Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion to approve the following Human Service items:

Revise the grant date from February 28, 1998 to December 31, 1997 from the State of Minnesota to provide services as a SAIL Project.

Approve a contract to continue grant funding from the MN Department of Children Family and Learning to implement a Family Services Collaborative, effective from July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997.

WHEREAS, the majority of county highways and high volume city streets in the urbanized area currently exceed state noise standards; and

WHEREAS, necessary improvement projects along existing highways continue the current noise violation and typically any increase in noise is imperceptible to the human ear; and

WHEREAS, the current noise exemption process is costly and results in time delays or cancellation of needed safety improvements; and

WHEREAS, the current noise exemption process does not guarantee relief from expensive litigation procedures which may delay or stop needed safety improvements; and

WHEREAS, the cost of a continuous 15-foot high noise wall (both sides of road) on a mile of reconstructed roadway is estimated at $2,200,000; and

WHEREAS, the expenditures for noise mitigation may delay needed safety improvements and could make them cost prohibitive; and

WHEREAS, the improvement of highways are needed for the safety of the traveling public and economic benefit of the region;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners support legislative change exempting an existing or newly constructed segment of a road, street, or highway, under the jurisdiction of a road authority of town, statutory or home rule charter city, or county from state noise standards.