BROWN COUNTY — Brown County commissioners unanimously accepted an anonymous $10,234.20 donation Tuesday for families and individuals facing financial hardship at Christmas.

Action came on a motion by Commissioner Dave Borchert, seconded by Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp.

Brown County Human Services Director Barb Dietz said a week before Christmas she got a phone call from the anonymous donor who wanted to reach out to people in need with a Christmas gift.

“I reached out to social workers to find people in financial need for utilities, rent, medical and dental bills,” Dietz said. “I received nine families and individuals in need from staff. All of the donation money goes directly to vendors, not clients.”

“This generosity is truly in the Christmas spirit. It’s wonderful to see,” said Commissioner Tony Berg.

“I’m very thankful for things like this,” said Commissioner Dave Borchert.

Commissioners unanimously approved:

• Electing Commissioner Berg 2021 board chairman, motion by Borchert, seconded by Commissioner Scott Windschitl; electing Commissioner Veerkamp vice chairman, motion by Borchert, seconded by Berg.

• Awarding bulk diesel and unleaded gas contracts to Braun Oil of Sleepy Eye for the New Ulm and Comfrey shops, motion by Commissioner Dean Simonsen, seconded by Veerkamp.

Bids are for 25,000 gallons of diesel and 50,000 gallons of unleaded gas at the New Ulm shop and 7,000 gallons of diesel at the Comfrey shop.

Bids including the Dec. 29, 2020 wholesale price plus applicable taxes and fees and a fixed delivery price that varies on the price at the day of purchase. Quotes opened on Dec. 30 were Braun Oil $134,240.58; United Farmers Coop $141,541.20 and Farmers Coop of Hanska $151,610.

• Approved paying a $14,250 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) air permit fee required to do county landfill recirculation of leachate due to the amount of landfill gas produced, motion by Borchert, seconded by Veerkamp.

• Spending an estimated $4,750 from the 2021 Brown County park budget to buy a flatbed trailer for the ability to trailer park equipment, motion by Borchert, seconded by Veerkamp.

The low bid for an 82” x 16′ steel and wood trailer came from Minnesota Truck & Tractor, North Mankato. Toppers & Trailers Plus (TTP) of Le Sueur bid $8,499 for an 82″ x 20′ drop deck steel and wood trailer and $9,999 from TTP for an 82″ x 18′ steel trailer from it’s Mankato location.

Bids for aluminum and steel and wood trailers were also sought but not received from Peterson Equipment, New Ulm; and Kibble Equipment and MIller Sellner of Sleepy Eye.

• Continuation of the State of Emergency issued March 17, 2020; as part of the process required to receive state and/or federal assistance for the response to Coronavirus (COVID-19), motion by Borchert, seconded by Berg.

• Adopting the 2021 fee schedule, motion by Berg, seconded by Veerkamp. Camper trailer/RV daily Lake Hanska County Park fees will go from $20 a unit to $25 but the $5 camping reservation fee will be eliminated. Online reservations will be available on a first come, first served basis, and can be paid by credit card or check.

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