MnDOT photo Built in 1873, the Kern Bridge is a single-span, wrought-iron, bowstring arch through truss bridge that was removed from its original location of South Bend Township, Blue Earth County. The bridge was removed from that site, dismantled and stored last winter.

BROWN COUNY — Commissioners will consider approving a contract to facilitate a parent support group utilizing opioid grant funding on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Brown County was originally allocated about $30,000 for a six-month period. The allocation was reduced and Brown County was awarded $11,051 for July 1-Dec. 31, 2020 and $17,365 for all of 2021.

Brown County submitted an agency plan proposing a parent support group for mothers affected by substance use. The plan includes hiring a group facilitator who will plan and organize two meetings a month.

The group will include mothers receiving social service case management and will include individual time with mothers and parent/child time.

The facilitator will also arrange community presentations and information on sober supports and family activities. The contract may be renewed for an additional calendar year.

Commissioners will also consider:

• A COVID-style, tax-forfeited land auction, minimum sale prices and sale terms for 17 parcels beginning at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 17. Earnest money of $500 is required for parcels with sale prices greater than $1,000.

• Approving support for and passing a resolution to sponsor the City of Springfield to move and erect the historic Kern Bridge as a pedestrian bridge over the Cottonwood River, north of Riverside Park, or just east of an existing bridge over the river.

The City of Springfield plans to apply for federal funds to move the truss bridge and erect it in Springfield over the Cottonwood River. If Springfield is not selected for Kern Bridge funding, they plan to try for funding to move and erect Brown County’s Hale (CR 8 bridge over the Minnesota River) in the same location.

• Review a $25,863 bid proposal from MEI of Mankato for jail elevator repairs. The elevator was installed in 1993 and is vital to jail operation. It is showing aging signs. MEI is the only local vendor and has serviced the elevator in the past. A recent inspection showed numerous items in need of repair/updating to keep it operating correctly.

• Brown County Public Health daycare/preschool consultation agreements with the Martin Luther College Early Childhood Learning Center and Kid’s Xcel Center.

• A 2020-2021 school health agreement with ISD 84.

• A COVID-19 update. Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz reported Minnesota is showing a 5.4% increase in its seven-day, rolling positivity rate as of Aug. 10.

“We continue to work to prevent the spread to limit the illness so we can keep businesses open and get children back to school,” Moritz reported. “At the same time, preventing overwhelming our health care system as we are seeing in other parts of the country.”

• Planning Commission recommendations including conditional use permit (CUP) applications by:

• Timothy Miller of TJ Turkeys LLP, Section 11, Lake Hanska Township to renew and amend an existing CUP to allow 1,124 AU from the previously permitted 1,022 AU (77,000 turkeys) in a brooder and finishing operation all in the Agriculture Protection Zoning District.

• Leah Reiner of Reiner Farms, LLC, Section 10, Bashaw Township to amend an existing CUP to allow construction of a new 300 by 235 by 12 foot deep earthen manure storage basin and increase a dairy operation from 304.5 to 437 AU and continue to allow using an existing 90 by 180 by 8 feet deep earthen manure storage basin all in the A-1 Zone.

• Jeanne Schaefer of Hoffman Construction, Section 34, Home Township, to renew and continue to allow use of property as a demolition landfill site compliant with MPCA rules for disposal of demolition and earthen material, all in the A-1 Zone.

• Four preliminary plat applications.

• Purchasing two Heartland Express buses in 2021, expected to arrive late 2021 or 2022.

• Supporting the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council Planning Process in the eight-county south central Minnesota region.

• The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, in the Law Enforcement Center training room. WebEx access is available by calling Brown County Administration at 507-233-6600.

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