Staff photo by Fritz Busch The Brown County Board of Commissioners approved demolition of a house located at 412 Maple St. S.W. in Sleepy Eye Tuesday at a cost not to exceed $8,162. The invoice will be split 50-50 with the City of Sleepy Eye. Tax-forfeited property, the house was cited with many safety infractions and is considered beyond repair.

BROWN COUNTY– Brown County commissioners unanimously approved the COVID-19 business relief grant eligibility and program guidelines.

Brown County received $3,083,468 in coronavirus relief funds. Of that allocation, federal guidelines included setting aside 10% to assist businesses adversely impacted by the coronavirus. The state took away that guideline when distributing money to government agencies, but they are still encouraged to use the funds for this purpose.

According to the program, businesses eligible to apply include small businesses of 25 or fewer employees in Brown County that have been affected by COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

Preference is given to businesses that have not received federal or state COVID-19 relief funds. Businesses that received the funds but have not received enough to meet their needs and can demonstrate additional needs are encouraged to apply.

Brown County Economic Development Partners is willing and able to administer forgivable loans on its behalf. This is a program that other rural counties created due to Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding.

Commissioners later approved a $24,047.33 CARES grant for use in Brown County elections. The funds may be used for ensuring the health and safety of the election; public outreach and social distancing guidelines related to voting; facilitation, support and preparation for increased absentee voting; preparation of training materials; preparation of new polling places and purchase of electronic rosters.

Brown County Auditor-Treasurer Jean Prochniak said the funds will help administer the 2020 election. The county is responsible for 20% of the cost incurred from these activities except for poll book purchases. Poll books require 25% matching funds.

Prochniak said the number of voters expected to vote in person will likely be reduced due to the volume of voters who chose to vote from home.

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The county attorney was authorized to sign an agreement for services with the Rinke, Noonan law firm for services rendered on drainage issues. The county is expecting to take on more challenging discussions in regards to drainage, and commissioners believed legal assistance was in the county’s best interest.

Hourly rates vary from $80 an hour for legal technicians to $325 per hour for attorneys with more than seven years experience.

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Heartland Express will offer free fare transportation through October. Since April, Heartland Express transportation for passengers has been offered without fees. This was put in place to assist individuals in need of transportation and assist those struggling financially due to the loss of wages. It also reduces exposure to COVID by eliminating the need to handle tokens.

Through the federal CARES funding, rural transit services will receive 100% of their operating cost through February 2021 without the typical 15% local share.

“There is certainly a benefit to the community,” Commissioner David Borchert said. “There is no such thing as free money, but I think we want to take advantage of higher government reimbursement, and use it the way it was intended to be used.”

Commissioner Dean Simonsen said the situation with COVID is not changing anytime soon and made a motion to approve the free fare through Nov. 1. The motion was unanimously approved by the commission.

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A petition was received by Corey and Julie Wilson for the improvement of County Ditch 44 and forwarded to Rinke, Noonan law firm for legal review.

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Commissioners unanimously approved the demolition of a house located at 412 Maple St. S.W., Sleepy Eye, at a cost not to exceed $8,162, with an invoice split 50-50 with the City of Sleepy Eye.

The building is on tax-forfeited land and has been cited with many safety infractions. It is beyond repair according to the Sleepy Eye fire chief.

Prochniak said an adjoining property is for sale, but the owner is concerned about getting a fair price due to the condition of this house.

The county has split the cost of demolition of tax-forfeited property in the past, though Prochniak said it was rare.

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Public Health Director Karen Moritz gave an update on COVID-19 in the county.

In the last seven days, positive COVID tests have increased by nearly 5% compared to 3.6% two weeks ago. Public Health is continuing to work to prevent the spread of the illness to keep businesses open and get children back to school.

With the recent mask mandate issued, Moritz wanted to remind the public a mask does not replace physical distancing. A mask should be worn in addition.

Moritz said the next phase or reopening will require the creation of a vaccine or the elimination of new COVID cases.

“I don’t think we’re in a position of opening any further,” she said.