Douglas County Board Meeting July 16 2024
Posted: 07/25/2024
Author: Julie Anderson
Category: County Board, Departments
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Nestled within the July 16 Douglas County Board of Commissioners agenda of important, but routine business, was a presentation about the Alexandria Area YMCA.
YMCA Board Chair George Crist and CEO Jackie Peters presented to the Douglas County board on the importance of the YMCA in Alexandria. They said, it’s not just a gym, it’s a nonprofit committed to strengthening the community.
By the numbers, they said, there are 6,688 members. The Y serves 993 children through youth programs and swimming lessons and 300 children through childcare. They also shared that while the Y has grown in the past, it’s ready to grow again. Board members learned the facility is running out of square footage. The speakers used an arthritis program as an example of a program that had to be moved offsite because of a lack of space. The presentation was informational only. The Y did not request funding at this meeting, nor present a specific expansion plan.
Social Services
New director, Tabitha Kremmin asked the board to approve the annual grant to help fund the Douglas County Senior Services Coordinator. Part of that position’s funding comes from Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging. The board approved the grant in the amount of $35,766.00. To learn more about the services of the Douglas County Senior Services office go to https://www.douglascountymn.gov/senior-citizens-health
Public Works
Public Works Director Tim Erickson asked the board for approval to pay Central Specialties the last installment on the $2.9 million road work project to improve and pave County State Aid Highway 82 from Brandon to Evansville. Erickson said Central Specialties did a really good job on the project and board chair Keith Englund said, “The road turned out beautiful. It’s a very nice road.”
Park Superintendent Brad Bonk asked the board for a resolution to approve an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources for maintenance on the Central Lakes Trail. The DNR pays the county $1,150.00 per miles per year through a Memorandum of Understanding. Bonk says this arrangement is woefully underfunded but says without it, the county is completely dependent on the DNR to clean and maintain the trail.