Douglas County Commissioners held the final board meeting for 2023 on December 19. Their decisions will benefit county residents in a number of ways in 2024.
First, the county agreed to create what’s called a Housing Trust Fund Ordinance. Emajean Hanson-Ford, Executive Director of the county’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, explained the value. She said the state has given Douglas County $125,453 this year and will again next year to spend on projects related to public housing. The money will go into the trust fund which will pave the way to increase the dollars with matching funds and local donations. Douglas County will become the eighth county in the state to create a local Housing Trust Fund. The City of Alexandria is one of 13 cities with a fund. Board Chair Charlie Meyer said this is a great opportunity to invest in the area and Commissioner Shane Schmidt thanked Hanson-Ford and her staff for the work they put into creating this opportunity.
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Troy Wolbersen asked the board to approve contracts for snowmobiling and Off Highway Vehicles and ATV safety. These contracts provide funds from the Department of Natural Resources. Commissioner Tim Kalina asked Sheriff Wolbersen about the current ATV trails in place in the southwest area of the county. Wolbersen said the public is using them and there have been no significant public safety concerns.
County Attorney
Chad Larson asked the board to approve a contract with Anderson Funeral Home and Lind Funeral Home to continue their service of responding to death scenes within one hour to transport bodies to the county medical examiner when an autopsy is needed. The flat fee for this will now be $899 per transport.
Veteran Services Officer
Jake Turner asked the board to accept a $500 donation from Robert Hegg to be used for veterans in need. The board also approved his request for the Veteran Services Office to assist in the administrative duties associated with the Veterans Memorial Park in Alexandria. These duties include gathering names, storing the information, working with Fergus Falls Monument for engraving the names and maintaining the Veterans Memorial Park website. Turner asked that the county attorney participate in the creation of a legal document to outline these duties. He explained the city of Alexandria is owner of the park and the Memorial Park Board will handle a fund for the future purchase of memorial monuments.
Emergency Management
Douglas County Emergency Management Director Julie Anderson asked the board to approve the 2023 Emergency Operations Plan. This plan outlines the responsibilities of county, city, and township officials as well as utilities and other stakeholders before, during and after a severe weather event or a human-caused incident.
Social Services
Director Laurie Bonds presented two contracts for mental health services and one for parenting time servcies in 2024. The contracts are with Milestones which will provide an intensive residential treatment and crisis stabilization program; Lakeland Mental Health Center for outpatient mental health services and social work services to participate in pre-petition screenings for mental health commitments; and Someplace Safe for its Someplace Safe Parenting Time Center. Bonds also asked commissioners to accept a $500 donation from the Judith Leeseberg-Hegg estate to be used for items for youth clients of Douglas County Social Services through the Children’s Mental Health Flex Fund and a $150 donation from the Christina Lake Women of North American Lutheran Church to be used for items for Social Services clients.
Public Works
Public Works Director Tim Erickson received permission to enter into a 5-year grant agreement with the DNR for maintenance of ski trails which are managed by the Douglas County Parks Division. There are slotted cross-country ski trails at Kensington Rune Stone and Spruce Hill Parks. There is a groomed trail for walking and snowshoeing at Lake Brophy County Park, and if there is adequate snow, there’s also a plan for a new loop for cross country skiers at Lake Brophy County Park.
Erickson also brought forth a proposal to purchase a parcel at 210 North McKay which commissioners tabled until early 2024. The land purchase would be part of the process to potentially build a roundabout at McKay and County State Aid Highway 82.
Trout anglers will have a new way to legally access their favorite stretch of Spruce Creek during the busy trout fishing season. Sportsman Mike McDaniel raised awareness and funds to see his idea of land access along the creek become a reality. Commissioners approved a state conservation easement acquisition for about 3 acres of land along 1,189 feet of creek on the south border of Spruce Hill County Park. The trail that runs along the creek to the south will soon have signs so people will know when they are leaving park property and entering onto the new easement. This change will be in place for the 2024 trout opener in Mid-April. Commissioners thanked McDaniel for his work on this and agreed it will allow anglers some much needed elbow room.
Land and Resource Management
Director Dave Rush spent the majority of his time in front of the board, reviewing the first decision the board needs to make regarding a proposed solar project near a substation in Lake Mary Township. He explained the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is completed and the board should use information from that EAW to determine if there’s a need for additional environmental review. All commissioners, except Jerry Rapp, voted to end the environmental review process and move forward with the next step which is SolarGen of Minnesota and Allied Solar applying for a Conditional Use Permit.
Auditor/Treasurer
Auditor/Treasurer Vicki Doehling discussed with commissioners whether to sell or do a controlled burn on a tax-forfeited property at 8634 County Road 21 SW in Alexandria. After weighing the pros and cons, commissioners voted to have Doehling list the property for sale as is.
County Coordinator
Heather Schlangen presented a revised Douglas County Personnel Policies and Procedures document for approval that contains the county’s inclusion of the new state requirements for Earned Sick and Safe Time.
She also shared with the board the recognition Douglas County received from the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust for outstanding loss ratio under 50 percent and outstanding experience in workers’ compensation.
County Board
Finally, the board heard from Jeff Wild, Vice President for Advancement and Outreach, at the Alexandria Technical and Community College. He shared his hope the county will be allowed to participate in a feasibility study for a new sports center in Alexandria. Wild, shared his belief the area needs and would benefit from a sports center with courts for volleyball, basketball, and other activities. He said ATCC plans to hire a company called Ballard King and Associates to do the study at a cost of $34,500. The county’s share of that fee would be $9,000 if the county attorney’s review shows that’s an allowable expense for a county. Wild said a sports center would not only be used by local athletes, it could also be used to attract state tournaments which, he said, would be an economic benefit.