By Melanie Stegner

news@pctribune.com

Rep. Mary Franson attended Tuesday’s meeting of the Pope County Board of Commissioners. Franson was invited last month to attend so commissioners could share their topics of concern prior to the legislative session that begins next week.

Franson stated that since it is a budget year, she is unsure of what to expect at the session. “We went into last session with a $17.5 billion surplus and raised taxes by $9.5 billion. Our last forecast showed a structural deficit and there will probably be some trimming going into the budget. Some programs need more funding. The school lunch program and paid family leave will need some financial fixes.”

“It is a bonding year, so I’m hoping we can get a bonding bill through this year. They’re important and provide funding for a lot of infrastructure needs,” she added. The commissioners reiterated the needs of Pope Douglas Solid Waste, and County Based Purchasing with Primewest. The commissioners will be attending the legislative session on February 21 and 22 at the Capitol, it was stated.

Commissioners approved the Pope County Hazard Mitigation Plan. FEMA has made reducing hazards one of its primary goals and the hazard mitigation plan is the primary mechanism to do so. 

The Pope County plan puts winter storms, tornadoes and windstorms in the high-risk priority list of hazards followed by flooding, extreme cold and heat, landslides and drought. Hail, lightning, wildfire and dam/levee failure are in the low-risk priority. The plan aims to limit the damage and losses caused by specific hazards. The full 200-page report can be read at z.umn.edu/PopeHMP.

A contract for services was approved between the county and Elwood Septic Professionals for maintenance and service of the Clearwater Bay septic collection and treatment system. Elwood was pivotal in the initial design of the system and because of its size and complexity requires regular maintenance and service. 

Three advertisements for bids for roadwork around the county were approved. Projects that are included in the AFPs are to supply, produce and stockpile 30,000 cubic yards of Class 5 aggregate for future use, the final paved surfacing and aggregate shouldering on CSAH 15 between CSAH 28 and the north county line, and to replace culverts under CSAH 7 between the south county line and CSAH 10. 

A request from the Cyrus First Responders was approved to aid in acquiring supplies for two new first responder volunteers. The request for $5,432.32 will come from the remaining ARPA funds.

In other business the commissioners approved the movement of the State Affordable Housing Aid to the Pope County Housing Trust Fund, hiring Abdo for assistance with auditing subscription-based information technology arrangements and leases for the 2023 audit. 

The next meeting of the commissioners is a work session on Tuesday, February 13, in the third floor meeting room.