NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners unanimously approved changing the minimum qualifications in the assistant auditor-treasurers position and reposting the position with changes Tuesday.

Action came on a motion by Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp, seconded by Scott Windschitl.

The assistant A-T position was initially posted July 15, 2021 with a July 30, 2021 deadline. Due to the low number of qualified applicants, the deadline was extended to Aug. 6. 2021.

After the deadline extension, the number of qualified applicants continued to be low, so the department head is asking commissioners to approve reducing minimum qualifications of the position but keep it in Grade XV.

The position description will be reviewed by David Drown and Associates in the classification and compensation study they are doing for Brown County.

Commissioners also:

• Heard Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz’ report on the COVID-19 situation.

“The metro area is struggling to find open beds,” said Moritz. “ICU admissions and hospitalizations are growing including children of all ages across the nation.”

Moritz said Brown County’s COVID-19 test positivity rate jumped from 2% to 7% since July 31, 2021, which she called a significant increase.

“Most COVID cases are unvaccinated people. We’re seeing people at a variety of ages of people with (vaccine) breakthrough cases,” said Moritz.

She said Brown County’s COVID case numbers have risen rapidly in the last week. As of Monday, Aug. 16, Brown County had 63 COVID cases, the highest number since last April, according to the Brown County COVID-19 Dashboard.

Moritz said most people that got a vaccine first dose also received a second dose.

“We highly recommend everybody mask at all indoor public places, which is the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendation,” she said. “Schools highly encourage wearing masks and follow social distancing. If you’re vaccinated and get sick, get tested in 3-5 days. Only the unvaccinated should quarantine.”

Moritz said Brown County Public Health continues to vaccinate. Clinics include 2:30 to 5:20 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 19 at the public health office, 1117 Center St.; 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 21 at the Sleepy Eye Aquatic Center, and 2:30 to 5:20 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26 at the public health office.

Moritz reported drought public health implications; include compromised quantity and quality of drinking water, increased recreational risks, air quality effects, diminished living conditions related to energy, air quality, sanitation and hygiene; mental health effects related to economics and job losses, compromised food and nutrition, and increased illness and disease.

She said Heart of New Ulm (HONU) grants are gone but collaboration continues with her office. Moritz said more grant money is sought for HONU.

• Unanimously approved the county park department getting comparable quotes for a contractor to work on the historic log cabin at Lake Hanska County Park, motion by Windschitl, second by Dean Simonsen. The log cabin is locked all the time now.

“We need to get some value out of it, education or whatever,” Windschitl said. “I’d like an ad hoc committee set up to work with it.”

• Approved changing three part-time positions to regular 30+ hours per week part-time positions with 75% benefits until the need for additional COVID response duties lessens, motion by Simonsen, seconded by Borchert.

The change effective Aug. 27, affects public health nurse Rebecca O’Neill, account technician Erin Krohn-Schwab, and office support worker Abigail Walter.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com