Nicollet Co. to seek falls grant

Public hearing set for March 11

ST. PETER -- The Nicollet County Board of Commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution for a grant application from the Department of Natural Resources Natural and Scenic Grant Program to develop Minnemishinona Falls as a wayside viewing area.

A public hearing to obtain citizen input on the project will be held at 10:30 a.m., March 11, 2003. The falls is located on Nicollet County Highway 41, west of North Mankato.

Human remains of one person were found at site 21-NL-47 at the falls in 1993, according to a web site for the National Park Service National Center for Cultural Resources (NAGPRA).

County commissioners also:

* Requested that the Administrator's Office prepare a fact sheet and future media releases regarding county services and their importance in light of pending budget reductions.

* Tabled a resolution recommended by the Association of Minnesota Counties regarding the budget deficit and services provided by counties until a later time.

* Heard from County Attorney Michael Riley about the Attorney General's opinion relating to Joint Ditch 1ANS. He discussed issues relating to an old timber crossing bridge and talked about county options available including bridge removal, replacement cost, what rights the ditch authority has and related issues.

* Approved contract renewal with the Minnesota Valley Action Council.

* Public Health Director Nita Aasen asked the Board to approve $117,555.83 in County funds needed to balance the 2002 ledger.

* Approved a Purchase of Service Contract with the St. Peter Community Hospital for therapy services.

* Approved County Sheriff David Lang's recommendation of the appointment of Karl Jensen as Chief Deputy/Investigator, effective immediately at a salary of $53,185.20, which is grade 17, step 14.

* Lang gave the Board a letter from Jensen requesting a leave of absence from the investigator position to fulfill chief deputy responsibilities. Lang recommended the Board approve the request and it did.

* Public Works Director Michael Wagner requested authorization to advertise for highway maintenance bids. The Board accepted the recommendation and authorized him to advertise for bids for annual maintenance materials and activities at 1:30 p.m., April 7, 2003.