BROWN COUNTY — Brown County commissioners will consider a $47,500 audit service proposal for 2019 and $48,700 in 2020 from Clifton Larson Allen (CLA) on Tuesday, May 21.

Doug Host, CLA Assurance Principal, will make a 15-minute presentation to the board prior to the final decision. An additional 15 minutes will be allowed for follow-up questions.

On April 29, a committee including Brown County Financial Manager Steven Rutscher, County Administrator Charles Enter, Auditor-Treasurer Jean Prochniak and Commissioners Anton Berg and Scott Windschitl interviewed audit firm finalists. Each firm was gien 30 minutes to make a presentation followed by a 30-minute question/answer session.

After considerable discussion, the committee recommended entering into an agreement with CLA. Reasons identified to support the CLA decision included:

• It currently audits 33 Minnesota counties and is the national leader in single audit services.

• There is a level of confidence that the financial statement would be accepted by the Office of State Auditor (OSA) with minimal review.

• It has programs and training opportunities that will create efficiencies within the A-T audit preparation.

• It has a New Ulm office.

• More than $20,000 in savings is estimated over what was paid to the OSA.

• Reference checks were completed. Counties describe the team as knowledgeable, courteous, organized and thorough.

Commissioners will also consider:

• A resolution to delegate authority to do electronic fund transfers (EFTs) to the Auditor-Treasurer. The Office of State Auditor discovered in a legal compliance review that this authority needs to be delegated by resolution annually. A breakdown will be provided on vendors being paid.

• Setting a letting date of 10 a.m, June 26 to widen the shoulder and regrade CSAH 7 from the Cobden railroad tracks to CSAH 31 in Evan.

• Award the contact bidder for storm sewer repair on CSAH 29 in Home Township. the south ditch on CSAH 29 just west of 225th Avenue had a ditch block with a culvert draining into a ravine ending at Kuelb’s Creek. The culvert rusted out on the bottom. Excessive rainfall caused the slope to severely erode under the culvert.

Quotes are $85,510.50 by Ground Zero Services and $88,818.16 by MR Paving & Excavating. The engineer’s estimate is $79,760.50. The Brown County Highway Department recommends the low bid.

• A public hearing for consolidation of lateral 11A to CD 5 followed by redetermination of benefits (ROB) on County Ditch 5 at 11 a.m.

• A public hearing on CD 72 ROB at 11:15 a.m.

The board meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the courthouse commissioner’s room.

fbusch@nujournal.com