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NEW ULM -- Brown County commissioners will consider a resolution for Auditor-Treasurer Jean Prochniak to apply for a Minnesota Voting Equipment Grant Nov. 21.
Prochniak wrote in her request that Brown County is likely to receive a grant of about $54,400; based on about $1,700 per precinct. Brown County would have to invest $226,129 to buy required equipment at current polling places, if the estimated state grant amount is received.
On Nov. 2, alternate voting options were discussed with local townships including combining precincts and approving mail ballots.
Prochniak said New Ulm is considering voting in four precincts and Sleepy Eye and Springfield will vote in one precinct in future elections, saving more than $66,000.
"Currently, we have nine mail ballot precincts," Prochniak wrote in her request. "If townships combine polling locations based on statute. township precincts would be reduced to four.
The request only authorizes grant funding application. It is not a request to buy voting equipment. All precincts are required to submit a resolution authorizing 2018 polling places by Dec. 31. Grant funds are expected to be awarded by Jan. 31. At that time, decisions will be made on how to best use grant funds.
Commissioners will also consider:
• Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz' update. So far, 240 flu shots have been administered at assisted living facilities, group homes and to Brown County employees. The department encourages everyone to get flu shots this year. They are available at the public health department, pharmacies, medical clinics and some worksites.
• A Drug Court Call In System contract. The system in place for more than 10 years is no longer supported by the developer and is about to fail, according to Brown County Probation Director Les Schultz. High-risk offenders call in each day to a system that determines if they have to come in for a urine test or not.
Probation staff looked at three different drug testing call in systems and Testday was the lowest-cost provider. It already provides drug test call in services for the Brown Nicollet Watonwan Drug Court.
Tier 3 for less than 250 offenders would cost the drug court $445 a month. Adding Brown County wold move them to Tier 4 (less than 500 offenders), costing $580 a month. Brown County would owe no more than $135 a month to be added to the system.
The $1,620 2018 cost would come from supervision fees. The contact has a "no more than $2,000" clause and a 30-day out clause if needed.
• Accepting and signing a $106,280 Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative Grant. Brown County is responsible for matching the amount of $53,140, which will be taken from revenue fund reserves.
• Authorizing the sheriff's office to proceed with a 12-hour schedule instead of a 10-hour schedule for dispatch, for a one-year trial period. A review will be done after one year, subject to approval of a Memorandum of Understanding to be developed with the Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc., Local No. 98.
• A 3 percent rate adjustment to the current Riverview Sanitation recycling contract in New Ulm, Hanska, Essig, Searles, Sleepy Eye, Springfield and surrounding rural areas, as recommended by the Brown County Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
• Raising the Solid Waste Service Fee used for recycling program costs from $34 to $38 a year for curbside collection and $17 to $19 a year for rural drop-off recycling, effective Jan. 1.
• Discussing several issues with DNR (Department of Natural Resources) staff including area hydrologist Scott Bohling, Todd Kolander and Rob Collett at about 11 a.m. Topics include water appropriation, the Wetland Conservation Act and Public Water Impacts.
Specific topics include the Wood Lake Management Plan and status of flood control berms regarding overflow effects on County Ditch 28-1 in Mulligan Township; the Local Road Wetland Replacement Program and concerns of state acquisition of private lands in Brown County.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m., Nov. 21 in the courthouse commissioner's room.
Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.