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County Board approves GPS purchase

Staff photo by Fritz Busch The Brown County Board honored Betti Kamolz as the 2021 Minnesota County Recorder’s Association Member of the Year at its Tuesday meeting.

NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of a GPS unit for the Brown County Planning and Zoning Office Tuesday.

Action came on a motion by Commissioner Dave Borchert, second by Dean Simonsen.

The Planning and Zoning Department requested the purchase of a $9,316 Trimble R2 unit based on interior experience, neighboring department recommendation, fast technical support response and operational updates and compatibility to other devices.

The GPS unit would be used by the department to assist on-site investigations and visits. When staff visits sites regarding variances, wetlands, feedlots, septic systems, emergency management, shore land, and other issues, problems include being unable to mark where setbacks or encroachment are.

Staff used the Information Technology Department’s older GPS unit but it has battery problems, reliability issues and an outdated operating system.

Commissioners unanimously approved:

• Authorizing the purchase of a $2,922.95 evidence pass through locker system from Schoollockers. com. for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, motion by Borchert, second by Tony Berg. Fasco. Inc. submitted a $5,987 bid.

The Brown County Maintenance Department will assemble and install the evidence pass through locker system in the Brown County Sheriff’s Office evidence room.

• Recognized Betti Kamolz as the 2021 Minnesota County Recorder’s Association Member of the Year. She received the award Feb. 16 at the Minnesota Association of County Officers Annual Conference at the Double Tree Hilton in Minneapolis.

Kamolz has worked in the Brown County Recorder’s Office for 42 years, the last 16 as the county recorder.

7A“It’s been a good run,” she said.

• Dissolving the Corrections Advisory Council, motion by Windschitl, second by Borchert. The council was established in 1999 to share correctional programming and teen court reports according to a grant agreement.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Minnesota Department of Corrections staff changes, the group has not met for several years.

In review of the board, it was determined that due to teen court not operating since 2019 and sharing information in many other ways on social media and email, the true purpose of the group is met in other ways and the group should disband.

• Awarding 2022 seal coat oil bids at a $2.03 per gallon low bid of Flint Hills Resources, motion by Scott Windschitl, second by Borchert.

MEIGS bid $2.28/gallon and Jebro, Inc. $2.52/gallon. Bids don’t include sales tax. An estimated 190,000 gallons of oil are needed.

The county highway department plans to seal about 47 miles of highway as part of normal maintenance using maintenance funds.

• Authorized posting a vacancy for a full-time probation director with an annual salary range of $71,201 to $106,237. In addition, they created an interview panel of Brown County District Court Judge Docherty, the county human resources director, county administrator and board chairman and vice chairman, motion by Borchert, second by Simonsen.

Brown County Probation Director Les Schultz retires April 1, 2022. The recruitment and selection process begins using the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) salary grid for corrections program director.

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