By Mari Radtke
Surprisingly high bills from the Coroner’s office is cited as the leading cause requiring budget amendments for O’Brien County. State law required coroner costs be paid by the county of residency of decedents. COVID-19 seems to have brought about a wide-spread circumstance where an O’Brien county resident dies in Sioux Falls and gets an autopsy. O’Brien County eventually gets a bill for the autopsy. At other times a non resident of O’Brien County dies in O’Brien County. O’Brien County covers the expense and then bills the county of residence. The process is unclear. No public comments were presented and the amended budget passed.
O’Brien County adopted a $15,000 grant to each city with an ambulance service in 2020-21 budget year to assist with ambulance staffing to assure coverage. It was decided for the 2021-22 fiscal year that the total funds devoted to the $15,000 was decreased to $60,000 and the $15,000 grants would be competitive. Discussion of $15,000 staffing grant requests from Primghar, Sanborn and Sheldon with second request from Primghar and Sheldon was held. Jared Johnson, EMA Director recommended $30,000 to Sheldon, $15,000 to Sanborn and Primghar $26,000. Johnson had some extra funds from mileage to contribute. The supervisors approved the recommendation. Johnsonalso reported the county’s COVID positivity rate was down and now sitting at 4%. He also reported that the J&J vaccine was again okay to give.
A lengthy discussion about proposed Paullina Bike Trails was held. Representing the effort were Jill Rausch, Cindy Richter, Rita Kruger. The effort to expand bike trails in and near Paullina began two years ago while repairs to existing trail under Highway 10 were underway following flood damage. For Richter, Kruger and Rausch, the discussion for a new trail centered primarily around safety. The trail to Mill Creek is about 1 mile and was built in the late 80s or early 90s.
COVID forced the project onto hold. A recently announced COVID grant for walking and bike trails now encourages the group to act quickly. The State of Iowa announced a $5 million grant pot for trails. Grant amounts range from $500,000 to $1.25 million.
Beck Engineering has helped get route choices mapped and is willing to develop the grant requirements of design for submission. The trio is asking the county for half of the engineering cost, estimated at $2800. In addition to cost sharing, developers of the bike trail would need access to the proposed trail. They are also asking the county for some maintenance participation. The grant application requires a 20-year maintenance plan. Crossing Mill Creek is the biggest obstacle for the proposed route. The engineer identified the crossing as a 210-foot span. The estimated bridge replacement cost is half of the budget. The railroad bridge foundation is still in place, but the stability is unknown right now. The proposed route takes no farmland out of production, which is considered a scoring element for this grant. Landowners are reported to be all onboard.
Scott Rinehart, County Enginner stated, “210’ seems like a lot of bridge for Mill Creek.” He was not sure the county has a 210’ bridge anywhere in O’Brien County. Rausch explained that she understood that distance includes the approaches.
Other bridges over Mill Creek were measured. Nothing over 100’ was found. In 2019 the estimated cost of a bridge was at $2000 per foot. Several ideas for a replacement/recycling other bridges were discussed with enthusiasm for the project building.
Kruger asked what the best way to find out actual needed distance from pillar to pillar? Reusing stone pillars from the railroad was preferred if that is less expensive and safety sufficient. Rinehart commented that the pillars are “grossly oversized.” He noted that he didn’t know how the railroads were engineered back in the 1860s, but he felt they often overbuilt. Discussion of a
truss bridge in Clay County measuring 16’x90’ was had. Northwest Planning and Development Commission will be asked for grant assistance as well.
The coalition of ladies said that ownership would stay as it is and they would ask for a perpetual easement on each property. The explained there are tax benefits to the grantor. The liability issue is unknown. Dan Fredrichsen expressed concern about putting public dollars for maintenance onto privately owned land. Several pieces of land in the trail is on private land.
Sherri Bootsma said, “I love the idea.” Fredrichsen echoed the sentiment, “It’s a fantastic idea.”
The supervisors pondered which of the county’s funds is most appropriate to assist with paying half of the engineering cost.
Right now a large part of the proposed route is a piece of property owned by County Conservation and is virtually unused.
Dennis Vanden Huyl pondered out loud that money from camping fees that currently goes into a land acquisition fund should be put into a trails fund. Bootsma retorted that money does go into our land maintenance. Vanden Hull replied, “That money should be used for things like this.”
Bootsma took the next step saying, “I think the right way to do this is for Conservation to hold a special meeting. I will talk with Brian Schimmer.” That special meeting was set for Monday May 3rd at 7:00pm at Mill Creek.
Rinehart reported that the PCI contract for shouldering B40 five miles on both sides is $179,080. The county will cut 4” then add gravel surface to the shoulder.
A request to waive the 14 day comment period for Roorda Dairy was presented to the supervisors. The permit application dated April 22, 2021. Barb Rohwer reported that the county has done this in the past. She also explained that granting the waiver does not take away any rights to any other permits. This waiver is specific to the Roorda Dairy application.
Dan motioned. John supported to waive and adopt a resolution to waive passed unanimously.
DD4 levy. Located under highway 59 and 18. The repair bill came in at $10,500. Landowners in the district are paying 5% on warrants until financing is figured out. Discussion to levy for $9,500 to pay for the repairs and put in cushion in case something else needs to be done. The board approved and the levy will be put in place in September.