NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners unanimously approved a new map of County Board districts Tuesday based on the results of the 2020 Census.

Action came on a motion by Dave Borchert, seconded by Scott Windschitl to adopt aredistricted map and establish an election cycle complying with staggered term requirements for commissioner districts.

No public comments were made regarding redistricting.

“The board looked at many options. In my mind, the first option seems to be the way to go and minimize future changes,” Commissioner Dean Simonsen said.

Under the changes, Milford Township moved from District 2 to District 4, and Stark Township moved from District 2 to District 5.

Brown County Auditor-Treasurer Kelly Hotovec said the changes came mostly because Milford Township grew by more than 600 people, according to the 2020 Census.

Under the new staggered election alignment, Districts 1 and 3 would continue their current term, being up for election in 2024. Districts 2, 4, and 5 will be four-year terms, up for election in 2026. Districts 4 and 5 terms end in 2022.

In other business, commissioners unanimously approved:

• County Ditch (CD) 1 minor alterations, motion by Windschitl, seconded by Tony Berg. No public comments were made at a hearing.

Under the resolution, Brown County is preparing CSAH 11 reconstruction plans in Essig from TH 14 to 250th Avenue and Branch 11 of CD 1 acts as a CSAH 11 storm sewer. The existing 8″ tile will be replaced under the pavement and typical highway drainage is designed for a minimum 12″ pipe.

Alteration reasons are to provide adequate drainage of the road and minimize maintenance effort and costs due to potential sediment and debris accumulation from storm drain inlets.

• An upgraded software contract for a No Wait Inside signage/announcement module for $99/mo. at the Brown County License Bureau, motion by Borchert, seconded by Simonsen.

Signage will display appointment information on a waiting area monitor. An announcement function will direct customers to the next available station to be served.

• A $16,511 proposal from Daguna Consulting, Rochester to relocate mussels for the bridge 2110 on CSAH 8 over the Minnesota River, motion by Simonsen, seconded by Berg.

Brown County’s last truss bridge, also called the Peterson or Hale Bridge, is structurally deficient and being replaced.

It was determined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that a mussel survey was needed to determine if any endangered mussel species are at the bridge site.

Daguna Consulting was hired to do a mussel survey in 2021, found common and endangered mussels. The DNR concluded mussel relocation was required with the project.

Brown County Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens said divers found mussels in handfuls of mud they pulled from the river near the bridge. Stevens said he will discuss sharing the cost with Renville County, which is working with Brown County on the bridge replacement project.

• Conditional use permit filed by Duane Roiger on property owned by Duane Roiger Inc., Section 31, Burnstown Township, to continue to allow a 300 hog AU feedlot in a hog wean and finish operation.

• Conditional use permit filed by Bryan Windschitl on property owned by Dean Bernloehr, Section 16, Albin Township to continue to allow a 999 AU beef cattle feedlot and existing 460-foot-by-245-foot earthen basin to collect open lot runoff.

• Conditional use permit filed by Michael Sprenger for his property in Mulligan Township to allow a landscaping and nursery business.

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