NEW ULM — Commissioners unanimously approved setting a public hearing for 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18 for fee schedule revisions during their meeting Tuesday.

In November 2019, department heads were directed to review the fee schedule and submit any proposed changes. Fee changes were not made at the Jan. 21 meeting.

Setting a public hearing ahead of time enables department heads to solicit public input on proposed changes to be brought forward at the Feb. 18 meeting.

Proposed fee changes include raising delinquent tax processing from $30 to $50 and doubling the drainage ditch system annual fee from $15,000 to $30,000.

Commissioners unanimously approved:

• Convening a 15-minute closed session to discuss possible sale of tax-forfeited property and the possibility of selling the property.

• The purchase of six Motorola APX4000 7/800 MHz Model 2 portable radios with chargers, speaker microphones and ARMER programming from Alpha Wireless for $18,568.38, motion by Commissioner Scott Windschitl, seconded by Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp. The radios replace portable radios used by jail correctional officers.

• The purchase of a drone FLIR camera from Frontier Precision, Maple Grove, for $13,200, motion by Commissioner Dean Simonsen, seconded by Commissioner Tony Berg. The purchase would be paid from county reserves, according to prior discussion at 2020 budget planning meetings.

• The purchase of a new 2020 Ski Doo 600R ES Touring snowmobile for $9,050 from Miller Sellner with MnDNR Snowmobile grant funds, motion by Commissioner Simonsen, seconded by Commissioner Berg.. Minnesota State Contract price is $9,601.67 from Duluth Lawn & Sports.

• Receiving a 2019 Percent Delinquent Report reflecting a .4228% unpaid amount for property taxes, motion by Commissioner Simonsen, seconded by Commissioner Berg. Gold Star jurisdictions for all taxes collected were earned by Bashaw and North Star Townships.

“Brown County taxpayers have always accepted their tax responsibility and should be commended,” wrote Brown County Auditor-Treasurer Jean Prochniak in her request for board action.

• Setting a bid letting date of 10 a.m., Feb. 26, 2020 for surface rehabilitation projects on CSAH 7, 8, 10, 20, 21, 22 & Cottonwood County CSAH 11, motion by Commissioner Windschitl, seconded by Commissioner Veerkamp.

Results would be brought for board approval on March 3, 2020. Projects are anticipated to be rehabilitated in the June to October time frame.

• Setting a bid letting date of 2 p.m., Feb. 25, 2020 for grading and surfacing projects on 12th Ave. N.E., St. Mary’s Street, Elm Street and city lot improvements in Sleepy Eye, motion by Commissioner Windschitl, seconded by Commissioner Veerkamp.

The project is planned to be done over two years with an Aug. 31, 2021 final completion.

• Approved changes to the Brown County Well-Sealing Cost-Share Program and $4,000 in additional funding from interest generated by the County Septic Loan Program, motion by Commissioner Windschitl, seconded by Commissioner Berg.

• A $178,773 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant Agreement and match amount of $44,270; $33,060 from Brown County, $9,710 from the Brown County Historical Society and $1,500 in-kind staff time, motion by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Commissioner Windschitl.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.