County Board Notes-Sept. 25, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting:

• Two new county employees were introduced from Public Health Nursing.
• Commissioners discussed a budget hearing/truth in taxation date (potentially Dec. 11 at 6 PM)
• Charity Floen and Melinda Skalicky presented MnDOT's 3C's (cooperation, consolidation and collaboration), which is to improve the overall state of transportation in MN. Two other transit providers are interested in the SCAT bid. County is under contract with the Owatonna Bus Company through the end of 2012. The Owatonna Bus Company intends to bid again, but voiced their concern with not being able to compete with non-profit entities on cost.
• Commissioners reviewed and discussed the Fareway Foods traffic study and permit; they intended to approve at the 7 PM meeting.
• Highway 14 Turn Back: Anita Benson is having trouble getting information back from MnDOT to further review and negotiate the old Hwy. 14.  A similar approach as Waseca has recently taken was discussed-there potentially could be county attorney action in the future. MnDOT is taking core samples tomorrow. The county has rejected the lump sum project; MnDOT's deadline is Oct. 12. More information is intended to arrive shortly from MnDOT.
• Appx. $970,000 is still to be cut from the budget to hit the 2.4% levy increase.