By Melanie Stegner

news@pctribune.com

Two new tandem plow trucks will be joining the fleet at the Pope County Highway Department in the coming months and at last week’s meeting, the board of commissioners opted to offer the trucks they are replacing for sale to local townships before considering the sale to other entities. 

“I’d like to see them used for some public good,” stated Brian Giese, County Engineer. Commissioner Paul Gremmels commented, “It seems like an act of good faith for the townships.”

The highway department has been busy working on gravel shouldering this month. The paving of 22 and 29 should be done as of this week and they will start working on mowing ditches. The striping project is very near done.

The board approved an update to the Pope County Minnesota Government Data Practices Act Policies that simply updated some contact information. They discussed and approved professional service and hosting agreements with Counties Providing Technology (CPT). The service provides the software the county uses in its financial, taxation and land valuation duties and they host the data related to these. The agreement just continues services and hosting that CPT has been providing for some years.

An appropriation of $396,598.12 was approved to the HRA/EDA for activities related to the demolition of the Fremad Building. At the HRA/EDA meeting this week, a firm demolition date was discussed beginning September 5, after Labor Day. Demolition is expected to last between three and four weeks. The current fencing will be moved around to accommodate the demolition activities.

The Minnewaska School District approached the county for assistance with the administration of an off-year school election to be conducted in November of this year. The Pope County Auditor/Treasurer’s office and County Administrator created an agreement to provide assistance on an hourly and expense basis for the special election.

(More information about the special election can be found in the “Funding the Future” article on Page 1A of this issue.)

A review was discussed of the second quarter revenue expenditure budget report. Other bills and financials were reviewed and paid.

During the board’s review and updates from committees, Neil Nelson, County Attorney discussed the review on the body camera footage from the tragic incident earlier this year involving the death of Deputy Josh Owen. “We determined Deputy Merrill’s actions were justified, putting that to bed at this point,” he stated. 

Budget hearings are scheduled to begin following this week’s meeting for preliminary planning.