By Melanie Stegner, news@pctribune.com

The assessor, probation director and county engineer were on hand at this week’s county board committee of the whole meeting to present their annual reports and updates. 

Mike Wacker and Bonnie Lay presented the assessors report. They noted the requirement under Minnesota statute that valuations need to meet certain sales value thresholds in the area or the State Department of Revenue would force values to be raised. Pope County’s total value was $3,276,698,400, up $25,516,500, because of the change in the statute.

The Probation Director Terry Jaworski gave a presentation on 2021 Probation Office activity, including a video viewed by the Board produced by Olmsted County on community corrections services that is available on YouTube. The probation department supervised 281 adult cases, 143 pre-trial supervision cases and 44 juvenile cases.   

Jaworski discussed the multiple programs that the probation department oversees including an awareness panel for impaired drivers, pre-trial supervision and drug testing programs.

The Highway Engineer Brian Giese presented the 2021 annual Highway Report, and answered questions about road expenditures and revenues. He also presented information on the distribution of the Minnesota highway user fund and how the formulas for road funding work statewide.