Douglas County Commissioners approved the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention plan for 2024, including a plan to respond to invasive Signal Crayfish. They also voted against building a roundabout on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 82 and McKay Avenue which is on the east side of the city of Alexandria. Those were just two of the many decisions from the March 5 board meeting.
AIS Prevention
Twelve lakes will be surveyed in 2024 to search for curly leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, and starry stonewort. They are Aaron, Chippewa, Devils, Le Homme Dieu, Little Chippewa, Maple, Moses, Smith, Stowe, Turtle, Victoria, and Whiskey. Commissioners approved a contract with Blue Water Science which has surveyed 42 lakes in the county over the last three years. The focus now is determining if these lakes are changing and if new invasive species are now in them.
Land and Resource Management Director Dave Rush answered questions on the proposal to respond to the discovery of Signal Crayfish in Lake Winona. The plan is to work with the DNR to hire a commercial harvester to do additional trapping in southern Lake Winona, and potentially new trapping in the northern parts the lake, and downstream to Lakes Agnes and Henry. The $45,000 cost would come from state AIS Prevention Aid.
Commissioner Jerry Rapp suggested draining Lake Winona to see exactly what’s in there. One issue, he acknowledged, is the cost to move the ALASD outlet that flows into Lake Winona. The board approved the plan to trap the Signal Crayfish with Commissioner Rapp voting no.
AIS Prevention Coordinator Justin Swart also reviewed with commissioners the work done in 2023 which included education and outreach, monitoring projects that found two new lakes with zebra mussel infestation. Those lakes are Moon and Long. The AIS funds also went for treatment of Flowering Rush on Grants Lake, Eurasian watermilfoil treatment in Indian Lake and $71,500 in grants to lake associations for various AIS projects.
Public Works
Commissioners voted against constructing a roundabout in 2024 at McKay Avenue and CSAH 82. County Engineer and Public Works Director Tim Erickson had offered several suggestions to make a roundabout possible at that location but, on a 3 to 1 vote, that proposal was defeated. Commissioner Charlie Meyer made a motion to deny the plan for a roundabout. Commissioner Tim Kalina voted no on the motion and Commissioner Shane Schmidt was not present in person to vote. He was listening in to the entire board meeting remotely.
Erickson asked for final payment to Midwest Contracting out of Marshall, MN for work on CSAH 24 in the northwest part of the county. Erickson said they did a great job and he’d absolutely hire them again. Commissioners also gave approval for Erickson to go out for bids for grading work on CSAH 4 and CSAH 8 and the overall 2024 paving projects.
Veterans’ Service Office
The Douglas County Veteran Services Office now has a joint powers agreement with the city of Alexandria for the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of Veterans Memorial Park. It outlines roles and responsibilities. For example, the county will obtain and track veterans’ names to be engraved on monoliths and verify veteran service records for each application.
VSO Jake Turner also asked the board to accept a $500 donation from the Alexandria VFW Auxiliary to be used for veterans in need and he gave his annual update to commissioners on the positive impact of his office. He shared how he and his staff interact with veterans and the reasons why. He showed data that revealed office visits remain popular, along with phone calls, email, and outreach events.
Social Services
Douglas County is the fiscal host for the Douglas County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative and Director Laurie Bonds offered for approval three grants for 2024-2025. They are:
- $10,000 over two years to Kalon Prep Academy in Alexandria for its Social Emotional Learning program
- $40,000 to Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals for Kalon Prep’s Strong Teens program
- $30,000 to Safe Families for Children West Central MN
Other Business
Nicole Fernholz, director of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission, asked the board for a Letter of Support for the city of Alexandria as it applies for a Childcare Economic Development grant. She told the board $3.1 million in state funds is available in rural Minnesota to increase childcare opportunities. Fernholz said the plan for the grant money is the creation of twin homes that would be individual childcare businesses. The project would involve the Alexandria Technical and Community College’s carpentry and early childhood program. Commissioners approved the Letter of Support.
The next board meeting is Tuesday, March 19 at 9 a.m. at 821 Cedar Street Alexandria.