Changes for Soldiers Rest
By Fritz Busch Journal Staff WriterNEW ULM - The Brown County Board unanimously approved a pair of language changes Tuesday to rules and regulations governing Soldiers Rest cemeteries.
Language requiring determination by the county commissioners for eligible veteran residency requirements and residency exceptions to receive burial plots at the time of death was eliminated.
The Brown County Veterans Council recommended the Soldiers Rest regulations changes at a Dec. 17, 2009 meeting.
"We wanted to remove language to keep things off your busy county board schedule," said Brown County Veterans Service Officer Greg Peterson. "Plus, funeral directors want to be able to recite policy to people."
Acceptable proof for Soldiers Rest residency requirements include Brown County property tax statements, current property rental agreements or current utility bills.
Residency exceptions include veterans who required skilled medical care at a medical facility, assisted living center, group home, hospital, or nursing home outside Brown County.
County Administrator Chuck Enter said veterans survivors still have a right to appeal residency decisions by funeral directors and veterans service officers to the Brown County Board.
Brown County Soldiers Rest cemeteries in New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, and Springfield currently have 177 available single-burial plots and 214 applications.
In New Ulm, there are 154 single-burial plots available and 195 single- burial plot applicants.
In Sleepy Eye, there are 14 single-burial plots available and 13 single-burial plot applicants.
In Springfield, there are nine single-burial plots available and six-single burial plot applicants.
In other action, commissioners approved:
The 2009 delinquent tax report reflecting a 1.277 percent ($123,979.76) unpaid balance for the county levy.
The figure was a slight increase from the 2008 year-end report with 1.2038 delinquency.
Evan had the highest unpaid percentage at 12.04 percent. Hanska followed at 5.53 percent and Comfrey 3.20 percent.
A public health update from director Karen Moritz that centered on the H1N1 vaccine campaign.
"We are attempting to vaccinate at least 60 percent of the population in order to prevent a third (H1N1) wave," Moritz said. "As of Jan. 13, 2010, public health, medical clinics and pharmacies administered about 8,500 H1N1 doses. That's a great start, but I would like to see that number rise to at least 13,000 by the end of January. That's when we will run out of federal pass-through funds for H1N1 response."
Public H1N1 clinics will be held from 3-6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Springfield Community Center; 3-6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Brown County Office Building, Sleepy Eye; and 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 23 at the New Ulm Community Center.
Reviewing proposed miscellaneous fee increases. A public hearing was set for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).
